The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-01-24

bombed by the fleeing enemy.
This was the brief, bald
lommunlque which struck a blow to
French hearts second only In force to
hat delivered by the shower OF steel
aimed for two years and half on the
'amous cathedral at Reims, writes
Blanche McManus in the Chicago Her
nd.
1t was the spring before that sum
ner cloudburst of war We had opened
that day for the first reading the BAL
AIDES Franchises" of that eccentric
and celebrated poet Of the quarter
Legitimate successor Of him who gave
.ame TO the long-departed Cafe Procope
Paul Fort; opened II, too, at his
adorable musical tribute dedicated 10
this same grand old Chateau de Coucy.
Built some 600 years ago by n
naughty seigncur by the name of En-
yuerrand, third of the line of COucy,
It was handed down for two centuries.
Then a royal Louis Of the reigning Or
leans family, who evidently had pret-
ty taste in castles, having just built
It's splendid rival, the ncighboring
Chateau de Plerrerontls (alsO in the
zone des armees but not yet libcrated),
bought ii for 100000 llvres tournois,
unit of reckoning comparable TO the
frame Of today.
After the usual martial yicissitudes
Of the times Cardinal Richelieu, in the
seventeenth century, gave the fabric
lis first hard knock by ordering IL dis.
mantlcd rs u fortress Of the time. But
It's mighty walls resisted well, although
the interior was gutted. Thereafter its
lebris served as quarry for all the
neighborhOOd, and II Is easy to see that
he solid houses of the little town hud-
Hing about the walls were built chiefly
If its stones. Some sixty years ago
{ entered into the public domain OF
The French government, who commits
stoned the great French architect, Vio-
ette-le.Duc, master of modern Gothic,
to restore il TO the extent of consoll-
lating its stately shell against further
llSintegration; then, too, 1t came TO Ire
Inicially classcd as n monument his
.oriquc and remained the most splen-
lid feudal bastilc Of all Europe ana
1 Joy and a marvel TO the eyes Of all
who came within It's spell.
Everything Within Its Walls.
So much for history. Now for its
'cality, at least up to few months
lgo. The Chateau Of Coucy is the
most perfect example Of the self-con-
tanned mode of existence ON earth and
should make the committing suburban
.tc blush for his wandering life. Every
thing for the requirements of the
lwellers within was held also within
It's mighty grip, surrounded by its four
towering stories Of defcnseS, taller In
their ensemble than many cathedral
spre. First the enCircling outer wall,
behind which in the old days lived the
serfs In their wooden huts, but today
lncloslng the sleepy little village so
typical Of northern France. There
was rampant promenade, along
which we followed, punctuated with
the thirty-two tours Of other days, and
with but three gateways, one leading
to Laon, one TO scissors, one to
Chauny, all of them towns which are
making rapid history Mt this moment.
Here were gathered the tiny shops,
he markets wnere provisions were
brought from where they were grown
| In the fields below the walls.
Next the second ring of walls, sur
.ounded by n deep moat opening only
at one massive gateway We crossed
its drawbridge, still hung by the rusty
chains OF other days. These ihclosed
the working parts of the chateau, an
orchard aud quaint formal garden
In which the family took their airlngs.
Circlcd about were the stables, retain.
ers' quarters, guardhouses, armory,
poultry yard, dairy, the fa!cOnry, cell
lars, storerooms, kitchens and all the