The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-08-03
A HISTORIC PIN.
JEWEL THAT PLAYED 4 PART
IN MANY EVENTS.

Statecraft and Revolution are
Strangely Mingled.
In the very scarce memoirs of an
officer of the household trOops-Les
Gardes Francaises-of Louis XVI there
is told the story Of pin, which, as
the Duke de Choiseul said. changed
the destines of France" 1t should be
remembered that the allusion to Nine.
Du Barry in the narrative, of which
on a very yelled summary is given,
exhits the strong prejudice against her
by almost all writer's of the eighteenth
century
In her early career Mime. De Main
tenon was closely associated with the
famous Ninon de I'Enclos. This in
timacy was continued even after the
secret marriage of the former with
Louis XIV, when she became intolerant
of any deviation from strict morality.
1t was just previous to Nine. De
Montespan's decline in favor that the
Able Gobelin, confessor of De Main
tenon, presented her with a pincush-
ion. On a certain day, soon after, when
the latter was calling upon Ninon,
this dropped from her pocket. At the
very moment Ninon was inserting in
to d ribbon about her neck a pin of
such old design that once seen it could
never be forgotten. What would be
more piquant that to transfer this pin,
with its suggestions, to the pincushion
of the now convential De Maintenon,
by the most famous courtesan of the
world? The transfer was made, and
De Maintenon carried off with her
jewel that was destined to play an
important part in many dramatic
events, according to the narrative to
which I have referred.
| Shortly after on warm summers
day, De Montespan and DR.. Mainten-
non were walking in the park at Yer
SALES with 6Louis XIV. To fasten a
gauze scarf montespan asked the loan
of pin. and catching the sight of the
given by Ninon, in the fichu of her de-
stined successor, she took it, but, seiz-
ed with jealousy of De Maintenon, she
threw the pin away in anger. The
King picked it up and placed it care
fully in his jewel box. There it re-
manned until James II, the dethroned
Kind of England, with his Queen and
the Princess of Wales, came as fugi-
tives to st. German.
| When Louis XIV was about to set
out to greet the exiles and make them
welcome De Maintenon, who looked
upon this as the most interesting ep-
sides in the life of her unacknowledg-
| ed husband, desired to add to the clasp
of diamonds ornamenting his hat a
buch of white plumes ties with rib
bon upon which she had embroidered
a device. To fasten this a pin was
needed, whereupon the King ordered
his valet de Chamre to go to his Jewel
box and bring the one which recalled
teh incident in the garden of Versaill-
es. AT the conclusion of the ceremoni-
es attending the reception of James II
and his family, the pin was returned to
the cabinet Of Louis XIV, where it re-
mained undisturbed until near the
close of the reign of Louis XIV, who
had inherited it along with all else be-
longing to his grandfather.
IN THE HANDS OF DU BARRY :
One day after dinner. weary of mo-
Inoton0us association with Louis Ky
so the story goes-Mme. Du Barry. for
Diversion, opened the private cabinet
where he kept his inheritance of pre-
Icious objects, important papers, NINA
lures and jewels. These were tossed
lover, against the protests of the King,
who, unable to check the pillage, re-
lsigned himself to the devastat ton of all
he held most dear. Among other arti-
cles forming the collection was an en-
lameled ring once worn by Nine. de
Maintenon. There was also little
cross of violet wood, made in COM
incarceration of the revocation of the
Edict of Mates. On it were engraved
the names of the Jesuits Leteller and
Lachaise, with the date October TO-
1886. In one corner of the jewel box
was the ribbon with the device en-
broidered by De Maintenon, the ends
fastened together with the famous pin
Attached, in the handwriting of Louis
XIV, was a paper describing the use
to which the two had been put Oh ar
occasion memorable in his life.
Louis XIV protested against the de-
secration but Du Barry, who would
tolerate no opposition to her distress
appropriated the the pin her own use.
j., This incident happened just at thu
time when M. d 'Aiguillion was abou
: to consummate the plot he was reputet
} to have formed with Nine. du Barry t.
: bring about the disgrace of the Dukt
de Choiseul. This Minister, reckless
: and adroit and feeling secure in hi
5 necessity to the King, had allowed tn
: Intrigue to eliminate, nothwithstand
= ing the repeated warnings of his frient
t who by their imprUdence had not ;
= little contributed to the peril that men
aced him. At last, awakening to tn
4 impending crisis, he consented to TAX
= a step repugnant to his self-respect-
Y to endeaver to placate the allow-powe
r full Du Barry, of whom, through ever.
e avenue Of publicity, he had circulate,
" the most scandalous stories. He mad
It conciliatory advances to Mime. du Bar
O. ry, and appeared to ingratiate him
" self so warmly in her good opinion tina
t the Duke d'Alguillon and the Abb
Terray became alarmed.
d At last the moment arrived for tn
: promised interview with De Choiseu
l. The hour fixed was Cookbook in tn
e evening, The King was out hunting
Is and would not return until late. D
I,o<l I,;c