The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-10-19

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THE DEAD CITY OF Is.
A Curious Legend Of Traditional Times il
8 rsu.,o9Ff.f Brittany. .e,ez ,f,
Appleton's Journal says the story Of
IL may be found in one form or an.
other in almost every book on Brittany
all giving substantially the same &C.
counts, resting principally on the pop
ular traditions. .ssfl.,'s, - 900.
'ln Built in the vast basin which to-day
forms tho bay Of Douenenz, and sepa'
rated from the sea by dixie, was the
ancient city of Is. In the dixie were
sluices which from time to time were
opened sufiicisntly to admit enough
water for the cleaning of the drains
and Otherwise purifying tho city.
King Gradlon, weli-behaved mon-
arch, ruled here, aud once each month
presided at the opening of the sluiees
the principal one was opened by sill
yer key, which the king always wore
fastened about his neck.
1t was splendid court that. King
Gradlon presided over, and the mag
nifieeuce Of his capital was the wonder
Of the country. The royal palace was
= place such as we dream of. In it
marble, cedar aud gold replaced the
oak, granite and iron ordinarily used
IN building. 8yasl f.It4oW aIf .zafiff
The houors Of the Kings court were
done by his daughter Dahut, or Ahcs
"A princes shamefully known as the
Honoria VI .Baittainy. Like that 9TH
or nOteriously wicked woman .flsl
s.She had for crown the vices, and
- for pages the seven deadly SINS"
This woman was accusel of the
most heilisus crimes. Complaints
were made 10 Gradlon time and again
and he always promised to mete out
speedy punishment TO his daughter,
but psternal Indulgence was stronger
in his heart than royal dnty, aud so
Dshut went on in her wicked ways.
His leniency was repaid by the basest
ingrAtitude. His wicked child formed
. plot against him, by which she meant
to secure for herself the royal power.
The silver key was the symbol of the
kings authority, aud Dahut soon pos
sessed herself Of it-stealing it from
her fathers neck while the. old man
slept. -, . ..ff f,aa..,it
The king, when he found that the
key was gone, was in the greatest con
sternation, and under the erminous
cloud of coming misfortune, retired
to his palace, that the people, who re-
garded the key with superstitious rev.
erence, might not know of his loss.
At night he was awakened from a
troubled slumber by the appearance
of st. Guenole before him, who said,
"Rise up, O King, aud hasten to
leave tho city with your faithful serv-
ant. for Dahut has opened the sluices
by means of the silver key, and the
sea is in the city"
1t was true. Dahut, going to meet
one of her lovers, who was also a
conspirator with her against the old
king, had by mistake opened the gate
of the sea instead of the city, The
first thought Of the king upon hearing
this observation-disclosures was the pres
ervation Of his daughter. He sought
her ont, took her behind him on his
feetest horse and fed away from the
wall Of the sea, as fast ss
spurs could drive. The sea followed
with fearful rspidity, but Dahut's
cries Of fright were louder in his ears
than the noise of the waves, still not
20 loud ~ supernatural voice beside
him, which, said--io sloei ssl3 ssallha
"GradIon, if you would not perish
yourself, rid yourself of tho demon
whs rides behisd you" F9si'aafe[- .
Dahut also heard the voice, and be-
came slmost frantic with terror she
hung convulsively to her father; but
he, recognizing in the voice warning
from heaven, shook her OF into the
wave that followed them. Then the
king rode on safely TO Qaimper, and
nxsd his court, making that city the
capital Of ancient Connouailles. s, ..a
Thus ends the story Of the city of Is.
The spirit Of the wicked princess is
supposed 10 inhabit still the city that
she sacrificed. a41at.< zsH ess.is.sl
There may or may not be truth in
the story-there certainly is poetry
and tragedy in it; and this much cer-
tainiy adults Of no question-there is
q drowned city, there was q king
and there may have been a
Dahut. -4s..-s.f.. .3.,,
44tfs asts O.