The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1897-09-02
JAILS IN OLDER PARIS.

The jails of the capital of France
had an evil reputation under the mon
archy and, though the revolution be-
gan with the destruction of the bastile,
the most famous or infamous-of them
the reign of terror added to the dread
IN which they were held by all who
were unfortunate enough to come near
them as mere spectators. Tighe Hop
kins has just brought together series
of anecdotes relating to them and pub
lished it under the title of "The Dun
geons of Old Paris'
None Of these prisons has so evil
memory as the Conciergerie. 1t was
not only the most ancient and fOrmid-
able of them all, but such deeds took
place within it's walls that it's very
name is a reproach to the nation which
established it. During the revolution
it was named ''the ante chamber to the
guillotine," for more than 1000 souls
passed under it's frowning gates to their
death. Of these the greatest in rank
was the queen, Marie Antoinette, who
slept here before her execution. Soon
after she had mounted the scaffold the
twenty-five Girondins condemned to
death within a day were brought into
| it's gates for their last lodging on earth.
| Thence, too, passed the dukes of Or
leans and of Chazun and many others
of the best blood of France. Gen. Beau
harnais, whose widow was to become
Napoleon's only love, was here. So was
Lavoisier, the great chemist, of whom
Lagrange said, 1T took but a minute
to cut that head off. It will be cen
fury before France will have another
| like it." And here, too, were Charlotte
Corday, Desmoulins, Danton, and, final
| ly, Robespierre himself.
The prison of Vincennes was first
built by the miscalled John the Good
and, after being allowed to fall into
ruinous condition, was restored by
Louis XII It's most distinguished guest
was the young pretender, "bonnie
Prince Charlie" who, after the signine
of the treaty of AK la Chapelles, was
requested to leave France. He refused
to obey the command of Louis XIV tic
this effect, determining in moment of
| bravado to attend the opera the verv
evening after he had received his in
junction. When the hour arrived he
set out in spite of the advice of his
followers, who feared a public scandal
But the prince only exclaimed, 1.-THE
more public the better!" and went his
way. AS he approached the opera
house he discovered that it was SUR
rounded by 1900 soldiers. No sooner
had his carriage drawn up at the stems
than a body of cavalry massed itself
round about and a harsh demand was
made on the hot-headed youth for his
sword.
! Come and take it," he shouted. as he
| drew the blade and made a. flourish
with it. Before he had any opportun-
ity to do more he was seized from he
| hind and conveyed to the prison Of
Vincennes. Here he remained only six
days, until Dec. 16, 174S, when he was
permitted to join his father in Rome
Later Mirabeau was immured here
and in revenge had the prison turned
into a kind of bakery during the last
days of the reign of Louis XVI, after
he had become the tribune of the peo-
pie. Later it was restored to it's old
use, and it was here that the Duke
d'Enghein met his mysterious fate al
the hands of the first Napoleon.