Evening star., 1901-08-10
IN CHATEAU DIE.
James 0'NeiIl, the Actor, Tells Of .
Visit He Made.
Hnm tho Gt Loufn Rapubffc.

James O'NeiIl, the Actor, Tells Of .
Visit He Made.
From ths st. Louis Rspublic.
Most OF the action of both Dumas story
and Fechtars version Of Monte Crtsto''
takes place In Marseilles and It's vicinity.
where also Is located the Chateau dIf, the
horrible prison in which Edmond Dantes
was incarcerated In cell II for eighteen
years. A few years ago I took a trip to
Europe, and naturally went to Marseiiles to
see for myself the original scenes In the
stage presentations OF which had partici-
pated over 5000 times in this country.
One day at noon boarded little steam
er which took me to the Chateau d'If. The
boat steamed slowly out Of Marseilles' old
and famous harbor, past the luxurious prf-
vate steam yachts belonging to the rich
citizens, past the fleet OF vessels from all
corners Of the earth, past the city's old for
ttflcations, shining bright and white against
an azure sky. and at last past the medical
institute. palace which Emperor Napoleon
accepted Is a gift from the city.
Dead ahead OF US IL a black. steep, rocky
Isle, colossus OF granite, supporting an
other colossus. ma ssive hundred-year-old
Fertilization, partly cut into the rock and
partly built up from heavy dark gray
blocks Of granite.
This Is Chateau d'If.
The steamer makes fast close to the rock
and we are ashore. A guide leads 1s
through a hollow cut in the rock, through
dark portals still fitted with old iron-cover-
ed frames, over an old drawbridge and a
yawning ditch, till at last we stop at the
main entrance door. A gigantic key L.
turned In the lock, the heavy doors swing
open with screeching sound from their
hinges, We walk through q long and dark
hallway into quadrangular courtyard,
surrounded by high walls, and find our
selves at last in the Chateau dit, which
was to the south Of France what the Bas-
tile was to Paris.
While the guide Is lighting q torch he
tells us, In the usually monotonous tone,
that the castle was built by Francois I.
who laid the corner stone with his own
hands on December 10, 1924. and placed un-
der the stone jar with olive oil, a bottle
Of wine and metal flask with some grain
and dates. This took place during the cei-
ebration given In honor of Francois vio-
tory over the Duke Of Bourbon. These fes-
tivities lasted for many days and In firing
salutes oranges were used for charges in
stead Of balls.
And then we enter the prisons.
Seven Of these are subterranean, cut half
way into the rock; enormously heavy iron
bars guard the little holes leading to the
window, which does not admit daylight and
air directly, but leads to small grooves rum
ming zig-zag before they reach the edge Of
the rock.
Dantes were imprfsoned-the two men
whose lives inspired Alexander Dumas to
write his celebrated story. The guide points
out the passage which he claims In the one
that was dug by the aid Of q FISH bone and
an iron nail. Romance and truth have
woven the story about these two men, but
tho annals OF the prison contain other
names-names which are enrolled in the
roster OF the worlds history. Count de
Lavallette. Louis XVIIPs secretary Of the
treasury. was here charged with treason
against the king. 1.-THE Man With the IRON
Mask and de Cin-Mars, governor OF the
Bastile. were here before thsy were taken
to the Isle Of Saint Marguerite Louis
Philippe, known to history a. Egalate, and
Prince Casinir, brother OF King Ladislana
VII. are the two prince3y names which ev-
cry visitor can read for himself on tho
states placed above every cen The present
day has no use for Chateau d'If as q pris-
on; only sfghtseers and the curious come
now, some Of whom-and am sorry to say
most Americans-posses 20 little sense Of
the tragedies enacted here that they cover
with their own names the very walls on
which the abandoned prisoners scratched
their names IN drlppfugs Of their own blood.
One day Alexander Dumas visited H1r-
seilles and made q trip to Chateau ds4 to
visit the place he had helped to mAko Ia
nous. ThU euJde--hie nAwe Wx1 0ro1uuu,
ana H 81 4eaA-6hoWud him 6vurySl4nx:
also the subtuHs1neoM poUae9 ~ wA1sh