The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-06
GRIM AND HOARY ST. LAZARE
PRISON TO BE PULLED DOWN
niserLoong Building Whose Scenes of Horror Inspired
Muller's World-F Famous Picture, Will Be Replaced
with Modern Structure.
srecia, Correspondence of The Journal.

sFecia. Correspondence Of The Journal
TNARIS, April 2t.-St. Lazare-
since the destruction of the Bas-
tile, the most famous of Paris
prisons--is to be sacrificed at last to
the march Of modern improvements.
Vast, grim and sinister-looking, haunt
ed by evil memories, unsanitary, no
longer fitted to survive even as an
abode for those who have fallen under
the ban of the law, it's demolition will
cause rejoicing in Paris. Only those
antiquarians to when everything that
is old is precious, will regret its disap-
pearance. 80.
9 Situated in the most populons region
in the city. the Faubourg St. Denis, it
has gone thru many phases, and the
uses to which it has been put from time
Go time, reflect the startling changes
and vicissitudes that have attended the
growth Of the French capital. Could
they speak, its hoary stones might tell
strange stories-stories of peace and
charity; of piety that in after times
served as q mask for hypocrisy, levlty
and debauchery; Of the horrible atroci-
ties perpetrated in the name Of liberty,
equality and fraternity; of crime and
Founded in lilo.
It is strange to reflect that it was
Che benefcent charity taught by the
gentle Nazarene which gave birth to
the gloomy structure which has long
seemed fitting habitation for misery
and despair. st. I4azare was founded in
lilo as hospital for lepers, as it's name
implies. By charter granted in 1l47.
these lepers were given the right to
choose out of the kings cellars ten
hogsheads of wine a year. Some years
later they exchanged this privilege for
an allowance of beet and bread with
Few bottles of wine.
In 1915 the lepcrs were ousted, and
monks. vowed to pietv and poverty,
took their place. AS an easy means of
solacing the consciences of the pow
ers that were, they were granted from
time to time large increases Of revenue,
and the temptations Of wealth proved
600 much for the monks, as they do for
many folk in these modern days. They
abandoned themselves to riotous living
and -consumed many more than the ten
hogsheads of wine a year that had
been granted the lepers. For many
years they enjoyed a high old time and
waxed fat, but their conduct caused
such a public scandal that in 1852 the
good Vincent de Paul received COM
mission to reform the establishment. He
was the right man for u job OF that
sort, and did his work most thoroly.
The monks that he could not reform, he
got rid Of and replaced them with men
VINO were IN sympathy Win MS own
lofty ideals. He founded at St. La
zare the Congregation Of the Lazarists
called the Priests of the Mission. Al
St. Lazare he ended his life and was
buried at the foot Of the altar; his
tomb with a commemorative inscrip-
ton was still visible in 1889, but not a
trace of it now remains.
- A portion Of st. L azare was set aside
as a house Of correction for men ten
years before the outbreak of the revo-
luton. Beaumarchais, the famous au-
thor Of the - Marriage Of Figaro was
locked up here solely on the strength
of a ''lettre de cachet.'' But the storm
that was soon to break over France
was already gathering The notion that
people had rights which even their rul-
ers by divine right were bound to re-
spect, had gained such foothold, that
the populace did not hesitate to protest
loudly against the Imprisonment of the
poet. Fearing an outbreak. the authori-
ties ordered his release after he had
been in Jail only three days-which for
those tyrannical times, constituted a
record.
Mob Drives Monks Out.
Evil days were fast approaching for
st. Lazare. The monks had grown more
worldly again. Instead of laying up
FOR themselves treasures in heaven,