The Tomahawk., 1916-08-10

~ ONE time ago it was announced
that the Chateau dc Chambord
had been sequestered by the
~ French government, which was
a polite way of saying that it had
been taken over by the ruling powers,
and would be devoted to whatever use
It was seen fit to make Of it.
This announcement was of interest
to thousands Of American tourists who
may have been privileged to visit the
celebrated castle in their ramblings to
the south Of Paris, in the department
Of Loir-et- Cher for the chateau IS
situated about twelve miles to the east
Of Blois, the principal city of that de-
partment, in the midst Of park II
miles in circumference.
The sequestcring Of the Chateau de
Chambord marked the transition of
one Of the most interesting structures
that date back to the renaissance in
France. "Frands' Folly" someone has
dubbed the grcilt rambling pile Of ma
sonry whose spires reach heavenwnrd,
and to whose lines architects and ar
some semblance of grace.
But whatever architectural defects
the chateau may present, there Is no
doubt that it is one Of the most notable
edifices of it's kind in Europe, marking
US it does the transition between the
fortified castle and the italian palace,
somebody has said with all the defects
Of both generously Incorporated.
The Chateau de Chambord was built
at time when money was Of little &C
count to the ruling classes If there was
q within to be gratified. 1t dates back
to the fourteenth century. Under the
counts Of Blois 1t was feudal manor
house. The Orleans princes converted
it into sort Of hunting lodge, and 1t
was such when Francis / decided to
make Of it the largest and most mag
nificent chateau in France.
Francis I did not believe in doing
things by halves. It was habit Of
his to wander about from chateau to
chateau, of which he had consider
able string, with 1900 people forming
his retiDue, with furniture and bag
gage in proportion. 1t must have been
bit annoying to the restless and
high-spirited king to have members of
his personal staff getting close enough
so that they could recognize each other.
AS near as can be figured out, this was
the excuse for ChambOrd, for in its
vast halls 1900 people would rattle
around like shot in gourd, and all the
paraplernalia that accompanied these
frequent hikes could be deposited in
one room and leave plenty of space
for a goodly portion of the attendants
to devote themselves to terpsichOrean
pastimes.
Beginning Of Chambord.
The foundations of Chambord were
laid in 1926, but it was not until some
time later that it began to stand forth
In it's true proportions. When Francis
I died at Rambouillet in 1547 Cham
bord was still incomplete, although 800
men had labored on it for II years.
But enough of the more than 400 rooms
had been finished, so that the royal
encourage could be housed here in COM
fort, while the presence OF sSch q
number Of persons, and the attendant
gayety, alone made the place endur-
able as q human habitation.
Henry ii continued the work on the
chateau in an Indifferent manner.
Charles * and Louis XIV in turn took
a hand at it, the latter appearing in
the role Of chief tinkerer to the in
artistic, and erecting the low screen
at the back which completes the in
closure of the court and adds to the
incongruity Of the whole place.
The death Of it's planner did not
mark the passing Of high life from