The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-05

open without noise. Henry was the
elder Of the Guises, and was chosen before
his brother, and at the first blow he
fought like mad tiger and was only
struck down as he reached the kings
bedroom ON his retiring course. His body
was left In an adjoining room until the
next morning, when the Cardinal de
Guise was murdered In o similar manner
while going forth to an interview with
the king from the dungeon where he
had spent the night previous to his assas-
sination. While the murder was going
on, two priests were praying in an adj
joining apartment for the success Of the
enterprise. The story Is 20 dramatic and
so full Of pathos that while listening TO
it you forget all about the slaughtered
Huguenots at Amboise and the brutal
instincts Of the Guises, and only feel
sorry about their cruel death.
The rooms Of Catherine di Medici, con-
slsting OF her council chamber, bedroom,
library and oratory are full Of horrible
"reminiscences. While repairing the castle
some years ago, in the panelling Of her
library there were found four secret cab
inets and a private staircase. In the
former, this example of 10th century re-
flnement kept her poisons, known only
to the chemist by whom they were pre-
pared and herself. With these she de-
stroyed whomsoever, whenever 1t pleased
her fancy. In the room above, win
dow Is shown from which Mary di Medici
let herself down from the highest part OF
the castle by q rope when escaping from
the Imprisonment which her Ison, Louis
III, under the influence of Richelieu,
had imposed upon her.
On leaving the castle you feel rs II you
were going out from a world OF ghosts
and goblins, all crowned with diadems
and hiding royal sceptres in their hands
and swords with which to behead each
other; and you gladly hasten, by the ear
lest train, to get pure breath Of coun-
try air on the banks Of the Loire.
The domain of the lordly castle OF
Chaumont is like that Of an English villa
except in the INTENDED aspect Of its walks
and lawns. This is one of the castles Of
the Loire, and on the whole, perhaps the
most satisfactory. One Of its principal
features is charming vista from the
garden terrace which sweeps that noble
river for long distance up and down,
and view Of the chateau from the mid
die of the suspension bridge, below,
where you catch the magnificent sheen OF
the towers and pinnacles Of the castle.
overlooking the rusty roofs Of the village.
This castle was given to Diane de Poitiers
by Catherine di Medici after the death
of Henry III. during whose life her
charming rival had oveshadowed her.
Diane de Poitiers, during the middle
of the 10th century, had lived at the
charming Chenonceaux, another castle OF
the Loire, which, as seen today, possesses
every attribute of a perfect royal resi-
dence; and here Diane had exercised COM
plete ascendancy over Henry lis life.
1t Is no wonder then, that, at her hus-
bands death this merciless woman de-
sired to have her revenge over her be-
witching antagonist. But in view of the
public opinion of the times, which was
willing to accord something to this his
torical character, Chaumont, by the con-
sent OF Catherine, became the property of
Diane de Poitiers. There are many
beautiful rooms in this castle adorned
with Beauvais and Flemish tapestries,
among which the most charming are
those of Diane with the locked crescent,
In the designs of the floor, and the inter
linked ID" in the ceiling and walls
Diane de Poitiers was a most fascinating
woman, but in influence and character
unlike the lovely Agnes Sorel.
The rooms Catherine di Medici occupied
when living here consisted Of a sale DIES
gardes and sleeping room in which are
her wedding trunk, her bed and other
personal belongings. There We're also
medallions with the heads Of many
famous men. From her sleeping room
she could step out into the gallery over
looking her private chapel and there at.
tend mass. Adjoining her chamber was
the library Of Ruggieri, her astrologer,
and between the two rooms there was n
private staircase which they used to as
csnd together to the tower in order to con-
suit the stars to find out which one Of
their enemies they were next to murder
and whom they should spare.
The castle Of Chambord is surrounded
by an immense park twenty miles square,
and is one of the finest palaces of the
Renaissance 1t was built for Francis 1.
and many changes were made in it by
Louis XIV, who lived here sometimes.
He gave 1t to Marshal SAKE, who died here,
and before him Stanislaus Lesczinski,
the SON. law Of Louis XIV, dwelt at
Chambord. Napoleon gave 1t to Marshal
Berthier and in 1871 1T was bought by
public subscription for Comte de Cham
bord. There is another curious spiral
staircase here, so arranged that persons
starting out at different points can never
under any circumstances meet, either
ascending or descending. Gonjon, Cousin
and Bentemps were employed on the
exquisite adornments of the castle. In
the guard room the ceiling is most ex
quisitely decorated with the emblems of