The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1857-03-05
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a. :
efefy ehpfh' afi4e nn' sci - - isEei5Qa 4
A long, straight, paved road leads iosthe
gates. How often had Napoleon Travelled
that road with lightning speed, when, reed
from the tolls aud anxieties Of state. be sought
the retirement and the cheerful domestic en-
loyment be priced 90 much at that period Of
his life. The house stands almost close to
the gates, shrouded only by a small tuTti Of
shrubs; ii is Of moderate size, and really
rnything but imposing in appearance, com
posed Of "cotps de logis" Asnked by two
heavy pasillions, or towers, crushed by the
weight Of deeply sloping roof. The effect
ofthe whole is little better than q farm.
house. With alImy enthusiasm ] could no,
ind a single ching 70 admire, and left NAL
maison quite disappointed. The name'w was
originally Mala.casa, so named from the
place hOviHg been formerly inhabited by
banditti, whose depredaticns gave this title
to their abode. Il is, | believe, a place of
considerable antiquity. ll tsae .y&sr5 q
One other object Of interest remained to
be seen--the tombs Of Josephine and her
daughter, the Queen Hortense, in the par.
ish church Of RueI. The monument erect
ed to josephine is large and heavy, sur
mounted with cumbrous arches and pillars
The figure OF the Empress, in kheeling
attitude, appears intended as likeness, for
the features are strongly marked, aud the
face no longer young, The funeral, Of 10.
sephine was magnificent, and the attach ment
she inspired wns evideaced by the sincere
griefcaused by her sudden death. Her daugh
ter, Queen Hortense, who was strongly de.
voted TO her, escaped from her attendants,
who sought to retain her at Malmsison dur.
ing the ceremony, and, rushing 10 the church
at Rueii. threw herself ON the ceiiin Of her
,mother.ir an agony of grief and despair.-
Every one present was deeply afected--her
eeauty, her youth, increased the Interest,"
and the affecting prayer she offered up, re.
commenting the soul Of her beloved mother
to the mercy Of the Almighty, was never
forgotten BY those who heard it. ...g ..l
Here, then, lived, and here died, the gen.
tie, devoted Josephine. All her heart was
given to that hero whom she married when
yet the world knew him not, and she and
few intimate friends alone presaged his f,l.
ture greatness. Deprived Of his love anG
his presence, the Joy, the aim Of her life
was gone; she had lost second, q deurel
self; her heart pined aud her body wasted in
the retreat she had chosen ut Maimaison
now sud and melancholy. The rooms Ma
poleon had occupied were sacred to his mem
ory; nothing was touched, but all remained
even to the book be had last read. preciseI y
as he had left it. Her Imagination sough,
to deceive her reason by cherishing these
reflections; she los ed to imagine that he wa.
near, and would return again. Touching
evidences Of her greet love SO ill,requited
Her sufferings during the time TINT the di
vorce was as yet undecided, are related il
the memoirs, written by her attendants, ~
! On one occasion, in particular, Josephin'
was in SO distracted state, after an inter
view with Fouchee on the subject ofthe di
vorce, that Madame de Remusat, her lady il
waiting, becoming really alarmed at Ri
frantic expression Of her grief, determined
without saying anything to her, to acquain
Napoleon with her condition. He had al
ready retired to bed, and not overpleased q
being disturbed, desired her, through his at
tendant, to return early in the, morning.
"But, )" replied Madame de Remusat,t. mus
see the Emperor this very night; tell him
is aot for myself it is for one that is mos
dear--for his own, for her sake" uag saf q
/ At last she was admitted. i Napoleon wa
In bed.,with silk handkerchief tied ropn
his head. He motioned to Madam de Re
musat to approach The little couch on whic
he lay. She was so much agitated thatssh
could SCARCELY speak, but ct last foun
wordsto to describe the agitation in which sh
had left the Empress. AS she spoke, b
raised himself in bed, and regarded her wit
i, one OF, those glances, which. like his. smile
u we're, quite peculiar to himself. 7Htt % 'sn,
J, "But why" said he, "has she resolved
! anticipate my wishes and propose Q divOrc
herself!'' :s.,,s a sd. ., ssvs5o q .aals -l.,s
h "Because, ,sire,p replied Madshe7 d
!! Remusat. 'she lives but for YOU, and hope
4 by this means 70 give you at last on extrem
proof Of her devotion. No other reason GA
h exist. It is because Ighaye witnessed til
/ lrightfui struggle this resolution has cost b
/ that / have presumed to inform you Of hi
: situation" ,'-,. ..1as; 1,o, si,sf e.yla
r "Poor Josephine" said Napoleon, rsh
d must have suffered agbnies before she Fcoul
4 form such resolution" 2Rsna ,Fsqj y .'so
i 7aYoat Majesty can never know what ,sh
y has undergone these last few days. and ID
d silence Of the Empress proves how muc
4 she de sired to spare yoa annoyance. ~ II !
4 hsHow sshe Rew." lie inquired, with ever
II appearance ,of anxiety. .,se.,,s,as, IVA !,
: aQuite in despair. pWhensI left her.sh
al was on abe Pointaof going to4resss and I'd,
h sired herwomen noe TO- leave her for 'feSr
I accident, but she would not heaaTl 81 any 81
d remaining. She will have nightof crs
81 suffering II sussw,l EagsamE 4
al The Emperor made a;sign for Madamep I