Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-03

building Is called the Conciergerie. The towers
are named Tower of Silver, Caesar and st.
Louis. These, as dungeons, have played a
prominent part in the history Of France all
through the years since their building in 1300.-
In some of the cells of the Tower of Silver
form of torture, called "the question" used
freely during the Middle Age, was applied to
scores Of murderers Among them was Ravaillac,
who killed Henry ", one of Frances most
gallant kings.
On the 14th day of May. 1910, Henry w was
travelling in an open carriage. The day was
hot, and the streets narrow. He was visit
to his favorite adviser, Sully. The fortune
tellers had predicted that the Kings days were
numbered. However, though nervous, he never
theless set FORTH accompanied by only one
court attendant. Arrived at certain point in
q narrow street. the carriage had to stop owing
to some obstruction. Ravaillac, who had fol-
lowed the Kings slow progress, had awaited
this opportunity. He jumped upon the running
board of the carriage armed with a large
butcher knife, which he thrust into the Kings
heart killing him instantly. The assembled
mob beat Ravaillac almost to death. He was
saved in the nick of time and taken to the
Conciergerie. Here, in an endeavor to make
him tell the names of his supposed accomplices
suspected of plotting against the monarchy, he
was brought to the Tower Of Silver and tor
tmed then finally executed.
Later on during the fateful years of the
TeVOtutlOn, tnOSe WHO nappSnSQ 10 DC passing
late at night along the banks of the Seine must
have often glanced fearfully at the light which
could be seen shining through the mere Sits OF
windows in the Tower of Caesar For in one
room Fouquier- Tinville public accuser. held
office. Every night he prepared the list Of
names of people who were to be brought the
next day to the guillotine. In order to pre-
serve the safety of his own head, he had to
keep his lists well filed
In the Tower of Saint Louis were the CUB
liettes" (meaning forgotten These were long.
narrow walls, their openings having stones
working on a pivot For many centuries in
the past hundreds of men and women were
dropped into these to fall upon the hard earthen
bottoms with shattered bodies.
In one of the interior courtyards OF the
Conciergerie 200 prison inmates were murdered
in 1859 by the revolutionists. This was one of
the days which started the reign Of terror that
lasted nearly four years.
After entering the Conciergerie at the ground
floor one goes into the Sale Of the Guards.
Both this vast room and the next, the Sale OF
Saint Louis, are gems Of Gothic architecture.
Pillars and archways, ending in graceful curves,
repeat themselves to form marvellous per-
spective, and though they have been mute wit
nesses of wars and revolutions, they remain to-
day as fresh In appearance as upon their COM
pletion $50 years ago. In the Sale Saint Louis,
seven huge hreplaces, through which coach
and four horses could be driven, insured warmth.
One needs little imagination to picture the
warriors of the glorious past with their clank-
ing armor gathered around those heafthS tell
ing OF their exploits. Joan of Arc made her
headquarters here, commanding the defense Of