Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1835-01-01

TOMB OF JOSEPHINE

Too volumes of travels i'm France BY Mr.
simeon, have recently been psbllsAed IN Loesioe
Thy srv tAvorsbiy noticed BY the leading erisies
one ot whom extracts tic sasc.cd interesting de
serpsios Of the tomb Of the lovely and much In
jured JosepAiee:
1--WE drove this day to Malmaison-
ominous name!-the private residence
OF Napoleon and Josephine, where that
splendid conqueror conceived and ma
tured most Of his great and daring pro-
jects, and to which, thirteen months
after the death Of Josephine, he retired
for few days, after his second abdica-
ton. How bitter must have been his
anguish during that short period!
1.-The grounds of Malmaison have
been parcelled out and sold; and, at
present, il scarcely claims any attrac-
ton, except the recollection of what
we have read or heard Of those who
dwelt within its precincts. The Prus-
SLAMS commenced plundering it in 1915,
but their devastation was stopped by
order Of Lord Combermere, who sent a
special guard to protect the property.
From Malmaison, we moved on TO
the village of Rheuil, and as we drove
up to its old church, founded by An
thony l.. King of Portugal, lively
boy, with black eyes and a bronzed
face, came running up. and politely
asked, Monsieur, voyager, voulez-
vous bien, que je vais chercher lie be-
deau pour vous montrer lie tombeau de
/ Imperatrice.' In so quiet and hum
bic spot, the word 'Imperatrice,' i'm.
pressed US forcibly. In less than q
minute, our little messenger led along
the beadle, in the form of an old woman
carrying huge key. We followed her
into the church, and walked up the mid
die aisle, and, as yet observed nothing
worthy of visit-no paintings Of much
mert-no statues worthy Of notice,
excepting one Of the Virgin and Child
but, as We approached the altar, on the
Left SIDE, We reached handsome rail-
ing, within which is a monument oil
white marble, surprising, in graceful
beauty and elegance Of design. all the
mausoleums that / have ever seen. II
is the tomb Of JOSEPHINE! It's heigh.
Is twenty French feet; two Doric CO.
iumns, resting on easement six feet
by twelve, support an arch ornament
ed with roses. Under this arch the
figure Of the Empress, kneeling on the
easement, and resting on small orato-
~, is absolutely the most enchanting
statue lever beheld. II is considered
faithful resemblance Of the remarka-
bly, expressive countenance and grace
full form Of the original. The face is
not what we consider beautiful, but, in
the tout ensemble, there is Assassination,
a loneliness, which I can never forget.
| could even forgive religious pilgrim
age to the tomb Of Josephine. A CEN
fury or two ago she would certainly
have been canonized.
at was erected, not by Napoleon,
although he was in full power, at Paris,
the year after her spirit fed from the
notifications which, in silent anguish,
rent asunder the threads Of vitality; nor
yet by the people Of France, who,
whilst she was empress. apparently
worshipped her; neither was Il erected
by the aid Of any Of the numerous
personages who owed so much to the
excellence Of her heart-No! but the
simple, affecting inscription on the
basement