Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-07-26


cred Impregnnble, being the most
strongly fortide ed place IN Europe
during the sixth, twelfth. and thir-
more attacked, AMI oaly opened its
gates to the Black Primes in 1855, when
all Lsnguedoc had submitted to that
conquerer.
Architects, archeologists, and mtl-
itary engineers are never weary of ex-
patiating on the many defensive lie.
sources of Carcassonne, SO planned
that foot by foot the ground must
needs be contested against fearful
odds. But we may CLEAN a general
idea of the mode of defence by the fol.
lowing details: That, firstly, there was
q double ring of ramparts, which, to
guard against inner revolt, were cut
of from the torn. Sec nlIy. even
were the walls gained, each tower be
came a separate stronghold, con-
manded by its own captain, who e
orders were called through speaking
tubes of masonry. Thus almost a9
stern a front was turned inwards n
outwards of this massive circle bris--
ling with towers and pierced with
deadly loopholes. 1t Is calculated that
1922 soldiers were employed Tor its dc.
fence, with at tCast double that num-
Der of workmen ard meaner yGr!ct,
employed to repair damages and sup
ply the various engines of destruction
with missiles; great stones here to be
hurled down in crushing force, there
burning faggots and boiling streams o.
lead.
l. IL E,I -
minds from the bloody hand to-hand
fights that took place on the very
ground where we stand, and visit the
town this chilly May morning. A very
narrow street leads uphill from the
great Narbonne gate, its houses ev.
identity owning now but poor inhab-
itants. On the summit of the slope a
space is cleared around the chateau.
This castle is a keep within larger
ronghold-the kernel of the nut. II
also possesses a moat and bridge, mas
sive walls, and the city watch-tower.
Climbing up thither presently with
the garden we can see round all the
envIroning country atar, and somehow
Biblical memories arise OF the watch
man who stool and saw Jehu driving
furiously. Why thoughts of Pales.
tine should often occur to me at Car
cassonne L can hardly say; perhaps
that the description of "the city set
on hill which cannot be hid, "
returns again aud again to ones mind.
The castle is no ruin. Its barrack
yard is full of soldiers, for though ce .
turies pass and uniforms change, its
strong ch NIB RS still house Its def nd
tNI, 4
if not in breastplate and jerkin. Only
the banQuet-hall and rooms of the for
mer governors were destroyed durin S
the Revolution.
But the ramparts are the chief end
of our walk. Threading two narrow
alleys, the garden of these is found iu
a cheerful little house. He brings q
great bunch of keys, and going close
by to the most picturesque second
gateway, the Porte de L'Aude, un ocks
postern door, and we climb up stone
stairs to the tower above, and windy,
broad rsmparts overlooking the river
valley. 1t Is a wonderful sight. All
has been here so splendidly repaired
that not a stone is missing of W lis and
battlemenis. Down this oblOng aper
ture you can descry the sharply angu,
lar steep ascent to the gateway. 1t is
the machicolation down which they
rolled stone balls, that CATERED among
the enemy's legs. Some are still KEPT
as curiosities.
Now on, for we have far to go, ovel
the wide walls like terraces, and W
stone stairways to the various towers
All of these, fifty-four in entire mum.
ber, need not be described But the
prison is not easily forgotten, with Its
torture-chamber and fireplace for
heating iron instruments, and private
door through which the inquisltor el.
tered. On the walls one can family
trace rudely scratched drawing repre-.
senting tortured wretch. There Is 6
worse vault beneath. Peering into it,
depths-unless you have courage t.
follow the guide down a ladder-you
distinguish a central pillar, to which
leg chains are still attached. "Thi.
dungeon was iull of bones, and the
tibi of man was in this very ring
when the tower was opened" declares
the garden with pride; and proceeds
TO show how lost to all succor any cap
tive must be with such thickness OF
masonry between his languishing ex'
istence and outside friends.
The Bishops Tower contains really
pleasant rooms; it is now a small
museum for curious carvings, and gar.
goyles found during the restoration.
We must hurry, however, to the gem
of Carcassonne-the exquisite old
church of St. Nazaire, though space
forbids dwelling on its beauties. Still,
its glorious windows may flame
before our eyes in such a glow of col Il
and wealth of tracery as seldom glad
dens the sight. Simon de Montfo rt'l
slab is considered by Vol ct lie Due as
either enormously supp Dsed to cover
his remains, or as merely placed there
to his m mory. But the tomb of Arch.
bishop Radulph Is remarkable monu-
ment, with its sculpture C c,nons.
] would gladly linger to examine the
old stone walls; cross the open grassy
space behind the church to the postern
door, where SO many fighti took place,
no doubt; but some hurried glances are
only possible. The port de PAude ii
near-too n ar. 30 having entered
the city by its great gate of Narbonne,
1t Will be peasant to leave by the rIva
river gate which descends so sharply
TO the DcldBe.
As 1 go down by abrupt turns, cum
ningly planned to discomfort an en-
emy, L seem in abso ute solitude.
Then a Gathering sound on the
stones, as some soldiers come swinging
behind with empty b gs, suggesting .
need of provisions. Two rosy little
girls follow them, racing hand in hand,
laughing and breathless for it Is almost
impossible to stop. So other children,
different soldiers, must have swung
along and raced many and many {
thousand times through past ages.
One last LOOK at the gr y city ringed
with its towers and battlements. Good.
bye, Carcassonnel
Garner has a Talking Monkey.
Professor Garner, who went tc
Africa to study mOnkey-lanyuape