Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-11-13

displayed nDely turneu dlh, "ele ioOPeo
I'D at the shoulder by large canoes; an en-
amelled serpent encircled her throat; on her
head was kind of diadem formed of ca
meos and enamel, confining her hair some
what in the style OF the antique busts of the
Roman empresses She looked so extreme
Iy graceful and classical in this attire, that
when Napoleon entered the salon he was
delip phted, and saluted her Sith kiss on the
sboulder-a somewhat BOURGEOIS caress, by
the way. On his expressing his surprise at
the care with which she was dressed. she
reminded him of the expected visit OF Pau
line. The evening wore on, and ye. the
princess did not appear. Napoleon, having
remained beyond his usuai time, retired at
last TO his cabilet. Shortly afterwar the
princess made her appearance, looklng
trsnscendentIy lovely But on this occasion
4 tu--I--. .r,,s,ed To the charms OF una
dorned beauty, as she was literally resplen-
cent W ith Jewels. Her dress, composed of
green velvet, was embroidered in the front
with masses Of dimonds; her arms, her neck +,
her head were also eneircled with splendid
| Jewels. AS she advanced across the room
towards Josephine, who, as the wife of the
First Consul, did not rise until she approach
ed, Pauline gazed around full of pride, and
gratifed vanity. conscious of the effect
created by her beauty. her youth, and her
dazzling sp.endor.
The salutations were cold between the
rival ladies'. Pauline seated herself, and to
break the stiffness of the reception, oegan
conversng in low tone with Madame Ju-
not, who was placed near her.
"Well, Louise, how do | look tonight?
What do yeuthink of the Borghese jewesl"
Think? why, you are wonderful-actu-
ally eLlouissants," returned Madame Junot-
"But do you really, now-hattery apart
think this dress becomes me!'
"Vain Pauline! why you knew perfectly
before asking me that question you never
looked better in your life.''
"Well, it is no; exactly vanity that makes
me ask you SO particularly" replied Pauline:
sbut it is because want to astonish Ma
dame Bonaparte, and you know have spared
no pains to mortify her by this display of
nv new Jewels. Yet how elegant she looks
in that simple India muslin dress, with these
canoes, too, like a Grecian statue; she GER
tainiy does understand, to perfection, the
style that suits her. That white dress con-
trasts so well, 100, with the blue satin fur
niture-it is perfect. Good heavens! what
shall dor' she suddenly exclaimed in an
agonized whisper, and turned quite pale.
s.What is it!-what can be the matter"
ola
80, Louise, why did you not tell mel
How cruel not to remind me! To let me
come here in this room, dressed in green
reIue., pten the furniture is blue SATIN On,
his is too much. | shall never forgIveyou!
How dreadful | must look BY the side of
josephine. This is more than ] can bear
| must 90 away a once"
Pauline was conquered EieganS ha
| won the day against beauty. She took
hasty farewell OF Josephine, and hurried cut
! of the room, consoing herself little, in her
retreat, by displaying her jewels before the
whole establishment assembled to do her
honor. She passed down the alley formed
by the household, preceded by lighted torch
es, and followed by her husband, whom she
early taught to aspire no higher than to the
honor of being her chamberlain; and thus
ended in absolute failure, this notable we'd
dinq-visit of the Princes, Pauline B"rghese.
1t would be easy to fill volume with
similar anecdotes of which Malmason was
the scene, but as | do not propose % write
a memoir of this iEteres ing habit alton, |
must proceed. Malmaison is situated near
Rueil, one of the stations on the ST. Ger
main Railway. Nothing can lie uglier than
| the situation Of Rueil. a small town on
dead plain-the house oi Malmaison being
situated about half mile out of the town
at the foot of rising hills. There is no kind
| of picturesqueness either in the situation or
The house, and it is really wonderful that
such spot should have been preferred as
the residence of Napoleon, when there is
scarcely single natural beauty TO recon-
mend it. The environs of Paris are gener-
ally so very pretty, that one would have i'm
agined it almost impossible to expend vast
sums on the establishment of position so
wanting in every charm.
A long, straight, paved road leads to the
gates. How often had Napoleon traversed
that road with lightning speed when. freed
from the tolls and aDXieties OF state, he
sought the retirement and the cheerful do
mestic enjoyment he priced so much at that
period of his life. The house stands almost
close to the gates, shEouded only by small
tuft of shrubs; it is of moderate size, and
really anything but imposing in appearance,
composed OF corps de lo9is fianked by two
heavy pavilions, or towers, crushed by the
weight of a deeply -sloping roof. The effect
o; the whole is little better than farm
house. With all my enthusiasm, l could
! not find single thing to admire, and left
> Maimaison quite disappointed. The name
was originally Mala-casa, SO named from
the place having been formerly inhab tied
by banditti, whose depredati ms gave this
sObr,quet to their abode. 1t is. believe, a
place of considerable antiquity.
One other object o! interest remained to
be seen-the tcmbs of Josephine, and her
daughter, the Queen Hortense, in the parish
church of Rueil. The monument erected
to Josephine is large and heavy, surmounted
, with cumbrous arches and pillars. The
figure of the Empress in kneeling attitude,
: appears intended as a likeness, for the
features are strongly marked, and the face
no longer young. The funeral Of Josephine
was magnificent, and the attachment she
inspired was evidenced by the sincere grief
caused by her sudden death. Her daughter,
e Queen Hortense, who was fondly devoted
=. to her, escaped from her attendants, who
i sought to retain her at Malmaison during
> the ceremony, and, rushing to the church
. at Rueil, threw herself on the coffin of hel
e mother, in an agory of grief and despair
Every one present was deeply affected-her
r beauty, her youth, increased the interest -
S and she affecting prayer she offered up, re-
n commenting the soul of her beloved mother
to the mercy of the Almighty, was never
forgotten by those who heard it.
On the other side of the altar lies this at.
J. tached daughter, Hortense, Queen Of Hol