New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-02
LIFE IN THE BASTILE.
LUxURIps ENJOYED BY IT'S INMATES
THE KING WAS AN HoSpITABLE HOST-PENsioNs
GRANTED TO POOR PRISONERS.


An enforced stay in the most splendid palace
would prove an nfcton to any frec-born, am
bilious child Of man. compulsory wellDeinS Jars
as acutcly upon our senses as helpless misery
To be here to-day and gone tomorrow - tor
the adventurous the true secret OF happiness,
and a genuine suffering is inflicted by the as
surdnce that you could not II you would leaNe a
comfortable library for the doubtful pleasures
OF the town. There vas. then, definite hard-
ship imposed upon those who soJourned In the
BaStile--a resc>.@ted movement, an onlnOu3
certainty of inaction, for which NOT even the
best society and the Oldest wine could wholly
atone. But apart from the necessary restrlc-
tion stay in the famous prison Of Paris was
little more than an agreeable diversion AZ
seemed indeed as though the King we're on his
mettle. His greatest anxiety was for the COM
fort Of my prisoners. as he curioCsiy styes
them. Again and again you VIII hnd notes.
signed by the royal hand, insisting that the
tastes of the gentlemen whose liberty was Tor
a while cura allied should lie gratihed without
stint complaint
the Bastile. The crimes punished by imprison-
ment in this august dungeon were not in the
golden age at least. the common crimes OF rob
berry and murder. No man was deserving a
lettre de Cachet who had not proved danger
TO the state or who had not superiluousiy IN
suited the monarch or his Court. IL was. IN
deed a form OF ostracsm. this removal Tor
a while from the dangers and anxietieS OF COM
mon life: and honor dictated that the victims
Of a courtly system should be Wen req ana
kindly treated Rchelieu. to whom France
owes among other diSnities. her famous
Academy. first devoted the Bastilc to the recep-
ton Of nconvenient opponents. and from the
| reign of Louis XIII the celebrated fortress be-
came the luxurious prison Of powerful ariS-
| iocracy When BasSompierre passed across the
drawbrdge in 1881, he complains that he was
permitted no other attendants than two ValetS
and a cook, and henceforth no rich noble reed
depend for his comfort either upon his own exer-
| ton or :he faulty attention OF unwilling jailers
| Money could buy within all the luxury that it
| bought without. and should a poor man stray
within the impenetrable walls. the King was 50
eager to prove his hospitality that he instantly
allowed him 4 reasonable pension.
| Not a few prisoners were able to feed and
clothe themselves like gentlemen. and then to
| save a comfortable SUM out Of the money al
| lowed them by their sovereign. The rooms IN
which they were coniined were lofty and well
| aired the furniture was arranged according to
| the taste Of the Occupant-Mme. de Stael. Tor
| instance, hung her walls win rlch tapestries
! and many a distinguished cuprit carried with
him to the Faubourg 81. Antoine his family
I portraits or a sumptuous library Nor Is IL
! least significant that the prison barber visited
! his clients every morning with silver BASIN.
pcrfumed soap and embroidered towel
But it was the kitchen that was the peculiar
glory of the place. The best restaurant in Paris
could hardly supply such dinners as were lav-
! shed upon the Captives. whom the popular
/ imag inatOn loaded with irons and surrendered
to ravenng rats in dark cells. One instance.
our of many. is enough. Soon after Marmontei
arrived in the dungeon. accompanied by MS ser
wants. he disturbed by the drawing OF bolts
and the turning Of keys. TWO Jaliers silent
plates we're of common crockery. ana the
linen. though white was coarse and rough; nor
the cutlery such as became an eminent man
of letters The food. however was excellent.
though il Friday and meat was piousiy
withheld. 4 soup of white beans. with the
freshest butter. followed By a diSn or tne
same beans perfectly cooked. Then came a cou-
fish exquistely seasoned with garlic. so fine in
taste and OdOr. says the captive that il would
have nattered the palate of the greediest Gas
con The wine was not Of the best put II was
mas ali nd he
one and only fault; at any rate. Marmontei
seemed in good spirits. and reflected that after
all prison fare was not desPicd"ie. But no
sooner was the repast finished then again the
bolts were drawn and the two iailers entered
again. this time carrying a pyramid or plates.
At the sight Of the fine porcelain. the delicate
linen. the silver knives and forks. Marnontrl
recognized his mistake. He had eaten ms
Iackey's dinner. and there nothing To be
done but for the lackey 10 take his revenge
upon what was prepared fer his master And
il was feast thar might % served at London
club or at the high table of a learned founda-
/ ton This time there no thought Of Friday.
An eXCellen, soup. succulent slice or De't ihr
thigh Of boiled capon. fried artichoheS ana
spinach a fine pear. fresh grapes, a bottle OF
old Burgundy and the finest Mocha. And -
cap all the governor called within an hour ID
ash 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 prisoners ala not
lack distraction. They exchanged visits and
received their friends: they played cards or de-
voted themselves to the translation or me
classics one captive desired VlOlln' II Was
given him instantly. Another was an amateur
of the flute and he was permitted AT reasonaoir
hours 70 CRAFTY his taste. The library vas
large and we'll chosen; no gentleman VINO pro-
fessed an interest in science was dtsappointei
and tn collection of novels was celebrated
Moreover an amable censorship was exercisHi
NV the lieutenant of police and we near ina;
poem upon the Greatness OF God was StrurH
out OF the catalogue on the stounu ,na' II H'is"'