The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1909-10-16

Va
their old loves and
crimes?
The ghosts are dread French kings
from Francis |. to Charles IX.. with
beautiful but cruel Diane de Poitiers
and Catherine de Medci. the terrible
queen-mother Even the unhappy
Mary Stuart knew the lovely scene.
The scene is outside wondrous
Chenonceau, said to be again for sale
unless 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 a mystery. The ghosts cannot en-
ter the chateau so long as plain. un-
titled folks live in it. The potent in
fucnce of its builder-an untitled
business woman of the renaissance
will keep the royal robbers out in the
park
Go hack century. Claude Dupin,
plain tax-farmer. purchased Chenon-
ceau ia great dilapidation for 10000
francs in 1888 and spent 100 900 francs
in restorations. Here the pupins held
a brilliant literary court, with Button.
Noltaire 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 a small shopkeeper's family of
Tours, fostered to greatness like so
many other little people"-Barthe-
lots, Pouchers Bohiers-by democrat
&c Louis XI Behold Catherine Bricon-
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, Bother. died in
the rout of the French army in Italy.
Catherine died year later. Francis
t.. finding his treasury emptied by
Italian wars. brought suit against
all the crowns financiers. The oh
ject was not to Judge. but to grind
money.
In five years the rich family of
Boher 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 u quit claim. lit had cost his IA
ther 10000 livres. or $4,000 in our
money. Some 10000 livres remained
of the kings claim. The Bohiers
were sucked dry.
Francis visited Chenonceau twice,
an Ill. melancholy man, and died a
nasty death But Diane de Potiers
had seen and liked the chateau of
the waters.
Diane de Poitiers, celebrated in
French history for her beauty, grace.
Crookedness wickedness and unlimit
ed influence over King Henri H., was
married at Is years to the bunch
backed Louis de Brezy. grand senes
chal OF Normandy. who was 60. Two
years later her father. implicated in
plot, was being led Off 10 the Place de
Creye, Paris. to have his head cut Off
hut youthful Diane was talking with
the dauphin. The father was re-
prieved at the last moment. and Diane
became a political figure.
On the death of Francis L.. her first
act was to have the dauphin become
king. dispossess her old rival, Ouch
pss d'Etampes, of all her property.
Finally, by letters patent, Diane OBJ
tained "our chateau of Chenoneeau."
Here is one of the crimes of Che
uonceau. A young gentleman. La
Chateigneraie, knew too much about
Diane. Another De Iarnac, married
the sister of her old rival. Duchess
d'Etampes.
Ask De Jarnac how he dresses so
weil?" said Diane to La Chateignerae.
My motherin-law helps me out"
explained the unsuspecting De Jarnac
On which Diane caused the hateful
whisper to go round:
do you know what La Chateign-
craie says about De Jarnac and his
nother-in-Iaw?
They fought with swords and dag
ssrrs in the presence of the court.
Like lago, Which one kills the other.
care nothing" thought Diane; but
she felt safer when. to eyerybody's
surprise, De Jaruac suddenly seemed
70 slip. fell tn one knee. and ham.
strung his surerior adversary with a