The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-09-01
A HISTORIC PIN.
1EREL THAT PLAYED IMPORTANT
 PART IN MANY EVENTS.
G&nnEet pestiny of Frasce--A Drama 11c Story fn which Love, Jealousy, Statecrnft and R<vo1ution are
 Strangely Mingled. U< Touts Globa-Democrat

Strnngeiy Mingled.
 Gk Louis Globe Democrat.
 In the very scarce memoirs of an of- flcer of the household troops--Les 0ardes Francaises~-of Louis XVI there 5e told the story of pin. which. as the Duke de ChoiseuI said. changed the 6eskinies of France" It should be re- ntmbered that the aliusion to Mime du Harry la the narrative. of which only a very yelled summary is given. exhibits fhe strong prejudice against her by all most all writers of the eighteenth cen tury.
 Tn her early career Mime de Mainte- non was closely associated with the fa- nous Nixon de rEnclos. This intimacy was continued even after the secret mnrriage of the former with Louis XVI, when she came intolerant of any de x}atfon from strict morality.
 It was just previous to Mime de Mon- &<span's decline in favor that the Abbe Goheiin, confessor of De Maintenon, presented her with a pincushion. On a certain day, soon after, when the latter Was calling upon Nixon. this dropped from her pocket. At the very moment Nixon was inserting into a ribbon about her neck a pin of such odd designs that once seen it could not be forgotten. What would be more piquant than to transfer this. with it's suggestions. to
 
 t1onai De Maintenon. by the most fa- nous courtesan of the world? The 1ransfer was made, and De Maintenon carried off with her a jewel that was uestined to play an important part in many dramatic events, according to the narrative to which l have referred. Shortly after. on a warm summers day, De Montespan and De Maintenon were walking in the park at Versailles with Louis XIV. To fasten a gause 'scarf Montespan asked the loan of a pin, and catching the sight of the one given by Nixon. in the f1chu of her des- tined successor, she took it, but seized with jeaIously of De Maintenon, she threw the pin away in anger. The King picked 1t up and placed it carefully by hia iewel box. There it remained until Names IT. the dethroned King of Eng land. with his Queen and the Princess of wsies. came as fugitives to St Ger main.
 When Louis XIV was about to set out to greet the exiles and make them welcome De Maintenon, who looked up- on this as the most interesting episode 1n the life of her unacknowledge hus- band, desired to add to the clasp of dia- uonds ornamenting his hat bunch of white piumes tied with ribbon upon. which she had embroidered a device. To. fasfen this a pin was needed. where upon the King ordered his valet de chambre to go to his jewel box and bring the one which recalled the inci- Hent in the garden of Versailles. At xle conclusion of the ceremonies attend ing the reception of James II and his family. the pin was returned to the cabinet of Louis XIV. where 1t re- mmlnR undisturbed until near the close ek the reign of Louis XIV, who had in- Meflked it along with all else belonging tD his grandfather.
 Hn the Hands of Du Barry.
 One day after dinner, weary of mo- notonous association with Louis xv-so kfA story goes--Mme du Barry, for di- version, opened the private cabinet where he kept his inheritance of pre- clons objects. important papers, minia. kNF&a and jewels. These were tossed over. against the protest of the King, whp. unable to check the pilIage, re- nAgned himself to the devastation of all 1a held most dear. Among other ar 1iclNg Forming the collection was an Nnamelied ring once worn by Mime de MHtnfenon There was also a little exoas of violet wood, made in commem- of Eant6s. CnAit were engraved the names of the Jesuits Letellier and 1.achaise. with the date, October 10. 1885, Tn one cornor of the jewel box was the ribbon with the deviced em- hroidered by De Maitenon, the end fas- toned together with the famous pin. Att Eached. in the handwriting of Louis XIV. was a paper discribing the use to which the two had been put on an oc- casion memorable in his life.
 Louis xV protested against the desc crnfion but Du Barry, who would toll crate no opposition to her desires, ap- propiated the pin to her own use.
 This incident happened just at the time when N. d'Aiguillon was about to consummate the plot he was reputed to have formed with Mime du Barry to bring about the disgrace of the Duke de Choiseui This minister, reckless and . Adriot and feeling secure in his neces- Il Ity to the King, had allowed the in- E fgue to culminate, notwithstanding 4 fe repeated warning of his friends. k no by their imprudence had not a It, | contributed to the peril that mem Feed him. At last, wakening to the Nmpending crisis. he consented to take n step repugnant to his self-respeet-to ATdeavoir to placate the all-powerful du Barry, of whom, through every avenue of publicity, he had circulated the most NcAndelous stories. He made concilia- tory advances to Mime du Barry, and appeared to ingratiate himself so warm Ny in her good opinion that the Duke n'AIguillon and the Abbey Terray be- game alarmed.
 At last the moment arrived for the promised interview with De Choiseul. The hour fixed was six o'clock in the sewening. The King was out hunting, tMnd would not return until late. De Ehciseul had dismissed all his attend sanks and at the prearranged moment Name du Barry presented herself. with n bunch of flowers fastened at her breast with the fated pin. Seating her- self with him on the sofa, she warned De Choiseui that she was very angry and that if he did not respect her the King would punish him, but just then xhe pin, destined to play a great part at critical moments, caught In his lace cuff and cut a deep gash across his hand; he uttered an exclamation of pain and drew back impetuously, Mime -Slu Barry ned with a precipitation that a-bleeding hand could not arrest.
 CHANGED A NATIONS DESTINIES.
 TvAp days latter De Choiseul was exil- cd to( his country seat at Canteloup. He would not give other reason for his dis grace than that "a pin had changed the destinies of France"
 Barely had Madame du Barry arrived from the interrupted interview with De Choiseul when the King returned from hunting She met him with more than accustomed demonstration of affection, and the King took advantage of her
 amiable mood to ask the return of the
 pin. It was gladly surrendered. With
 other heirlooms of his predecessors it
 passed to Louis XVI, Tn whose posses
 sion it remained until cnance subverted .zftf to another use.