The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-08-04

that the Chateau de ChambOrd
had been sequestered by the
- French government, which was
been taken over by the ruling powers,
and would be devoted to whatever use
it was seen fit to make of 1T.
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-etCher-for the chateau Is
situated about twelve miles to the east
of Blois, the principal city Of that de-
partment, in the midst Of a park u
miles in circumference.
The sequestering of the Chateau de
Chambord marked the transition Of
one of the most interesting structures
that date back to the renaissance in
France. "Francis' Folly" someone has
dubbed the great rambling pile of ma
sorry whose spires reach heavenward,
and to whose lines architects and ar
fists have in vain tried to attribute
some SeInDldUCe OIL grace.
But whatever architectural defects
the chateau may present, there is no
doubt that it is one of the most notable
edifices of its kind in Europe, marking
as 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 ac-
count to the ruling classes If there was
within to be gratified. 1t dates back
to the fourteenth century. Under the
house. The Orleans princes converted
it into a sort of hunting lodge, and it
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. 1t was habit of
his to wander about from chateau to
chateau, Of which he had consider
able string, with 1,S00 people forming
his retinue, 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 it's
vast halls 1880 people would rattle
around like shot in a gourd, and all the
paraphernalia 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 1t was not until some
time later that 1t began to stand forth
In it's true proportions. When Francis
I died at Rambouillet in 1917 Cham
bord was still incomplete, although 800
men had labored on 1t 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 such
number of persons, and the attendant
gayety, alone made the place endur-
able as a human habitation.
Henry III continued the work on the
chateau in an Indifferent manner.
Charles TX and Louis XIV in turn took
hand at II, the latter appearing in
the role Of chief tinkerer to the in
artistic, and erecting the low screen
mt the back which completes the In
closure Of the court and adds to the
lncongruity Of the whole place.
The death Of its planner did not
mark the passing of high life from