Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-28
~L,H0MME RoUGE.~
The Red speceer OF the Tuilerics.

IdzeHe, engaged In pulling down the burnt
Palace OF the Tuiieries aware that they are also
laying ghost? 1t is doubtful, for the legend of
the Red Specter who haunted, and may still
haunt. the building Is now almost forgotten.
Yet 1t IL not SO long ago that the goblin.
who showed himself on the eve Of great disas-
tiers, was mentioned with bated BREATH not only
In the palace but by many of the Inhabitants OF
the Louvre Quarter. There is no record to show
when he FIRST took up his lodging at the Tui!e-
rles, but it Is affirmed that he disclosed his
existence there most Enthusiastically during the
great revolutionary period. few days before
the terrible 10th of August, 1850 the story
goes-Marle Antoinette's women were sitting In
the Sale des Gardes when they became sudden
ly aware of the presence of small man clothed
from crown to heel in scarlet, who looked at
them with such unearthly eyes that they were
frozen with terror. They rushed to the apart
ment OF Madame Ia Dauphine and related their
adventure.
The next apparition of the Red Man was in
1914 In the presence Of the little king OF Rome
and his attendants; and the red figure was again
seen, according to report little before the
death OF Louis XVIII, this time in the Galerie
du Louvre. In 1915, however, much discredit
practical joking of some art student attached to
eros studio at the Louvre. Some of the Louvre
apartments had been placed at the disposal of
ruined emigrants who had returned to France
and found a protectreSs in the Duchesse DAN
gonleme. Among these were two old maiden
ladies and a knight Of St. Louis, who were din
Ing together one evening, when to their SUI
preme establishment grand diable rouge"
came down the chimney, and snatching a
leg of mutton from the table disappeared
with 1t by the way he came. The incident was
reported to the Duchess, who sought the pres
ence of the King. and with tears pouring down
her face declared her conviction that some great
misfortune was impending. The King laughed at
his nieces fears and sent for chlmney-sw eeper
A boy who went up the chimney to look for the
'dIabie rouge" didnot return. A man was then
sent up but nothing more was seen or heard Of
NM The greatest excitement reigned in the
palace and at length fireman undertook to
explore the haunted chimney. He returned
and explained the mystery. It appeared
That end +t the Ct, chimney passed BY Gros' studio
the wall, were enabled to play these pranks
upon illustrious personages. They had made
the two sweeps their confederates, but the fire.
man was not to be bribed. A writer In one of
the Paris papers who recalls this anecdOte re-
lates in all seriousness the circumstances under
which the genuine goblin Of the Tuilerles made
his final appearance. 1t was in 1871, during the
last days Of the Commune. The Journalist had
the story, he says, from the lips Of the witness
who trembled while he told it. He was a con-
clerge at the Louvre, and while making his ac-
customed round one night lantern in hand
through the silent galleries. he observed in the
Galerie dApollon human form standing
against window, with crossed arms and droop-
ing head, in an attitude of profound affection
Believing he had surprised robber, the
concierge made towards the intru-
der, who thereupon disappeared in
most mysterious fashion. He tried to per-
suades himself that his senses had deceived
him, when on reaching the Grande Galerie he
saw the same figure again, in the same mel
ancholy posture. On being challenged the form
vanished. The official then remembered the
legend of the Homme Rouge. and lost no time
In regaining the street Presently he returned
with some of his comrades, to whom he had
related what he had seen; but this time the
search for the goblin was fruitless and was cut
short by another kind of apparition-a lurid
glare In the sky. The Communists had begun
their incendiary work, and the next day the
flames shot out of every window Of the Tuil-
cries. 1t will be seen that the Bed Man not
only haunts the palace with which his name il
associated, but also the adjoining buildings of
the Louvre. So it is doubtful If he will quit
the precincts to which he Is linked by so many
associations, even when there is not a stone left
to tell where the Tuileries once stood.