New-York tribune., 1906-06-17
BLUE BEARD.

st CTo-rnto Canada: Was there in reality
Il rlgtral Of Bluebeard, the hero of the nurs-
Ttale2
les: Bluebeard has existed IN reality. To be
Ere he had not married seven wives, and there
fore never threatened them with violent death;
Eill. the euo--uities Of which this original has
teen guilty are not surpassed by the crimes OF
our hero of The nursery. The original Blue
beard was Giles de Laval, Lord Of ReitZ, who
vas made Marshal Of France in 1929. and in
he reigns OF Charles VI and VII distinguished
himself by his bravery against the English when
they invaded France. He was born in the Castle
Of Nachec7u- IN Eendee, in 1404. There still
Use the ruins Of q castle, which even to-day is
called n The whole neighborhood the Blue
heard Castle" and The peasants when passing
By al night make the sign OF the cross. Its
;O-ner owner descended from one Of the oldest
'i1iltes belonging 10 the AIontmorencies on his
lothers side. He was married al the age Of
1-rteen hut his wife died in the same year,
aad The second wife, whom he married in the
'a-oV--g year, came 70 her death soon after her
wedding. IN 1920 at the age Of sixteen, he
@oE for his wife Catherine de Thouars. a girl
he same age. who. besides her rich dowry,
Increased his estates by the barony Of Tihanges.
great military career opened before the young
e. NE battles against the English. and for his
se'f4o,-st1 and heroisrn he became Marshal Of
france. Giles De Retz was by no means the
.ss' oelaon-iEe looking. monster which the Blue
s7@'a OF Tie fairy tale pictures Of our imagIna-
~l-7 oIi rather a poruy looking man Of high
-a1-te ana great muscular strength. Only his
go long blond" hair and his swallowtaiI
's1k pearc gave an uncanny impression. He
Cad al IN black The reflections Of this
-'1'e costume, mingled with those Of his light
- iaaae bis beard appear Of a blush black
Hence The surname Blue Beard. by
80 ne IS known even to-day IN all those
- u brittany, ANON and Vendee, where the
s.. - u MS castles are still in existence The
oi '1e marshal was immense. He
!. - cites. villages and towns in Brittany.
---!oo and Eendee. which brought him an
:, "a income of 60OO0 Iyres, more than $4,000
-. none. His personal property was esti-
60 60 d Slb5"peo. an immense amount IN his
-. 5ut al this fortune was sacrificed 10 his
80. f'- : 9T art and literature. music and the
t-v -. ne services which he rendered his coun-
~. 80 -s-L nave iWmortalized his name had he
r.s.,- a-otted his glory by murders, i'm
Ii - ca ceaa Cheries 10 which he was led by
f-sE 80 atG ambition 10 outdo princes ana
le- =, 49, --e-l--ce1ce ponp and power IN or
s.eAe-..2- 2--- - a new fortune Giles became an
or1..--sJ But his efforts 10 discover the philos-
- stone proved vain. and he applied 10
A.. ~ order 70 learn all the secrets OF heaven
So IN Ia dark cafves, by the light Of con-
80 rel candles and the rising Of incense, he
g. under al kinds Of magical rites and IN
er-se-iols, invoke the demons and even try 10
81 y satan IN his own person. He wrote 20 the
So. Di.e letters IL his own blood. renounced the
B., ~ Als soul and sold himself TO the devil
,s-I-lieT rae internal spirits nor their COM
t,gI-1 would answer him. The marshal oe-
- az his failure. There remained but one
tr--- lhe blood II innocent children must
d. be q pleasing sacrifice 10 the devil ana
tit.e L-s satanic majesty III favor Of his wor-
49,. And thus started the series Of murders
de- '5-iles at first committed in honor OF the
~ Dut which caused him much pleasure
rs- -ater or he killed numerous children for
sor -ast q cruelty He corrupted young per-
hp y Doth sexes that he might attach them 10
be- e!-a atterward killed them for the sake OF
,e,- D4'oc for his charms and incantauons. a
ere.- soon spread over the whole country when
0es,ii mere children diss ppeared who met their
F.. ID tie subterranean dungeons Of "Blue
81 castles. Their number is estimated az
az ~ - 500 At length he was arrtsleu
Rss Deilg found guilty Of numerous atroclles'
i,rs s'-lenced with his TWO accomplces, 10 DC
lsr - -. ellPe ia q field at Nantes in l44o- Fopu-
w. auIu0n confoun6s his crimes ana atrocltles
n. nose % the nursery Bluebearo- lhoeeu'
pF, ai heTo4 OF Perrauit's story Kills MS wives
tl Ao.hiug Of the kind IS known or ''lIies
ges site, by the way. Outiiged him by severn
- a ana contracted another marriage aitef
o. .selh- II Il, however. likely that the STORIES
- Ssl14oie marshal were alive IN PeFraHAs