The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-22

ostricism, this removal for while from the dangers and anxietles of common life; and honor dictated that the Vic- tims of courtly system should be we'll fed and kindly treated. Richeleu, to whom France owes, among other dig mites, her famous Academy, first de- voted the Bastile to the reception of inconvenlent opponents, and from the reign of Louis XIII the celebrated fortress became the luxurious prison of a powerful aristocracy. When Bassom- pierre passed across the drawbridge in 1881, he complains that he was per- mitted no other attendants than two valets and cook, and henceforth no rich noble need depend for his comfort either upon his own eXertion or the faulty attention of the unwilling jailors, Money could buy within all the luxury that it bought without, and should a poor man stray within the impenetra- ble walls, the King was so eager to prove his hospitality that he instantly allowed him a reasonable pension,
 Not few prisoners were able to feed and clothe themselves like gentle
 men, and then to save comfortable sum out of the money allowed them by their sovereign. The rooms in which they were confined were lofty, and well aired; the furniture was arranged &C., cording to the taste of the occupant Mme de Stael, for instance, hung her walls with rich tapestries, and many a distinguished culprit carried with him to the Faubourg St. Antoine his family portraits or a sumptuous library. Nor is it least significant that the prison barber visited his clients every morn ing with a silver basin, perfumed soap and embroidered towel.
 But it was the kitchen that was the peculiar glory of the place. The best restaurant in Paris could hardly SUD- ply such dinners as were lavished upon the captives, whom the popular im- agination loaded with irons and sur rendered to ravening rats in dark cells. One instance, out of the many, is enough. Soon after Marmontel ar rived in the dungeon, accompanied by his servants he was disturbed by the drawing of bolts and the turning of keys. Two jailers, silent and discreet, entered to serve the dinner, The plates were of common crockery, and the l1n- nen, though white, was coarse and rough; nor was the cutlery such as be- came an eminent man of letters. The food however, was excellent, though 1t was Friday and meat was piously withheld A soup of white beans, with the freshest butter, was followed by a dish of the same beans perfectly cooked. Then came a codfish exqul- sitely seasoned with garlic, so fine in taste and oder, says the captive that it would have fiattered the palate of the greediest Gascon. The wine was not of the best, but it was passable, and the absence of dessert seemed the one and only fault: at any rate. Mar montel seemed in good spirits, and re- fected that after all prison fare was not >despicable. But no sooner was the repast finished then again the bolts l were drawn, and the two jailers en- tered again, this time carrying pyra- mid of plates. At the sight of thes fine porcelain, the delicate linen, the silver knives and forks, Marmontel recogni- zed his mistake. He had eaten his lackey's dinner and there was nothing to be done but for the lackey to take his revenge upon what was prepared for his master. And 1t was feast that might be served at a London club or at the high table of alearned foundation. This time there was no thought of Fri day An excellent soup, a succulent
 slice of beef, the thigh of a boiled cap- on, fried artichokes and spinach a fine pear, fresh grapes, bottle of old Burgundy and the finest Mocha! And to cap all, the governor called within an hour to ask the prisoner if he had dined well, and to assure him that every dish was served from his own
 table and carved with his own hand
 Their dinner finished the prison- CTS did not lack distraction. They ex- changed visits, and received their friends; they played cards or devoted themselves to the translation of the classics. One captive desired a violin; it was given him instantly. Another was an amateur of the flute, and he was permitted at reasonable hours to gratify his taste. The library was large and well chosen; no gentleman who professed an interest In science was disappointed, and the collection of novels was celebrated. Moreover, an amiable censorship was exercised by the lieutenant of police, and we hear that a poem upon the Greatness of
 God was struck out of the catalogue
 on the ground that 1t might prove toe melancholy for the prisoners.