Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-26

I'M Of Monte Cristo," in 1874, lay
~ ing his principal in the
Chateau DIFF, the gloomy old
State prison located on island in Marseille
Harbor, he surely never dreamed that he was
adding another pillar to the gigantic French
tourist industry, and that one day thousands
would be paying money to the dungeons
where his mythical heroes were mythically
confined.
Dumas, however, painted Edmond Dantes
and the old Able Faria so realistically, he made
their efforts to escape so thrilling, he touched
SO many human heartstringS, he stirred such
deep sympathies that the ancient castle
fortress-prison could not help becoming i'm
mortal. An unending stream of visitors flock
to the spot from all over the world to have Q
look at it. The majority are under the i'm
preston that the tale was more or less authentic
and are impatient to visit the underground
"cachots" and see the secret tunnel between
them. They inspect the cells with morbid
satisfaction, explain to their gaping families
Just how Edmond escaped and peer at the walls
In the Pickering candlelight for any messages
the heroes may have scratched there. If the
guide tries TO disillusion them they are bitterly
disappointed or fatty refuse to believe the truth
It seems to have become sort Of cult
Although 1.-The Count of Monte Cristo" is 100
per cent fiction and without the slightest his
torical basis, the custodians of the Chateau
DIFF became so affected some years ago by the
keen disappointment of many tourists that they
put up tablet with the name Of Dantes over
one of their dungeons, and another with that Of
Able Faria over the one adjoining it, just as
they have marked the names of the real per-
sonages who occupied other cells at various
times.
If the tourists must see where Edmond
DanteS spent so many tragic, If imaginary
years before he escaped to the Isle of Monte
Cristo and unearthed the old cardinals fortune
in a grotto far be it from the kind-hearted
guardians to deprive them OF this pleasure!
If they insist on coming to Marseille to spend
their money, by all means encourage them!
picturesque prison that brings in steady drib-
BILE of foreign money without any overhead or
operating expenses Is not to be sneezed at these
days.
THE value and the possibilities OF this attrac-
ton have been dawning the Marseillais
for long time, and they have at last decided to
preserve it permanently so that future genera
tions may cast their eyes on the awful dun
geons. Unfortunately, the Chateau diff has
been under the administration of the French
war ministry, which was completely Indifferent
as to how many tourists came to visit it, or
what state it was In as the castle Is no longer
used for national defense. AS the result OF
lack of care the building has fallen into a bad
state Of repair. The towers and some OF the
walls have developed deep cracks, which are
serious menace. If the cracks become much
worse all visits would have to be stopped.
With the permission of the ministry. the
Bouches- du-Rhore Department has decided on
complete restoration. The fortress will be done
over from top to bottom, but the work will be
carried on section by section, so that visits
will not be interrupted single day. The entire
mass will be rebuilt to whatever extent is neces-
sary though strictly following the original plans
The confusion caused by the realism Of Dumas
great romance, and especially by the official
plaques placed over the two dungeons in the
Chateau DIFF causes innumerable controversies
Many visitors leave the place still dazed as to
whether or not the two heroes ever lived In
flesh and blood 1t is an absolute fact, OF course
that the tale is myth except for the dungeons
The guides are perfectly honest about the matter
when they questioned, but they have seen
the plaques long that they are more than
hal convinced there must be something to the
stc.y.
Idly day passes but that American
tou- ct knocks at the door Of the ominous
don N, or tower
- read Alexandra Dumas Count of Monte
Cris.o when was a boy and I've always wanted
to sec the dungeons of Edmond Dantes and the
Able Faria," he explains good naturedly TO the
custodian. Stopped OF in Marseille specially
on my way TO the Riviera to have a look at
shem Hope you are keeping open house today"
But The Count of Monte Cristo' was only O
WNR tANHwt