The Washington times., 1919-01-05


The Chateau wavrechain was jewel of Rocco
architecture surrounded by yew hedges that had been the
pride of the family for generations In the gardens there
countless statues Of marble and bronze-the
latter carried away after the occupation but
the Marqnse was resigned to this pllage since metals
the backbone Of the Inside there many
mementoes Of Louis XIV, who once frequented this
chateau when he wished escape from the embarras
ments of Paris. All around the walls ! so wildly
member them knee-breeched cavaliers and rouged and
powdered ladies looked down from Vatican and Boucher
Ny husband often told me how, when he
little boy, he afraid to 60 up the grand staircase
during visit to this chateau because he thought these
dukes and duchesses frownng down upon him for
disturbing their reveries.
The young Marquise was In bed when the sergeant
major and his soldiers came swarming in through the
window downstairs. Old Jean, the gardener who slept
in little lodge at the gate by the road awakened
when the soldiers by He rushed to order them
off the flower beds boche thrust his bayonet into the
old and left him to die upon the flower beds he loved
so well.
In those days mere noise seldom disturbed the slum
bers of inhabitants within the invaded regions Always
there the distant thunder of big guns and and
then the explosion of bombs dropped by aeropane
The Marquise did not awaken until the soldiers search
ing for the mistress Of the house and finding door locked
against them-a precaution the Marquise had wisely
adopted-burst. in her boudor door When a soldier,
with his torch lifted the startled Marquise sitting
up in her bed he shouted with giee His companions
quickly surrounded the bed giving vent to jes
which drove the sleep from the young eyes
The sergeant-major himself hurried into the rooms
He located the lamps which had replaced the chstean
electricity, and flooded the with light. The Mar
quise demanded explanation Of the intrusion. The
soldiers laughed aloud at such impudence." The
geant however informed her that he had been In
formed that great quantities of contraband food
stored in the chateau and that he had to take posses
sion of them.
It is not In INV boudor monsieur that vou will find
foods if it be true that have such stores concealed"
Nevertheless it is here shall begin search,
the officer replied The Marquise would have arisen but
a soldier threatened her with his bayonet.
Continuing their lewd jokes the soldiers ransacked
the chambers of the Marquse overurnng delicate fur
nure nlad with pearl demoishing the priceless marble
tops of ancient tables and turning onto the floor the n
mate contents of drawers and hampers In escrtore
which had belonged to the Empress Josephine the
sergeant major found the ten onethousand franc notes.
which the Marquise had left with his wife upon his de-
parture for the mobilization, with confidence that this
would insure her physical and mental peace until
his triumphant return She had never dared to expose
of these onehOusandranc notes since the Ger
mans came
IF we do not find contraband food, we find other
items of value the sergeant major remarked, hel
pocketed the franc notes Herr Lieutenant will share
with us handsomely do not doubt"
There a wonderful Boule clock in the sitting
chamber off the boudoir. 1t very heavy. The
strength of two required to carry down the
stairs The cautioned his men to be very
careful He must have been acquainted with the value OF
relics of past ages for he much elated at the dis
covery of the clock treasure Of its kind which, per
haps would bring many thousand marks in a store in
Berlin or Munich .-
Little marble statuettes which adorned the ancient
mantelpiece piled in a heap and carried below
where soldier said bag basket to carry them in
might be found An especially valuable painting Of Zeus
paying a visit to Danae, with marvellous Oupds PLAYING
In the background which hung at the side Of the Mar
quise bed ripped from its frame rudey rolled mp
and stuffed into the pocket of a soldiers tunic.
OF course there stored away food. There had
been meat in the chateau for seven months There