Sacramento daily record-union., 1883-10-24
OUR PARIS LETTER.
a VISIT TO THE SUMMER RESIDENCE
OF QUEEN HENRIETTA.
Aftsr Her Plight from England-walks
About Faris-Mysterious Deaths Of
Prominent Personages-Etc

henry james says, IN lis moSb uSliShb'
ful article, "En Provence" that "we
good Americans are to apt to think that
France is Paris, just as we are accused OF
being too apt to think that Paris is the
celestial city. This is by no means the
case, fortunately for those persons who
take an interest in modern Gaul, and yet
are still left vaguely unsatistied by that
epitome of civilization which stretches
from the Arc de Triomphe to the Gymnase
Theater." To every Partisan Paris is
France, and its environs are almost as un.
know to the genuine Partisan as they GER
tainIy are to the majority of good Ameri.
cans." We come to Paris to see Paris,
and not it's environs, but, in time, we,
too, come to feel that " unsatisfed long
ing which the epitome OF civilization which
stretches from the Arc de Triomphe to
tle Gymnase Theater, could not crafty.
VISIT TO COLONIES.
One morning we started out on tour of
investigation, and hearing that one of the
towns nearest Paris had been the summer
residence of the ill-fated Queen Henrietta,
we determined to begin with CoIombes.
We found that the trains left Paris every
hour from the station st. Lazare, and in
fifteen minutes we reached the favorite
village OF the poor Queen, and more de-
lightful village it would not be possible to
find in all France. Surrounded by forests
of enormous old oaks and elms and lindenp,
and dense shrubbery, and gently rolling
hills, Colombes is a rarely lovely spot
Coming from the whirl and rush and deaf
ening noise of Paris, and its hot, dusty
atmosphere, the perfect quiet of this
lovely suburb, with its invigorating,
healthy air, was most grateful. Colombes
has about 1000 inhabitants, and very in
teresting church, which dates from the
thirteenth century. From the end of the
main street we passed at once into the
grounds of the
CHATEAU OF QUEEN HENRIETTA.
As every one knows, this most unhappy
Princess was the daughter of Henry ".
and of Marie de Medicis. Born at Paris
in 1909, and married to Charles l., of En-
gland, in 1925, she was accused of inhu-
encing the King against the Protestants,
and obliged to flee to France in 1914 AT
ter the deplorable end of her husband, the
Queen retired to 3 convent at Chaillot,
founded by herself in happier days. She
returned TO England when her son was
crowned Charles H., but not to remain
long. Her delicate health could not endure
the climate of England. 1t was decided
to build her chateau at Colombes, cele.
hrated for its pure air, and in that chateau
she lived, and there, in 1869, she died.
No doubt at one time it was fine royal
residence, but IS one sees it to-day there is
not much to appeal to the strongest imag-
nation. It isa vast square pile of stone, brick
and mortar, inclosed by large, and un-
doubtedly once very magnificent, grounds,
but nov sadly neglected. The building has
no architectural value whatever. The vast
rooms have been cut up iuto very small
ones, and only occasional glimpses are
caught of former magnifcence. For a long
time after the death of Queen Henrietta
the chateau remained closed. Under the
last empire it was purchased by Monsieur
Alvincourt, prominent Government Off
cial at Paris. During the sojourn of this
gentleman at the ancient royal residence
Colombes seemed to take q new lease of
life buildings were erected everywhere,
and even the lovely Empress seemed to
take an interest in the former home OF
Queen Henrietta visited it on several oo-
casions, and presented the church with
three fine Ginning bells and
BAPTIzED THEM WITH HER MANN,
After the war of 1879, when France be.
came Republic, NJ. Alvinoourt, the faith
ful servant of the third Napoleon, was
obliged to leave Colombes, the majority of
the population being Republicans. The
royal chateau was then sold, and divided
among the relations of Alvincourt,
The greater part of it is oc.
cupied now by sister.
hood The building has indeed every sp-
pearance of Catholic convent, and the
practical sistera have made SO many
changes that tbs primitive character of the
once elegant chateau is now almost entirely
lost. The good nuns showed US, with great
pride, one vast, hitherto unused chamber,
the sleeping-room and death chamber OF
the Queen. 1t was in this apartment that
the Qaeen received
HER DAUGHTER HENRIETTA
OF England, princess no less unfortunate
than her mother. Born in England, mar
riei to Philippe, Duke of Orleans, brother
of Louis XIV, this beautiful woman was
the most brilliant ornament of that brilliant
court. Witty, intelligent and cultured,
neglected by her husband, she was snr-
rounded by admirers, and by the bitterest
enemies. In 1870 she was charged by
Louis XIV. with a secret mission to the
King of England. Charles IL, her brother.
The object of this mission was to break
the connection of the English prince with
Holland. Henrietta returned in ten days,
having met with perfect success. A few
days later she died suddenly, without
a moments warning, in perfect health,
after drinking cup of chicory.
1t was generally believed that she
was poisoned and the Chevalier Lorraine
was accused, as the Princess had been the
indirect cause of his exile. Bossnet
preached her funeral sermon, also that OF
her mother-the most beautiful compost.
tions of that great orator. We turned
aEdtu lubO bue SLIeblS Dl the NlilaBeb bOulo-
what disappointed that the old royal
chateau had not appealed more vividly
TO our imaginations, and were about re.
turning to dusty old Paris when we heard
ioyfully that COlombes possessed
ANOTHER OLD CHATEAU,
Which, though not the residence of a
Qaeeu, contained some rare and precious
objects of art. Thither we wended our
steps, and were amply compensated for
the disappointment "in all things royal. u
This chateau was built for one of the
courtiers of Louis XIV, and is of the
architecture of that period, though the
style Of q portion of the building dates
from an earlier time. There are about
thirty-fve ROOMS, not including many
which are not used. This chateau re.
manned closed for many years, and finally
attracted the attention of Madame Blanc.
the wife of the celebrated director of the
gambling houses at Monaco Possessor of