The morning call., 1891-07-05
The DAUPHIN'S
DESCENDANTS.
A Banquet to Those Who Believe Dau-
phinites We're WrOnged.
The Old Marche du Temple-Restoration Of lie
Palais Royal-Prince Roland Bonaparte's
Book Issued for Private Circulation.
Special Correspondence of THE SUNDAY CALL.

Special Correspondence of THE SUNDAY CALL.
PARIS, June 16, 1S91.-Some time ago !
wrote of the Naundorffs. aud the belief,
held by many. that Louis XVII did not
perish in the Temple, but escaped with the
aid of Barras and Josephine. Those who
mold this opinion are becoming more and
more numerous, for in a few days will be
given at the Hotel Continental a banquet
that will be attended by those who believe
that the Dauphin's descendants have been
deprived of their rights
What romances have been en.wined
around this historical drama! There seems
to be no doubt that Louis XVII did escape
from the Temple, but how is a question not
yet agreed upon. Louis Blanc had theory
that Barras substituted the gardeners son
for the son of L 1uis XVI, and that jose
phine was the principal instigator of this
intrigue. This opinion seems to be more
favorably received than any other, but tie
banquet will be a most interesting mixture
OF French cuisine and historical criticism.
AS am writing OF the Temple, it may be
interesting to know that this unfortunate
market is now passing through crisis, be-
cause buyers are no longer seen in this
great building that might be either prison
or cloiSter.
remember when the Temple was one Of
the picturesque sights of Paris, when stall
after stall was occupied by clothing that
would have delighted the heart of Bowery
merchant, where, for ten cents, woud-be
fashionable could have white vest. for sew
enty-five cents a coat, for one cent collar,
and for two cents pair of socks. 1t was in
this Temple that one could buy boots and
shoes from the Morgue. and these wonder
fully cheap.
CAUSE OF THE CRISIS.
And the cause of this crisis? In the go cd
old days tue merchant was allowed to sta nd
at tie entrance of the Temple and compel
the people to leone in" Now the mer-
chants have been obliged to sign a document
In which they promise to no longer modest
passers-by. Indeed, handbills announcing
this fact are posted at the entrance of the
temple; buyers are no longer invited.
Please walk in and speak to the merchant"
30 d!scontentei are the merchants because
of their enforced silence that the Municipal
VI uncli IS planning To make of the Temple
some kind of public building, perhaps
another Palais Royal. Before this building
became the Temple, known 10 our genera
ton. 1t was called the Rotonda; there were
iorty-four arcades, sustained by columns, and
every stall had a lodging above The occu-
pants of these stalls and these lodgings had
privileges possessed by no others. If they
were debtors they here found an asylum aud
were sheltered from the law. A sheriff
could go no farther than the entrance door,
and the debtor could converse with his cred
itors on the threshold, although II lie made
one step in advance he was captured Nat
urally every effort was made 10 entice the
debtor outside. but seldom did one fail into
the trap.
So the Temple suffers now what the famous
haSs t,ffa in, dow hat
gone, for efforts are now made 20 restore the
beauty and animation of former times to
the gardens of the Palais Royal. Fifty
years ago the Palais Royal had no rival, but
shop after shop has disappeared and with
them public taste for the galleries. After
the Cafe Fay, the Cafe Vaois. dear to Bril-
at-Sayarln, the Restaurant Very and the
Trois FrereS Provenceaux have closed their
doors. The last mentioned was the most
famous of all and there were found the
rareSt fruits and the most gigantic fish.
CURIOUS PEOPLE.
Always before the windows was stationed
crowd of curious people gazing at The mar
velouS asparagus and straw berries and
when one wished to show friend the SUI
preme gaStronomic courtesy he invited him
to dine at tho Trois Freres. With these res
taurants has disappeared another attraction
from the Palals Royal-the crystal staircase.
For hours at time people remained regard
Ing this staircase and 1t always seemed to
them wonderful that one could walk on the
steps without break king them.
Many projects are now in contemplation
for the restoration of the popularity of tie
once celebrated Palais Royal. There is even
talk of making road to give carriages ac-
cess TO the galleries ana of transforming the
galleries into fairylandS.
Among the books of the week is one by
Prince Roland Bonaparte, called IAN Ex.
cursion to Corsica" The work is not Tor
sale, as only 2000 copies have been printed
for the 1000 friends of the author. Having
the good fortune to be among the favored
ones have spent several hours very pleas
antiy In reading the 500 pages, tiiled with
precise descriptions, anecdotes. legends and
souvenirs concerning the island that fur
nished an Emperor to France and Presi-
dent to-the republic of San Domingn! For,
1t seems that a Corsican sailor had landed
on this island in the last century, became
parsonage and was for some time chief of
executive poWer.
Prince Roland Bonaparte tries to defend
the C0rsican bandits and presents them to
US as gentlemen. He says that we must not
confuse brigand with bandit. The bandit
is not vulgar robber and assassin, but
rebel. who in the presence of mans injns-
tice metes out justice himself. Like all
primitive teopie," says the Prince, 1.-THE
Corsicans abhor injustice. Under Genoese
government they were ill-treated, and since
there has been but little Improvement in
their treatment. From this ill-treatment
sprang the vendetta"
FEWER BANDITS.
According to the Prince there are now
fewer bandits but more drunkards in Cor
sica
A Corsican who for some time has lived
in Algeria returns to his country and
says: After an absence Of ten years no
longer recognize Corsica. and am ashamed
to make this acknowledgment The forty
five cafes where liquor can be obtained
were on the Cours Napoleon when left
Corsica, and then there was scarcely an
abSinthe-drinker in the entire island"
Prince Roland adds: IF l love Corsica, it
Is not only because Corsica was the cradle
OF the Bonaparte family, but also because
during the century when a heavy tyranny
weighed upon the world CorsicauS already
struggled for independence and because
these sublime mountains inspired in them
the sacred sentiments that lives in the
depths of our hearts-Iove of liberty"
Certainly Prince Roland's last work is
model of learning and the author merits
sincere congratulations. 1t has even more
interest at the present time because the
French Government has refused to allow
Prince Jerome burial on Corscan ground
Why this refusal? Certainly it gives the
Bonapartists reason for believing that their
party is not dead. Ii corner of Corsican
earth be refused to the remains of Jerome,
Is it not sign that the name of Bonaparte
still inspires fear?
Since this refusal the Bonapartists have
taken courage and decided that their past
IS not really past. and that the heirs of
Napoleon still have reason for hope.
BARONESS ALrHEA SALVADOR