The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-09-08

system did not carry their love of dem
Onstration to that extent. They simp-
ly borrowed a number of paupers from
the mendicity depots-read work
houses-of st. Denis and Villers- Cotter-
cts, and locked them up in the newly
constructed cells. They were sequest-
cred for something like month, and
the official report stated that not only
had no harm resulted to their constitu-
tions, but that they themselves had not
complained. DR.. Oliver Wendell
Holmes said that there was only one
man on earth whom he would entrust
with his latchkey-namely, thinner
mann, the auther of "Solitude." One
wonders whether the "Autocrat of the
Breakfast Table" ever heard of the con-
tingent of paupers, confined for no
crime to the cells of "Mazas," and who
did not complain, and, if aware of their
existence, he would have extended to
them the privilege offered to thinner
man. Little did the bigwigs of the
Second Republic dream that there was
among them man who would practi-
cally take them at their word on the
morning of Dec. 3, 1851, i. e., four and
twenty hours after he had virtually
swept them from his path. Yet that
was exactly what Prince President
Louis Napoleon did. And not, as some
have maintained, "On the spur of the
moment" because there was no accom-
odation for them elsewere than at
"Mezas." That assertion was suffi-
GENTLY disproved by the fact of some
of the deputies and refractory generals
driven out to Vincennes and Mont
Val.rien. Those most likely to give
trouble were lodged at "Mazas," where
assurance had been made doubly sure
by the appointment Of Colonel Theron
as supplementary governor, the ordin-
airy governor being considered unable
to cope with the extraordinary situation
in virtue of his withal too kindly dispo-
sitiOn. The precaution was only part
ly justified. 1t is more than doubtful
whether even the Republican mob, dis
lodged from their vantage ground in
the Faubourg st. Antoine, ever serious
ly contemplated attacking "Mazas."
Rash as they we're, like attempt was
from the beginning considered for
lorn hope. Things had altered since
| no fob Of hn hn
site of which was curiously near the
spot. 1t is equally doubtful whether
even the most turbulent Republicans
wanted to be delivered by their friends
the rabble. The wife of a Republican
shining light who became Minister
on Sept. 4, 1870, asked Morny to incar.
cerate her husband, who had been left
free on parole. "And, please" she
added, 'send him to "Mazas," where
his so called friends cannot get at him
He is safer there, than with Them" She
was right, "Mazas" was perfectly safe
from all attempt on the outside except
regular siege, and escape from the in.
side nearly impossible. During the
forty eight years of it's existence there
have been only three attempt at escape
: and all three failed The outer wall prov
ed the insurmountable obstacle. In al
three cases, the fugitives were COMPEL
ed to descend into the sewers, whence
) they emerged, after twenty-four hours
in one case, after forty eight hours in
, the other two, thoroughly exhausted
and glad to be reinstated in their cells
For, after all, the regime was not very
terrible, simply because, with the ex
ception of those under remand, there
were not any great criminals there. A
sentence of more than a twelvemOntt
could not be "purged" at "Mazas," save
l by special authorization of the Minister
of the interior. Those who had money
lived like fighting cocks, those who haG
: none got few francs now and agair
1 from the chief of the detective depart
. ment, in return for some confession
which would accelerate the preliminary
; inquiries. 1t enabled them to buy to
bacco and other little things at the can
teen, for "Mazas," like nearly every
1 other French prison, contained can
r teen.