The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-06-11
HISTORICAL DATA
OF OLD PRISONS
A Translation from the New York Span.
ish Weekly, lies Novedades," J" Con-
eerning Famous Old Prisons ID History
-Interesting and Instructive.
4 LUXURIOUS PRISON
By Marco Polo.

AS u1clOIlduS duu uOVOAlSto udVC
always outdone themselves in pic
turing the famous old prison of rev.
olutlonary times in France as a
place of horrors and tortures, it is
interesting and instructive to read
the results of the deep researches
into the records of that old pile
made by M. Funck- Brentano for his
approaching work Legends and
Archives of the Bastille," and which
serves to correct the entirely erron-
eous impressions made by the var
led literature with which the world
has been flooded. with that historical
spot as the theme. After perusing
what the author sets before you as
the results of his patient labors, you
are bound to be convinced that.
though a prison and place of de-
tention, it was only those who
through rank and political prestige
compelled considerations at the
hands of those in power that were
confined there. and that upon the
whole, those Parisians who were
unfortunate enough to come under
the displeasure of the arbitrary pow
ers in whose hands laid their des-
TIMES, had no reason to complain of
the manner in which they were
treated during the period of their
sequestration. On the contrary
read what M. Funck- Brentano says:
A Wrong Impression
A foreigner who two centuries
ago visited Paris wrote, as follows:
To be condemned to the Bastille is
a special mark of favor on the
Kings part'-and nothing could be
truer, for IN effect. the commitments
to that famous prison were person
ally expedited, sealed, and-through
his nearest and most trusted at
taches-delivered by the King.
They accorded to the intended
prisoner all the time he should need
to arrange his personal affairs, and
make all other necessary prepara-
tions before ingressing into the pris-
on. When the order for the arrest
of Mirabeau was issued, the official
to whom was delegated the delicate
task of serving it. told him In very
amiable manner: Monsieur, 1 have
no orders to be hasty in this matter.
Let us leave it for tomorrow if you
have not the time today No. an
swered Mirabeau, that would not
be obeyiDg the kings order A
carriage and four awaited at the
door; with the same extreme cour-
tesy, the prisoner was begged to en-
ter, and the official accommodated
himself at his side, or if demanded
by the prisoner. would follow in
hired vehicle. Once In the Bas-
tile, where the soldiers on guard
were under strict injunctions to COW
er their faces in order that thev
should not see the person arriving,
the prisoner had no other formality
to 60 through than to deliver what
ever jewels. arms or other belong
ings he happened to have about
him. even if it only were pair of
scissors. Ali this was made into a
package. which the prisoner closed
and sealed with his personal seal.
Immediately after an attendant
would say to him: 'Monsieur's
apartments are ready'-with pro-
found bow. such as one would re-
ceive from the host of an inn."
The Fare And Service
In the Bastille there were, of
course, cells, damp and infested
with vermin. but only those guilty
of gross lusubordination were there
confined. The principal room
where the inmates were wont to
congregate and chat, and which was
dubbed in ironic facetiousness- -sa-
Ion, was quite comfortable and well
furnished. not lacking even the gay
ETY. witnessed in many Partisan
salon where the savants and wits
of that period held concourse, cen
though the massive walls and bar
red windows were continual re-
minders of the surroundings. Mar
montel, the literary lion of the
epoch. thus writes and describes his
cell: For furniture. l had two beds,
two tables. one wardrobe and three
caned bottom chairs. 1t was cold,
but the jailer made a fire and
brought me an abundance of fire
wood. The jailer turned and asked
me if the bed was to my liking. At
ter examining it carefully. i told him