The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1917-12-21

II
This WIS the brief. hd!d
ommunfGue which struck Ii llOW 10
french hearts second only in force /"
hat delivered by the shower Of steer
aimed for two years and Il half on Tic
,anous cathedral 1T h"inS. writes
Blanche McManus Ill the Chicago Her
I'D.
II was the spring before that sum
nor clOudburst Of war. We had opened
hat day for the first reading the Bal
AIDES Franchises of that eccentric
and celebrated poet Of the "quartiar'
Legitimate successor of him who gave
anne to the long-departed Cafe Procope
Paul Fort; opened it, too, at his
adorable musical tribute dedicated to
this same grand old Chateau de COucy.
Built some 600 years ago by
naughty seigneur by the name of En-
guerrand, third of the line of Coucy,
1t was handed down for two centuries.
Then a royal Louis of the reigninG Or
leans family, who evidently had Il pref
ty taste in castles, having just built
Its splendid rival, tile neighborinG
Chateau de Pierrefonds (als0 in the
zone des armees but not yet liberated),
bought it for 100000 livrcs toutnOis a
unit of reckoning comparable TO the
franc of today.
After the usual martial vicissitudes
of the times Cardinal Richelieu, in the
seventeenth century, gave the fabric
It's first hard knock by ordering it dis
nlantled us fortress CT the time. But
It's mighty walls resisted well, although
the interior was Quilted. Thereafter its
1ebris served as q quarry for ali the
neighborhQod, and it is easy TO see that
he solid houses Of the little town hud-
Hing about the walls we're lHiiit chiefly
Of it's stones. Some sixty years ago
t entered into the public domain OF
The French government, who commits
stoned the great French architect, iiO-
ette-le-Duc, master of modern Gothic,
10 restore it TO the extent OF cOnSoll-
lating its stately shell against further
,isintegration; then, too, it came to be
officially c'assed az q monument his
:orique and remained Tie most splen-
lii feudal bastile of all Europe and
1 Joy and a marvel to the eyes Of all
xho came within its spell.
Everything Within Its Walls.
SO much for history Now for its
'eality, at least up to Il few months
ago. The Chateau Of Coucy is the
most perfect example of the self-con-
tanned node OF existence On earth and
.hOuid make t!,1 committing suburban
tie blush for his wandering life. Every
ching fer Ike requirements OF The
iwcIicrS within was held also within
is mighty grip, surrounded BY its four
towering stories Of dCflmSr:s. teller III
heir ensemble ill:;n many Il cathedral
pire. First the cn.'irCliiig G};tgl wall.
:clinil which in the oi,! days lived the
:Crr.s in their wont!cu i.",*, lsut today
tncIosins tie sleepy lit;ic village 50
.ypical of northern France. There
v;'S rampant rrnHsvIaelc, "iou2
. Il;cii we followed, pu!Ir;uatvd with
he thirty-two toEr5 Of other days, ANA
.ilh hui three g;teTayS. enc leading
% La0a, one to Sui*sons. enc TO
hauny. al! q them towns which are
making r;,pit; History AT This mamcnt.
!ara were g"ti'trId Ike ti:ly shops,
he markets vncrc provisions were
,rOugit lrcm who're l:ly were grown
III" feds; below tie walls.
Newt The =vcaHG ring Of walls, sur