Evening star., 1896-12-31
THE REAL MR.. BLUEBEARD.
Prof Wilson's story of Who the
Noted Murderer Was.

The American Folk Lore Society. which
held its eighth annual meeting in Hamilton
Hall, Columbia College. New York, Tues
day. heard the true story of "Bluebeard,'
that terror of the nursery, and even of
men and women who think of the many
murders attributed to him In prose and
verse. Prof. Thomas Wilson of Washing
ton was the narrator. and the vouchers for
its truth. he says. are to be found among
the peasants OF Brittany, where he spent
several years.
The people of the province of Brittany"
said Prof. Wilson. in the New York Times
report of the session believe almost in
sist that .Bluebeard' lived in their prov
iTca. According to them. he was GILES de
Rails. the latter part of the name being
Retz in later days. Giles de Rails was
born about 1i0i, and of a family that was
of the .ioblest of the world. Brittany
was not then a part of France. He was
early deprived by death of his father. His
mother lived many years after that
According TO the theory OF the country,
the mother was not fit to care for her male
children. and young GILES and his brother
came under the care of his maternal grand
father.
The grandfathers first step was to look
about for a wife for Giles and the young
fellow was husband when ne was sixteen
and a hall years old. His wife lived many
years after him. and she never complained
of having been i'll treated.
War came with the English and
under command of his grandfather, GILES
became a soldier. His record was one of
gallantry and quick advancement. In 112g
he became dean of the mobiles of Brittany
BY royal request he went soon after that
TO meet Charles VII OF France. That was
about the time of the advent into history of
Joan OF Arc He became a member of her
body guard. captain, If L remember the
story Alright.
AT the coronation of Charles he was
made a marshal OF France but he did not
IL
back to Brittany. rich and ready for en-
joyment. He owned half a dozen castles
and spent money with the greatest extrav-
agance.
His income finally fell far short of be-
ing sufficient for his expensive tastes and
some plan TO make money had to be re-
sorted TO- He changed his plan of life en-
tirely- He sought for the so-called philos-
opher's stone. He became a miser About
that time he met an Italian priest who had
got Into trouble and who claimed to be an
alchemist They worked day and night in
a gloomy castle. but success did not come
FINALLY the priest persuaded him that to
attain what they sought It would be nee
essary that they should have the flesh and
blood. particularly the latter. OF innocent
young men and women Then began that
career Of crime that causes older people to
shudder. and the story of which is used to
fri2hten children.
''TerTorize1 neghbors at last took ection
B!usbeard the priest and their assistant
We're arrested. They were tried and con-
victed by the church authorities and then
by the secular courts They were SEN
fenced to be burned Bluebeard had a
dream. In which spirit told him that he
should he hanged. He requested that form
of execution. and the favor was half
granted
He and the priest and the servant were
hanged. and just as they were expiring
fagots were lighted under the gibbet Even
today the peasants of Brittany will point
out to you. trembling, the spot where Blue
beard met his righteous doom''
The Folk Lore Society heard many more
stories during the session from o O'Clock to
o O'Clock. but none that kept the attention
of the members at higher attention than
this.
DIR. Robert NJ. Lawrence of Lexington
Mass, presented a wonderful budget of
lore. legend and fancy about common salt
Miss Alice G. Fletcher of Washington
read a paper on Ceremonial Hair Cutting
Among the Omahas and Related Tribes"
DR.. Franz Boas of Columbia University
told legend Of Alaska. which he found In
practically the same form in Nova Scotia
and the middle parts OF North America.
W W. Newell of Cambridge. Mass, had
Tor subject the legend OF the Holy Grail;
Harlan l. Smith OF New York related an
Otiowa myth; the Rev. W. g. ScarborouQh.
a eolored minister. gave examples Of negro
play music. and Stansbury Hagar of
Brooklyn told Miculac weather stories.
The society elected these officers: Presi-