Willmar tribune., 1909-10-20
OULD you give millions
n ! tor . chateau besieged
wv by royal ghosts, vainly
haunting the scenes of
their old loves and

crlmes?
TIE ghosts are dread French kings,
rom Fra9cis l. to Charles TX, with
beautiful but cruel Diane de Poitiers
and Catherine de Medici, the terrible
queen-nother. Even the unhappy
Mary Stuart knew the lovely scene.
T'.e scene is outside wondrous
CheAonceau, said to be again for sale
-'.nless already sold-in the division
OF the Terry estate.
II you can pay the millions. take the
ghosts as an extra attraction. They
cannot harm plain Americans. Here
Is mystery. The ghosts cannot en-
ter the chateau so long as plain, un.
titled folks live in it. The potent In.
huence of its builder-an untitled
business woman of the renaissance
Will keep the royal robbers out in the
park!
10 back . century. Claude Dupin,
plain tax-farmer, purchased Chenon.
ceau In great dilapidation for 100000
francs in 1893 and spent 100 900 francs
m restorations. Here the Dupins held
brilliant literary court, with Button,
Voltaire and Rousseau; and the
chateau went peacefully to their de-
scendants from whom Wilson's
daughter bought it.
For the strong business woman of
old days, who built the unique pal
ace: Catherine Briconnet descended
from small shopkeeper's family Of
Tours, fostered to greatness like so
many other ''little people'-Barthe.
lots, Pouchers Bohiers-by democrat
ic Louis XI. Behold Catherine Bric0n.
net. daughter of banker who died
archbishop, married to Thomas Bo-
hier, a farmer general, and rich
enough to buy the marques fief.
While Thomas financed the armies
Of two kings Catherine left at home,
built Chenoneau.
GATHERINGS husband, Bohier, died in
the rout OF the French army in italy.
Catherine died year later. Francis
L.. finding his treasury emptied by
italian wars, brought suit against
all the crowns financiers. The OBJ
ject was not to Judge, but to grind
money.
In five years the rich family of
Bohier was ruined and GATHERINGS
son, Antoine, was glad to humbly Of.
fer Francis l. his chateau of Chenon-
ceau at valuation Of 10000 livres
as a quit claim. Ut had cost his IA
ther $4,000 nvres, or $4,000 in our
money Some 100000 livres remained
Of the kings claim. The Bohiera
were sucked dry.
Francis visited Chenonceau twice
an i'll, melancholy man, and died 9
nasty death But Diane de Poitiers
had seen and liked the chateau o.
the waters.
Diane de Poitiers, celebrated IL
French history for her beauty, grace
crookedness, wickedness and unlimit
ed influence over King Henri H., wa,
married at Is years to the hunch
backed Louis de Breezy, grand senes
chal of Normandy, who was 60. Twt
years later her father, implicated in {
plot, was being led OF to the Place d,
Greve, Paris, to have his head cut OF
but youthful Diane was talking will
the dauphin. The father was re
prieved at the last moment, and Dian
became a political figure.
On the death Of Francis l., her frs
act was to have the dauphin becom
king, dispossess her old rival, Duct
ess dEtampes, Of all her property
Finally, by letters patent. Diane OF
tanned "ovr chateau of Chenonceau.
Here is one of the crimes of Chi
nonceau. A young gentleman, L
Chateigneraie, knew too much abou
Diane. Another De Jarnac, marie
the sister of her old rival, Duches
d'Etampes.
ASK De Jarnac how he dresses q
,well?" said Diane to La Chateignerai,