Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-03-05
Translated for the Free Press and Times. J
The Man in the Iron Mask
FROM TIE FRENCH OF NJ. FLRuE'

FROM TIE FRENCH OF N. FLEtEf-
This charac,er is placed in history, be-
tween the wears 1913 and SO.
While the great King by the splendor OF
his reign, had conferred upon the epoch OF
his monarchy great renown, there was in
France prisoner whose history IS most OK
traordinarv. All the world was, and is yet
entirely ignorant of all details concerning
him even his very name was unknown to
the public. while his nationality was an equal
mystery. lie was therefore known as The
Man in the Iron Mask. Because, in order to
render the mystery the more profound, when
ever he was seen b; any, excepting his I'M
mediate keeper or governor, his head was
always covered with mask of that metal,
which eircclually hid his face from any
curious observer.
| Some writers assure us that his command
ing air, and his general appearance Of majes-
ty gave him striking resemblance to the
King Louis XIV; but they speak only from
conjcct,res, for no one was allowed TO ap-
! Dltltl tHlS lClsohss1eI ~@,~Ps '''~
mos. strict surveillance, and beyond question
| i, was deemed highly important to conceal
his form from all eyes, so his entire life was
passed in the most rigid imprisonment. The
small number of domcstics who were at
tached to his person never addressed him
but with manifestations of the most pro-
found respect, and with entire submission,
while at the same time none of them knew
either his name or his station in life.
The governor of the chateau where he was
incarcerated, never approached his prisoner
but with hat in hand and he never refused
him anything possible under his commission
which would be either useful or agreeable
to him. Notwithstanding it is very likely
| that the governor was aware of the facts
concerning his charge. his name, his nation
ality and his social and political status; but
he had pledged, with his life, to preserve
invioate the dangerous secret. The Man in
the Iron Mask, whoever he may have been,
passed his sad and gloomy life immured
within four strong walls, whence he walked
out but rarely, and then simply for prone
made upon the elevated tower which was
connected with the chateau. when he was
constantly attended by his governor and
watched by several guards, while his vsage
was ever covered by the impenetrable mask.
All the kindness and all the respect conferred
| upon him must have seemed to him but as a
mockery, while he was deprived of his
| liberty. Alas. Sad indeed was his fate for
liberty was what he was never TO under
stand.
| During a long series of years. this un-
known was confined in a chateau situated in
the Island of St. Marguerite. in the Mediter-
rancan and but brief distance from the coast
of France; from the narrow window of his
| prison, he was able to see the waves of the
sea, as they dashed against the foundations
of his tower. and the ships as they passed
rapidly in view from his sad retreat. 1t was
his unique distraction, though he never tired
of books and musical instruments which he
possessed Chose who had an opportunity Of
listening to his melodies, say they were uni
formly sad), as he watched the ships he
would saw nothing is SO desirable to me as
the lot of those sailors, who on their frail
banks, are permitted to sail all over the
world, while all my life is TO be passed in a
room only about ten feet in length"
One day this poor unfortunate conceived
the desire of making known his secret to
some human being outside his prison, not
probably that he had any hope of deliver
ancc, but because the miserable sometimes
find a sort of relief in the knowledge that
perhaps some one knows. who will have
compassion upon their suffering. AS they
did not allow him pens, or ink, or pencils. he
made use of one of the silver plates on which
his meals were served and engraved upon
it with the point of a knife his name with
the history of his life. This accomplished,
he took advantage OF moment when he
was alone by throwing the silver plate
through the bars of his window and it fel
into the sea beneath.
Some time after poor fisherman, who wa:
attending TO his nets not far from the foot OF
the tower, was astonished upon drawing
them. by finding in them something heavy.
II was the silver plate of-the Iron Mask, and
rs ,l.is simple man could not read, he
thought the pate had fallen by mistake into
the waves, and he hastened to the governor
of the chateau with the hope of some re-
ward.
As soon ss the writing of his prisoner cam,
under his observation he became palid with
fear and despair, for there in plain language
was the whole secret for the keeping o
which he was responsible with his life. Hi
looked fxedly at the as.onished fisherman
and demanded Of him, in stern voice
/ Ht ltdu Nlilt NssS pH
graved on the silver plate The maj
replied that he had never learned I,
unravel such sCrawls and that no one hai
ever taught him to read. Then the governo
was relieved from terrible agony, and afte
having given some money to the fisherman
he informed him that ii was most fortunat
for him he had never learned TO read.
few days aftcrward the fisherman dis
appeared. Whether he was assassinated o
taken ont of the country was never we
known. 1t was supposed that he was sen
TO the sea bottom.
+ Some little time after the circumstance o
the plate, above related, The Man of the lro
Mask was removed to Paris and immurc
ina fortress known as the Bastile, and whic
was situated on the same ground where ma.
lie seen at this da;; bronze column, elevate
in commcmoration Of the capture and dc
struCton Of this ancient instrument of roy,
tyranny, in which men and women and eve
: children We're placed to be known no NOR
among men.
Here this man passed many long years an
when he died the mystery which had envi
roned his whole life remained without soli
T tion. In order to secure this, his face W,
:, gashcd and so rendered unacceptable. les
= some might see his inanimate form and fin
= some clue 10 the secret Nothing was cv'
publicly known concerning this renarkabl
state prisoner. PLATO.