PLEASANT PRISONS OF OLDEN TIMES.

Evening Star, Issue 11434, 29 December 1900, Page 3

PLEASANT PRISONS OF OLDEN TIMES.

When we examine ancient prisons beneath the keep of a Norman fortress or the palace of Venetian doges, we wonder what race of beings could possibly have endured all the' squalor, filth, horror, and privations which mast have been the lot- of the unfortunate persons confined in such pkces (says the 'Gentleman's Magazine'). And yet"month by month, and year by year, they lived on. . ... But of all gloomy and terrible dungeons those of Mont St. Michel are perhaps the most hideous and awfuL Those who entered them might well sigh their fond adieus to hope and liberty. Few visitors to Mont St. Michel are likely to forget this fearful prison within a prison, so associated is it with horror, cruel tortures, and death. The cage is hung in a dark sepulchral chamber high the cave-like holes in the rock which furnished cells for less distinguished prisoners than those who were confined in the cage. Most of the substructures in the south-west portions of. the fortress were built by Robert De Toringni, who ruled as abbot at the end of the twelfth century. Between the kitchens and the prisons is the beautiful crypt of the Aquilon, designed by Roger 11. about the same period. Passing through this noble chamber, with its six' massive columns, we enter the prisons, and in a recess in the wall hangs the " Cage de Fer." It is composed of thick beams of wood, held together by strong iron bars which would defy the most determined efforts to escape. Caged singing birds are allowed to enjoy the sunlight, which inspires their songs and Tenders pleasant their captivity. But the unhappy victims of the iron* cage were almost in "total darkness. Day followed day and year succeeded year, but it was all the same to them—one continued existence of gloom, torture, and horror. Such a life must inevitably have shattered reason. In 1749 there lived in Paris a voung poet named Deforges, or Desforges. ' After the fatal rising of 1745 in England the Young Pretender fled to France, and found a welcome and safety in the French capital. Negotiations, however, were made by the English Government for his arrest, and the French King yielded to their demands. In the crowded opera-house one evening the last of the Stuarts was arrested, and Deforges was present at the time. Indignant at this violation of the sacred rights of hospitality, he believed that the honor of his nation was compromised, and at once proceeded to pour forth his complaints against the injustice of the act in bitter and envenomed verse.

The line "All is wicked-in these places, Ministers and mistresses," especially .aroused the anger of the Court, and caused Madame De Pompadour to fly into a violent fit of passion. Such plain language was too much for the susceptibility of the King and his Ministers. The enraged poet .was discovered, and doomed to perpetual imprisonment in "Le Cage de Fer." For three long years he was confined in this. terrible cell, the floor of which was only eight feet square ; a faint glimmer of light contrived to find its way through certain crevices in the ceiling, but only sufficient to make the darkness visible. "The poor poet endured his terrible punishment with courage and resignation, and won the heart of his gaoler, M. De Broglie, the Abbe, who felt great pity for his misfortunes. At the end of the three years the Abbe contrived that Deforges should exchange the cage for the Abbey, ;ind released him from his prison. He wisely took great precautions lest the sudden return to light of day after so long a sojourn in darkness should cause blindness. Nor did the good Abbe's kind offices cease. He procured for him his release after five years' imprisonment', obtained for him the office of secretary to Marechal De Broglie, his brother, and on the death of Madame De Pompadour Deforges became Commissioner of War. In this case, happily, death was not the only release afforded to the victims of the iron cage.