The Saint Paul globe., 1904-04-17
HAS RELICS OF
THE LOST DAUPHIN
Francis d'ArmInviIIe, of Chiffon,
Wis, Possesses Clothing of
Alleged Bourbon Prince.

Chiffon, Wis, April 16.-F'rancis
D'ArminVille, a young man of this
town, possesses several relics of Flea
zar Williams, the supposed lost dau
phin of France. His grandfather, JAG
ques D'ATminVille, an early settler near
Green Bay, was an intimate friend of
the Mohawk Indian who claimed de-
scent from the Bourbon family of
France.
D'Arminville came to America from
France in 1928. After spending sew
eral years in Canada he journeyed to
Green Bay. The missionary made a
cOnfidant of the young F'renchman,
revealing to him his beliefs and hopes
of the nobility of his birth. D'Armin-
willie was greatly struck with the re-
semblance between members of the
Bourbon family and Williams. He
gave credence to the story of the lit
tie dauphin, abducted in early child
hood and subjected to a process of
british degradation, a condition from
which the new world partly restored
him, but With only a vague remem-
brance of the scenes that marked his
Infancy.
In a letter written at Green Bay in
1888 to his father in France D'Armin-
vile told of his meeting with the man
who may have been his sovereign.
The letter is in the hands of his de-
scendant Francis D'Arminville A
translation of a portion says:
L reached this settlement, which is
called La Bay, in June of this year.
found ready employment with the great
Hudson Bay company. My duties be-
ing to buy furs Of the Indians, it was
necessary that l learn the rudiments
of their language before went among
them as an agent.
i was directed to a man named La
zarre Williams, who understood both
French and the Indian. Never was
more surprised than when that man
stood before me. Tall, impressive,
commanding, his eyes deep set and
dark, and a keen, fearless look that
brought back a time when l was priVi-
legged to look upon the features of my
monarch.
When 1 told him of my purpose in
seeking him out, he readily promised
TO teach me the language Of his chill
dren, as he called them. During the
two years that l spent at La Bay we
were much together and became fast
friends.
Chess Opens His Eyes.
Absorbed in his work among the
savages, he found little time for recre-
alton, but l, who loved the game, in
structed him in the play and science
of chess. Often he spoke to me of the
belief in his high origin, declaring his
purpose of some day returning to his
native land and claiming his heritage.
This l believe he would have done had
L not taught him the game. One even
ing as We sat together in his cabin
rl,t Ia
and we began to play. The game fell
to me, for [ was skilled and he was but
novice. For a time he sat musing;
then raising his head so that the light
shone full upon it, he spoke, calmly
and determinedly:
e / see now the futility Of vain am
bition and hope of glory. Better am I
TO be here, a servant of God among a
savage EpeOple, than to be seated upon
the throne Of my fathers. My destiny
though obscure, may yet be great; a
man who is the true ruler of himself
and a true subject of the mightiest of
kings is greater than an earthly po-
tentate. l see what the cost would be
were | to regain what it were better
for me to lose. These mute, inert fig
ures are symbolic.
I the king, hedged about by op-
posing forces, limited in power and ac-
ton, depending on others to go forth
and do my battles. These pawns,' the
common men who might rise in 10y
atty by my side, 1 see what their fate
would be. Wide over the land Of my
birth, the ravenous dogs of war, sword
and famine, would take blighting
course. leaving death and desolation in
their wake.
- At what sacrifice l dare not think,
I might be vaUlted to an empty throne
and a dangerous honor; but far more
likely, with adherents slaughtered or
dispersed, enemies pressing close upon
every side, and with means and energy
spent, failure, with it's sanguine price,
would await me. am content to stay
where it is Willed that l should be-
Though l saw him almost daily he
never spoke again of the dreams of
power that had been his"
When D'Arminville left La Bay he
was accompanied to the st. Lawrence
country by Williams, who, at parting
gave him a trunk containing besides
some small articles OF clothing, a me-
dalliOn of Louis XVIII and a history
of the Bourbon family The trunk is in
the possession of an Appleton his
tOrical society. The other relics are
still in the D'Arminville family.