University School for Girls - Castanon Yearbook (Chicago, IL)

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J: T , 1 -Q A ril - PHa5ve been this day a-hawking, escorted by our faithful Jean de Becque who is the captain of the men-at-arms who were left to guard the castle. On the North Road we came upon a group of villeins who seemed in a sad plight. They howled and said that some horsemen had descended upon them last night and had burned their homes. I ordered them to hasten and pass the word that all should come to the chateau as swiftly as possible and bring their goods, their families and su plies. pMy fears are realized. Le Comte de Clisson, who is master of the next manor to the north, intends to overrun our lands and spoil the castle. He is a wicked, godless creature who would not join the Cause because he hoped to gain more by preying on the defenseless ones who are left at home! He shall never set foot in this chateau while I draw the breath of life! April 8- After two days of hardest anxiety the blow has fallen. Clisson and his men surround this castle and the barbican is lost. My soldiers are so few I could not hold it. But I will never lose courage. My people are all safe within the walls, we have a goodly amount of supplies, and a messenger is despatched to Carcas- sonne. April 9- Late at night. Fie upon these cravens! This day the outer court was lost because they would not stand at the postern. jean de Becque is wounded. I must arm the villeins and if I can but stir them up with taunts, a sally can be made and the court regained! May St. George be my aid! April II- Late at night. The spirit of my savage ancestors hath driven me on. After two days of raving, swearing, and cruelty as I never dreamed I could summon up, I drove the men to fight desperately. The sally was successful and we have the outer court once more. My small Pierre is a true son of his father and I have to lock him up to keep him from the ramparts. April 12 - Late afternoon. We cling to our position as hounds do set their teeth in a bone. Hark! . . . We are saved indeed! The brazen bugles of Carcassonne are sounding in the distance and a messenger from the ramparts sayeth that Clisson is breaking camp with all haste! April I3- Our siege is ended. Jean de Becque will recover-five men at arms, two archers and seven villeins are slain. Some ten of all are wounded but none will die. The captain of the force from Carcassonne spake to me today with an odd smile and said, Madame la Comtesse, may I tender you my sincerest praises on your excellent management of this defense. You have shown the highest courage. I know this will quite change the opinions of those who did not like an English chatelaine for a French chateau. He gave me also a message from Le Comte Tobert de Carcassonne, saying that he would be honored to receive my son into his household at the proper time. May I- Another letter from my dear husband. The company is encamped before Antioch and it seemeth a weary siege. Alas, this letter hath not the cheerful sound of his last, the hardships increase. I had a strange dream last night. It seemed that a pilgrim, clothed all in black, stood in the courtyard and cried, Antioch will fall to the Christians but alas for those who will be widows and those who will be made fatherless! Then he gave me my Pierre's sword and my white scarf all drabbled with blood. This troubled me for a time, but my letter aideth me to forget such foolery. june 10- This is the seventh birthday of my small Pierre. Tomorrow he goeth to Car- 67

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M: Q ., at EXTRACTS FROM THE DIARY OF A Y Z- ff X- CRUSADER S WIFE CCASTANON PRIZE STORYQ RJ- ,,, -I CBeing selections from an MS Q-url, found in the ruins of an eleventh li 5. T century castle near Carcassonne, li XI in Southern Francej , TL V g-131, I I Chateau D'Abricour-thirfirft day ' T ' UQQQ . x K of january, Anno Domzm 1097 I :L-,QQ Here am I, an English gentle- ? :lan woman, daughter of a noble f-5 . 'h,' 1 Saxon house, absolute mistress A nmimmmul'f'T. A of a French Chateau. Seven years ago, during the celebration M27 of my sister's wedding, I was . but Isolde, the bride's sister, but one of the victors in the tourneys was a comely young nobleman of France who liked head-strong English maidens, so now I am Isolde, Comtesse s D'Abricour. Father was indeed Wroth because Pierre and I ran off together, but I had ever a mind of my own and I always did as I wished, even as when I learned to read and write. My sisters called me monkish for that but I cared not a whit, and now my knowledge standeth me in good stead. My dear lord hath gone with Comte Raymond de Toulouse and a goodly company of lords and knights to rescue the Holy Sepulcher from the paynim in the Far East, leaving in my charge our small Pierre, a lad of six years, and our great Chateau D'Abricour. This daily writing will, I pray, help to lighten the burden of the long months. Three moons have waned and yet it seemeth but yesterday that my dear one departed. I can see it now in my mind . . The great hall with all the vassals and warriors in their shining armour, holding the gay banners, my lord's face so grave as I buckled on his sword and fastened his white surcoat with the great cross of red and gold which I had sewn myself .... it is a picture graven in my brain. Then as I watched from my window .... the great inner courtyard filled with horses and men, the glint of steel in the sun, glimpses of the red on white, the shouting, stamping, then a silver trumpet call, the cavalcade passing over the drawbridge, my Pierre at the head with my white scarf about his helm .... the high note of those silver trumpets dying in the distance . . . , This is all three months agone and yet I see it still so clearly. February I5- This hath been a day of great rejoicing. A packet hath come from that strange place of the East, Constantinople. The best of all in it was a letter from Pierre. He is well and sayeth that when winter is spent the great company will press on towards the city of Antioch which must be taken 'ere the way be clear to high Jerusalem. He prayeth me to commend him to all his servants, to have a care for myself and our son, to be brave and to pray for the great Cause. The packet contained also a little poniard of Eastern handiwork for my small Pierre, for myself a quantity of curiously embroidered stuffs for gowns, and a sum of gold to be divided amongst the retainers. May our Good Lady protect him and return him safe to me! 66

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eassonne to begin his kuightly training. He feels a man already and keepeth a bold front. though I think he is a bit frighted at leaving me. It is hard to let him go. It will be lonely without him. I have had no more letters from my lord and I have dreamt of the black pilgrim. july 20- Have inspected the manor during these past few days. The ravages of Clisson are quite repaired ..., A page has just eome to say that Jkntioch fell to the arms of Christendom in klune. Praise to the most high! .... I must keep on for the sake of my small Pierre. I must,even though I have seen that the pilgrim who stands without is clothed all in black . . frlihis is the last entry.l IXIARY Youxo. '31 TH IC PILOT Whizzingfzipping--rushing- Roaring into infinity, Wide as nothingness-deep as the sea: Brushing the tips of unseen wings, Skirting Iilysian playgrounds bright, Passing, heedless, through fairy things I rom red-gold sunset to blue-blaek night. And yet a man can conquer space, Can count a minute by a milef Inlinityfand he can dare To light a cigarettefand smile , . . Xltxkv QI.X1,l.l7INDIER, '30 A If' U 'I' Ii R I ST I C' F A B Ir IC Behold Chicago in IQSO-its towering buildings, its superla- tive parks and boulevards, the grandeur of its lake drives ex- tending miles without number north and south. At the Lini- versity School for Girls at Oak- dale Avenue plans are being made at last for a new and up-to- date building. And now pieture, if you please, a very pretty pupil of this same school driving home on a Friday afternoon in a yellow monoplane sport-model with three of her friends. two of whom are seated in the rumble seat. Ileavensl, the pretty girl is sayiti as she deftly pilots her little plane in and out, over and under, other planes in the stead- ily increasing trafic, I have GN