The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-29
AN OLD HISTORIC PALAIS.

day Night.
 Tn. oldest architectural remains in p,r;s are the ruins of the baths once be- Ionging to a palace built for the Roman ,mnerors at the beginning of the fourth century. Constan,ius Chorus occupied ,h,s palace first. and there Julian was nroela,med emperor by his soldiers m ,6o Built on elevated ground on the .ou,h side of the Seine. il was ,he resi- Hence of the early Erankish monarehs for many years. The present manson, s,oxp as the Hotei de Cluny, was erected on the site of the Roman palace al the beginning of the sixteenth century by the abbo,s of Cluny. who had bought the property. This edihce rekIins is medi- rxal exterior almos; iniaS. and IS re- narkably tae specimen of the archltec- ,ure of ,ha, period. The abbots. who lived in Burgundy. seldom visited Paris. hence they placed their mansion at the disposal of the kings of France. The year that Francis l. was crowned, ISls, Mary. sister of Henry VIII. of England and widow of Louis MI. of France, took up her residence there, and her apart ment. still called Chamber of the White l Queen" because it was the custom of the queens of France 10 wear white mourning, IS shown the curious visitor. The ancient carved bedstead on which she reposed is there, together with the msttrass and eoverlet In this room are preserved a number of musical instru ments belonging to that time. There is A piano the size of small meiodeon. l The piano was in is infancy then. and many wish Ii had never emerged from l that comparatively harmless condition. There is d choice collection of violins. the l smalles, being no larger than q ladys l hand There are lutes and mandolines. xhich piantive lovers have made erst- while to sigh with lovesick airs. l trow. ] In writing of these relics of the middle l ages, l ind |, difficult to avoid trowIng | occasionally. l am a middle age relic l myself Louis MI. was wIdower. past l fifty, when he demanded the Princess Mary for wife. she being but sixteen. She vas then betro;hed to another whom she loved. the duke of Suffolk. bu, the wishes of the young princes are rarely consulted in such cases, and she was compelled to accept the old French king for husband. When she departed for Paris to join her royal spouse, only one of her English attendants was permitted 10 accompany her. This was hand- some young lady destined to play con
 spicuous and tragic role before her life closed. You have he,rd of her perhaps her name was Anne BoleYn.
 King Louis MI. only lived three months after their marriage, when he oled thereby setting an example to uch and titled old men welded 10 young wives that is worthy of emulation. Henry sent an envoy 10 France, after suitable delay. to fetch his sister home again, and who should this gentleman be but Mary's old flame the duke of Suffolk. Their hrst meeting doubtless occurred in the grand saloon of this old palace of Cluny. now occupied as museum. Hand some Anne Boleyn might have been lowering in the background, waiting for an opportunity to inquire after the health Of Bluff King Harry for there Is no knowing how early that old Mormon be- gan his flirtations with his sisters maid of honor. Perhaps the duke bore sly llttle billet-deux from the fat monar, h. No thought of the scaffold and the heads mans ax in Anne's mind then. think would be more interesting to be shown the room which charming Miss Boleyn occupied at Ciuny than the chamber oi the white queen, who never did anything n particular to distinguish herself.
 Francis l., who succeeded Louis MI. on the throne. though his seat would be more secure if the widow of his predeces- sor took for her second spouse an Egg ashman rather than a Erenohman. So he encouraged her old lover, the duke. 10 marry her, and it IS even said that the handsome young widow hinted to Suffolk mat II was now or never So they sere married. here a, Cluny palace, with out waiting to consult the authorities a1oss the channel. Bluff Harry was buffer than ever when they came to see hun in his palace by the Thames and e'ushingly hinted that henceforh one room would answer for them both, bu, ae afterwards forgave them. which seems to have been about the only decen, thing ne old sinner ever did. The sigh, Of Anne boleyn, who had acquired some ad aInonally bewiiching airs during her Pa ns'An sojourn, might have had a rnollify R effect. It is said, moreover. ,ha;
 ardinal Wolsey interoeded in their be- half.
 The cardinal, you will reeolleet, was aat good, easy man, who swam on blad eexs tor time, according 10 his own con-
 sslon. His high-blown pride burs, un- aa him soon after, when he opposed his nyzl masters brutal desire to put away ss faithful old queen Catherine in order s mary Anne Boleyn- Anne was as .xous for this. consummation as the ng vas, which prevents ones sympa-
 so going out to her altogether, though - probably did not merit the fate that
 6mateay befell her. Wolsey committed
 e1sdinal ofsense when he attempted 10 .eddle in Henry's love affairs, and his
 Un1a0 vas 50 instantaneous as to be
 6lul Humiliaied and dispossessed of hne palaces and great riches, we sec - aA abject and broken-hearted old
 leaving London in compliance with
 6ng's command to seclude himself
 aa humble country mansion It is re-