Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-02-23
A PrinceIy French Chateau.
Paris Corr. Boston Advertiser

The Chateau de Dampierre is one of
the most royal private residences in
France. 1t was built upon the ruins OF
a renaissance manor by the Due de Luy-
mes III 1880, and was completely restored
by his descendant, Duo Honore de Luy-
mes in 1843. Situated in the fertile val
ley of Chevreuse, in the midst of mag
niticent park, it is complete museum
and attractive residence. Unfortunate
ly, however, it lies in the valley instead
OF on the hill top; so it is damp, and as
sad as the saddest corner of our Fau-
bourg st. German. But within there is
too much to attract our attention and alb
sorb our interest to give time to look
out of the great high windows into the
solemn courtyard, as up into the park,
which seems placed there to keep watch
over a prison, from which it debars the
sun. From the nagnifcently chiseled
gate and the double range of white mar
BILE balustrades surrounding the court
of honor, to the royal entrance of this
pure Louis XIV, palace, with it's meats
still full of water, and its draw-bridges
in perfect order, nothing has been
changed, and everything speaks of a
different century. Within, modern COM
fort has claimed it's rightful place, but
without destroying art and treasures of
bygone times.
The most celebrated object of art at
Dampierre is the solid silver statue Of
Louis XIII. 1t stands upon a pedestal
in the middle of square room entirely
hung with violet velvet upon which is
embroidered silver Reau's de It's. There
is nothing else in the room. One is not
supposed to sit In the presence of the
king. No chateau in France contains so
many objects of interest as Dampierre.
There is superb collection of mineralo-
gy; a library of $4,000 volumes; such
bronzes, marbles and armor, as one rare
~ sees; and all this to-day in the hands
OF beautiful woman-daughter of De
Larochfoucald, DUO de Bisaccia. widow
of the last young brave Due de Luynes.
In 1870 she was 2Oyears old. Two love
ly children had already blessed b ar mar
riage, and not cloud seemed destined
to darken the horizon of her life. Her
husband was not a soldier, but he knew
how to do his duty as a Frenchman. He
took sword from apanoply of arms; he
shouldered chassepot, and claimed his
place as simple soldier in the ranks.
What he suffered during his four months
campaign the heroic soldiers of the
Loire, who survived, alone can tell. He
was fighting at Ninneville, side by side
with his brother. the Duke de Chambres.
(already wounded) when an obus blew
off his shoulder and disfgured half his
head. After the battle he was carried
off the field, dressed in his simple uni
form, the trousers in tatters and no soles
to his shoes, and thus his body was sent
home to Dampierre. So died the descen-
dant Of the Constable, and Marie de Ro-
han, the glory of this brave young SOL
der is not, by any means, the least
precious part of the princely inheritance
left to his widow and children. Ten
years have passed since then. The
Duchesse de Luynes has put off mourn
ing. She receives with royal hospitality
those Of her friend to whom the doors of
her chateau are open, but her heart holds
fast to the souvenir of the past, and we
believe her when she says she will never
marry again.