The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-01-05
Bazalne's Place OF secluslOn.
Thv 'htC dc saints alarguerlts--Ths Man
In the Iron Mask,

Marshal Bagaine. OF Franco, ilas
commenced his term of 80 years. seclu-
5ion, III accordance with the terms OF
the punishment fixed by Marshal Mao.
Mahon. Tho Isle de Sainte Marguerite,
where he Is to take rp his heightened
restdehea, in On mo Mediterranean
eosst of france, opposite Cannes and
about two miles and a half from the
shore. 1t lies close to the italian from.
tier, and is one Of the group Of two
isles called Lering. ste. Marguerite is
Of btiaM extent, is covered with wood,
and the climate, MS may be inferred
from It's position, is of n salubrious
character. Bazaine does not exactly go
into exile, nor is he to suffer the igno-
miny Of being transported to penal
colony, HOW'LL always have In view
the coast Of France, and close at hand
are many towns and villages where,
before his eyes, can be constantly seen
the industry and every day life Of his
fellow countrymen in one Of the most
attractive portions Of France.
Ste. Marguerite was once before the
prison OF m individual whose life was
Of romantic interest, and whose history
has been the subject OF labored and
extended research. The Man in the
Iron Mask was confined on the island
from 1886 to160S, when he was removed
to the Bnstile. The dungeon in which
he was incarCerated Is still pointed out,
Its solid Windows are guarded by IL
iron bars. The only approach to II was
through the governors rooms. In the
midst OF d small garden is a square
building with door on each face, and
evidently constructed with view to
strength and to prevent prisoners con-
fined in it from escaping. It is under.
stood that the condemned Marshal will
be accompanied iu his seclusion by his
wife and children, and that restraint on
his movements will extend to his safe.
keeping. In other respects he will have
the privilege OF moving about within
the confines Of the island as much MS he
pleases.
The man in tho Iron Mask was diff.
ferently treated. He was closelYwatched
and not allowed tn hold conversation
with anyone save his jailers. Various
surmises as TO who this historical char.
acter really was have been thrown out.
At first it was contended that lie was M
illegitimate son Of Louis XIV, by do
Ia Valliere, who, having boxed the ears
of his half brother, the Dauphin, was
condemned TO imprisonment for life.
This assumption proved unfounded. II
was again insisted that he was the Duke
OF Beaufort, "King OF the Markets, "
and afterwards some believed that lie
was tho elder brother Of Louis XIV,
that he was the son Of Anne OF Austria
by the Duke Of Buckingham. The
Queen, having the impression removed
from her mind that she was barren, af-
terwards gave birth TO the grand mon.
arch, who, discovering, on reaching ma.
turity, the condition Of affairs, con.
signed his elder brother to lifelong
imprisonment. Conjecture has cx-
hausted itself 10 find out who the
masked man was, but 1t has not yet
been settled with anything like Ger.
| bulubJs liz huh blulhlVlANu lAOAh WV
place OF confinement to another, and oil
his journeys wore mask. He was re-
moved from Ste. Marguerite in 1903,
and confined on q litter to tho Bastile,
where he was treated with distinction.
When the latter fell search was made
for papers or relics that might lead to
his Identification, but none were found.
Marshal Bazainc may not consider tho
place of his secluion the most agreea.
bic. The old buildings cannot be sug.
gestive Of the most cheering emotions.
fTe is, however, close to Italy, and he
has the Mediterranean expanse to the
north, south and east. II desirous to
escape there cannot fail to be many fa-
vorable opportunities, but after all the
Marshal may expect that at the expira-
ton OF a few years he may be permit.
ted to leave Ste. Margnerita FREQ man.
A fortune that did not befall the Nys.
terious Man in the Iron Mask.