The Washington herald., 1909-08-01
By RUDoLPH DE zAPP.

The .ecent fall OF Premier Clemenceau.
OF Fraice, who was one Of the principal
factors n the enactments OF the French
Chamber OF Deputies regarding the *
pulsion T. om France OF religious orders.
the confs alton Of the property Of the
church. and 'ts separation from the state.
recalls to mind the famous decree which
was passed by the French Convention 11s
years ago to-day.
On August /. 1888. the Convention de-
creed that within eight days the tombs Of
the kings aud queens Of France at St
Denis. together with all other funeral
monuments OF sovereigns and noble per
sonagess erected IN the various places Of
worship in Paris and the provinces,
should be destroyed and the remains
found in them thrown into a common
grave and annihilated with quicklime-
In order 10 preserve whatever there
might be Of value in the shape OF gold
and silver ornaments and precious stones
found in the collins a commission. called
"of jewellers" was created 20 superintend
the exhumations and secure for the state
whatever might be discovered
The proposed desecration Of the tombs
cf the soverigns at St. Denis created a
deep impression throughout the French
metropolis and, the same as the present
legislation against the Catholic Church. cid
not pass without lively protestation. some
dozen persons being imprisoned for the
open manner in which they had spoken
concerning what most people considered
a horrible sacriiege. not. however. with
out precedent in history, for at the time
OF the dissolution OF the English monas-
teries under Henry VIII hundreds OF
glorious and even royal monuments were
destroyed and the bones ruthlessly scat
tered 10 the winds.
Early on the morning OF the 18th Of Oc-
tober, 1888. multitude Of people. mostly
belonging TO the lower orders. fastened
/ from Paris to St Denis. On their way TO
/ this magnificent basilica they stopped TO
/ desecrate twelve beautiful Gothic way
/ side crosses. erected IN the thirteenth
century by Philippe le Hardi TO COM
memorate the various places where the
! body OF St Louis rested on its way from
/ Paris to the royal vault. Az Aubervilliers
\ the mob entered the parish church and
/ dragged from its position over the high
/ altar a famous wooden image OF NOtre
4 Dame des Vertus. They tied a cord
round its neck and, hanging II 70 one OF
the desecrated crosses, set FIRE 10 it. and
while they watched IL consuming away
danced around. shouting the Carmagnole
After such ventures as these a. IS easy
to imagine that by the time this multi
tude OF rOuEhs arrived IN the large square
opposite the Abbey OF st Denis they
were ready 70 commit any description OF
vandalism. They found. however. the
splendid bronze gates, given By Charle-
magne. closed. and although the grea
bell tolled at regular intervals. there were
no signs that anything unusual was hap
penlng inside the church.
Possibly the disappointment at indinl
the doors shut against them infuriatec
I the mob, who presently made a deter
mined and sudden rush forward en- masse
I and before the soldiers could stop then
tore down the Gates and hacked them q
! pieces. Thus perisned one Of the mos'
! perfect relics Of early French art. The
/ first grave disturbed was that OF Pepin
who was buried under the threshold OF
the central door His stone coffin wa,
I opened and a copper plate torn from &
upon which was engraved "Tiic facet Pip
plnus rex pater Carroll magnL" Nothing
wes found in the coffin except few
ashes and a quantity Of little bits Of gil
metal
Having satisfied their curiosity witt
regard 10 the remains Of Pepin. the mol
proceeded 20 throw down the statues o
the saints and kings. TO smash windows
some OF which were filled with staineS
glass Of the greatest beauty, and 10 desc
crate the altars. Presently a number o
the men IN the uniform of the Nationa
Guard entered the church and restored
some sort OF order by officially annOunc
ing that the exhumations were about 4
begin. Curiosity now took the place o.
riot. Bowls full 81 burning vinegar anC
other disinfectants were distributed and
at noon the business opened in earnest.
In the meantime a big pit had been dul
outside the church. at the entry OF n,
cloisters. and near II were paced a mum
Der OF barrels filed with quicklime. On,
OF the commissioners having certified tha
! everything was in readiness for the desc
Grafton OF the royal bones. returned L
the church. followed by his assistants
Gentlemen" he cried. I'VE are about I,
empty the rat hole under the high altar.
statement which was received witt
great applause.
At 1880 the worlmen came upon th'
first coffin il chanced 70 be non,
other than that OF Henri " They place.
II alongside the wall on the left hanC
. Sid NJ 70 a ~
Immediately proceeded 70 open H. S,
great was the curiosity to see the remain!
Of this most popular OF French kings tha
every precautiOn was taken not TO injurt
tho body. II was discovered 10 be very
carefully embalmed and enveloped In
series Of narrow bands OF linen steepeC
In some chemical preparation. Thes
were unrolled with the utmost care dowl
to the waist. when. 70 the surprise an,
almost terror OF the spectators, III
corpse OF the great king appeared almos
as perfect as when first buried. The fac
was so well preserved that even the fan
shaped beard seemed as II II had only re
Gently been dressed. The eyes were open
and the wounds made by Ravaillac'
knife were clearly revealed The uppe
part OF the brain had been removed an,
replaced by a sponge filled with aromati
essences. The interest manifested by tn
crowd on seeing the body OF this one
popular idol was such that the remain
were unmOlested until quite late az night
thousands Of persons going professionally
to see them. No other body was ex
humed that day.
The next day was Sunday, snd al
though the Sabbath. was no longer re
spected in France. strange 70 relate. tn
works at St. Denis were suspended. ant
an enormous r9pIutude Of Parisians visit
Cd tln churnh In nrdnr 70 hahnId r.ha