The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1909-09-06

tnc very name OF the ogre into whose
mouth one used. II one could, in child
hoods happy hour, to throw india rub.
ber balls, was in truth n man who has
been as cruelty and malevolently ma
ligned by history as Nero, Richard ILL.,,
Macbeth, tutti quaint. SO says NJ
Anatole France-and pray who. can
speak with higher authority on the
real facts of faery?-in "Les Sept
Femmes de In Barbe- -Bleue ct Autres
Contes Merveilleux" One knew al
ready that Charles Perrault first wrote,
in about 1600 the historical biography
Of Bluebeard. but one did not know
until now how deeply Perrault, prob
ably through false Information. wrong
ed the memcry of an excellent and i'll
treated parsonage. From NJ. France
we learn that NJ. Bernard de Montra-
goux, OF old and noble descent. lived
In 1850 or thereabouts at the ancestral
Chateau les Guillettcs, on his estates
between Complcgne aud plerrefonds.
The castle, OF frowning outward as.
pect, was inside treasure house of
taste and wealth. Its owner, contrary
10 long existing tradition. wore no
beard. only mustachc and little
tnft below the lower lip. He was
known through the countryside as
Blucboard because his hair was very
black and therefore his close sbaven
cheeks and chin were markedly blue
lie was fine figure of man who.
IN spite of his manifest advantages as
good match. did not get on well with
women OF his own rank In life. This
was due to nm incurable shyness on his
part. Pleasant and pretty girls who
md been well brought up attracted
MN immensely, but also filled him
with an Indescrlbable terror.
The first notable result of this af.
dictlon was that the unfortunate or
pilnn, for such he had been since his
carry youth. incapable of making pro-
posals Tor the hand OF any of the at
tractive and high born ladies In the
neighborhood, married n certain Co.
lette Passnge, a fascinating girl IN her
way, against whose character nothing
seems known, who was going round
'lie country with dancing bear.
'fhings went well enough for few
months. and then Colettc. who had Mt
hrst rereled in being Indy of quail
NY, began TO long for her old freedom.
The longing became irresistible. and at
last she took her departure secretly
with her justly beloved bear. 1t is
noteworthy that they made their es-
cape by way OF room that had door
leading to what had been water
lhendows, and so TO open country.
i'errauit called this room 'le petit cab
Ihet,' but II was also known as "the
wretched prlncesses' room," because
Florentine painter had covered its
walls with the most llfelike figures of
circe. Niobe and Procris. The tragic
Eject of these paintings was enhanced
~ the porphyry flooring of the room,
which suggested bloodstalns
Montragoux appeared incunsolable
't the disappearance, which was com
'letc, of Colcttc, his first wife, and |
doubtless, his lot would have been far |
ess unhappy If he had never tried to |
'onsole himself. This, most unfor- |
unately, he did by marrying one
Jeanne de Ia Cloche, who turned out |
o be violent dipsomaniac. Blue
,eard was of nature so kindly and |
'oble that, although in fit of mad |
'assion she nearly killed him with
'itchen knife, he continually hoped to
eclalm her by kindness. But one day
he strayed into the generally shut up
'rlncesses' room. took the painted fig
lres for real people and was so terri
led that she rushed wildly into the
pen fields. tumbIsd into deep pool,
nd SO was drowned.
SO things went on, new affilction
With each new wife, and In each case
he final catastrophe was associated
With the princesses' room. The climax
o the unhappy career of the more
han worthy and lovable Bernard de
Iontragoux came with his seventh
wife, Jeanne de Lespoisse, cleverest
nd most fascinating OF family of
tterly INSCRIPTIONS Adventures. No
ne knew anything about the supposed
lte husband of the mother. OF the
wo brothers, q dragon and a musket-
er. one was a low rascal and mere
PONCE; the other lived OH gaming and
II the good nature of women to whom
g made love. Anne, the sister, was
he incarnation of malicious cunning.
-ssociated with this precious family
'as certain Chevalier de Merlus,
tho had a great deal to do with the
nal tragedy of NJ. de Montragoux's
areer The nature of this tragedy
lay be inferred, but 1t Is curious that,
lille Perrault represented Bluebeard
5 taking journey in order TO lay
ap for his wife, the fact was exactly
Dposite. Both before and after his
Iarriage he had heaped benefits on
Il these wretches. When he was
bliged to go away In the matter Of [
! Inheritance he guve all his keys 4
ithout reserve to his wife, warning '
ar out Of pure love against the un-
ippy associations of the princesses |
'om. AS soon as he was out Of the
ay a trap was laid for him, and IL
us In thai very room that he was
ost treacherously assasslnated. The u
orst and the best of Il was that NJ.
} Merlus, after marrying the wealthy