The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-12-20
.lemans enthusiasm, and told him entirely agreed with

party fairly housed and getting ready for the dinner
which takes place at half past seven and which s in my
| humble estimation, the event Of the day
Allow me here TO give brief description Of this cole
braed place Compgne has long been tho favorte resi-
dence Of the soveregns of France assured that this
partially dates back far the days of the Merovn-
gan kings, fact which greatly my respect for
the place. Without, however, going back so far, may
state that Louis the Eleventh laid the foundation Of the
| present building, which afterwards enlarged and
adorned by Louis XIV. The first Napoleon added much
the splendor Of this residence being attracted by
the saubriy and agrecableness Of tho place was at
Compiegne that the Emperor Napoleon the FIRST met Ma
| rin Theresa when she came to share his throne.
The chateau not in appearance, by any means royal
imperial residencc il like the country OF
wealthy noblcman. The elect OF the baildiug Is that OF
elegance and harmony rather than grandeur and nooe
ness is large, roomy pleasant country seat, admira
bly, adapted for IT'S purpose as retreat where their ma
esties may lay aside the cares and pomp OF their high
station and where they may enjoy the pleasures o.
| country he like any seigneur.
During the last few years and since the advent 10
OF Napoleon Ill Compegne has been greatly improved,
wue, TO add to the pleasures ola residence here, his Ma
dRs AnglG) be laid In the forest Of Perrefond,
| which is near Compiegue
Your readers Will no doubt remember that the chateau
TerIeIonds is the hnest in Europe and that tho willy
CARDINAL Rcheleu 10 cripple the power OF its mighty
lords who were always revoaing against the kings au
thorty, caused the solid massive wallis 10 be spit down
the earth after be had succeeded in taking the chateau
by starving out the garrison These walls have been
done with such that is Impossible 10 kaow the old
from the stone. corrosive substance which has
been applied gives 10 the portion the
| mouderng appearance OF the old wail
The palace Of Compegne has undergone lately repara-
tins that greatly enhance its spendo- Among the most
/ remarkable improvements is the new arrangement
| of the Sale des Gardes. This spacious and richly
| decorated apartment has been emoelllshed with
superb panopes Of chased steel, inat with gold and
silver They are formed Of armor won by the knights
OF the MIDDLE ages in France, SPAIN Germany aud Eng.
land The whole OF these pieces grouped with much
i
| used radia,pg from each armor
The effect produced by this species of ornamenaton is
increased by the masn6cence Of the uniforms of the In
| peral Guard that is always in waiting in the hall
rhe dining room is quite handsome one, and the
sight presented when the court and the guests at
| their meals is really most splendid spectacle.
On the evening of my arrival at Compiegne there was
grand performance in the Sale de Spectacle attached
the chateau The perioi mers OF the Gymnase theatre
had come from Paris the occasion, and gave repre-
ssntaton Of new play ~ four acts cy NJ Mihac en-
comedy is thisAn adventurer attempts to marry
| tired merchants daughter by impressng upon the old
gentleman that he can procure for him poti al nomi
| nation The oil man IS rich, and would willingly pay
dearly for bis hobby. The adventarer is At last,
upon the point Of success baied by the honesty
of his intended dupc and the daughter mares instead OF
the advenufer The OF her choice OF course this
but the skeleton OF what is most charming ana spirited
comedy that kept their Maascs and their guests in
stnpt laughter curing the evening
The theatre is tine one, built American theatres
are, with but large dress circle and gallery above.
The Emperor and Empress occupy chairs exactly
front Of the stage On the right and left of their Mjeses
my and the then guests in due order us 10 rank and sta
| ton.
In the gallery above, the Emperor's Ades-de Camp
and the members Of the Imperial household seated
The sale de spectacle richly hung with blue silk and gilt
hangipgs, has each side salons magn6ceny
decorated, where the Emperor aud Empress dur
ing the entire acts the favored OF the vlsiters.
On the evening in question observed that three or
four times during the performance the Emperor received
read dispatches which he answered by
| ing something on them 10 pencil. He is always more or
less engaged and never allows dispatches to be kept
| back from HIM
At the OF the comedy there fine fen aytifae
set off the lawn front Of the chateau and then af
ter partakpg Of supper the guests retired with the de-
ter mnacn Of being up bright and early for the grand
| stag hunt Of the next day
at early hour the morning OF the eventful day,
up and allowed, through the Kindness of friend
who belongs his Maesty's household, to visit the sta
bles and kennels admired the horses and aiter hay
about the merits OF those useful quatrupeds expressed
desire become better acquainted with the hounds tina.
were 10 chase the stag.
entered the large house used kennel for the pack
with misgvipgs having lively recollection Of
misadventure in the imperial kennels at Fonanbleau
| which occasion the wind blew tho door to- leaving ms
alone with the pack, of which, ugly old oneeyed
dog evnced savage desire 10 come to close quarters,
very much to my intense disgust and to the unk,nd
amusement OF the keeper, who in Just ia 70
prevent my becoming dog meata sad fate, even if the
| dogs be those of his Imperial Majesty. On this
| occasion, however, suffered Inconvenience, save
renewed feeling Of disgust in recognizing old oneeye.
The Imperial kennel contains hundred English dogs
and twenty. five boodhouDds the latter being French
dogs belonging the breed called "Briguet d'Artos
The Of the hunt Of the re,ets hunts
men, whose duty tn attend to the hounds and the ch
decure and grooms who have charge Of the horses Toe
Of classes, those of the first class
mounted (ralts de CHEN cherot those Of the second
Glars on foot (paless de chen apred.l
Having visited the house and dogs, started to meet
friend at the chateau, and found him alhe glory OF his
hunting suit which s that othe reign Of Louis XIV While
speaking the magntcence Of his appearance all
flashed across my mind that had such hunting
tune and that 1conid not appear at the hunt except only
horse but costume. My friend kindly undertook to
procure one, and finally succeeded in borrowing the
hunting suit Of one Of his companions who was not to
company the hunt Hc riumphantly bore back to the
much desired garment, which at once donned m setting
with difficulty nso doing, its owner is at least feet
high and large in proportion, while am a small man.
/ was determined to witness the hunt, however, and
| the size of my costume could not deter me.
At about the cavacade left the chateau for the
meet in the forest, and most splendidly did II look.
The Emperor and Empress rode along eide by side in
'front.' their Majeses was Prince Metternich who
rode by the side of General Fleury, the Emperors ia
| vofiie aide decamp.
The Empress looked most beautiful in her natty and
most becoming costume, while the lovely Princess Anna
Murnt attracted universal admiration.
] shall not attempt giving you the names of all the
beautiful ladies present. conentng myself with reerat-
that the cavalcade that started from the chateau Com
pegne TO the Meet In the forest was most brilliant one.
Arrived at the meet we found the hunting horses and
the dogs ready while the anxious to begin
what they call sport. / thought of the Wisconsin and
Iowa prares of stags that bad hunted and killed in
those prairies, ana looked upon the present hunting
with feelings OF good natured superiority. Some time
eap the hunters could all be suitably mounted,
while the ladies' OF course, required unusual looking
observed that the Emperor particularly attentive
the secure fastening of the Empress saddle taking
hold Of himself assure its safety. At last all were
mounted and ready, and at sign from the grand
| rnTs away went the dogs, horses, and consequently
| majestps and guests
What magnificent sight this START The bright
OF the gave Increased splendor the gttering
gold lace adorned costumes while the barking Of the
dogs and the quick tramp OF the horses me for.
get in the excitement Of the moment the UNPLEASANT fact OF
my being lost in the folds Of my voumnous hunting
| suit.
In lees time than could recount it, the hunters and
dogs had disappeared and remained striving and strug
Cling with obstinate that would not
CO. but kept backing and turning round and round, with
degree OF composnre that rendered frantic / was
taken at dsadv anagc by the beast Of horse owing
the large size Of my trousers and the fact that my
covered up, TO almost deprive Of the use OF
my limbs. But Yankee ingenuity is hard to beat and by
gently striking my penkniie into the horse started him
of at pace that brought up with the foremost
the riders and which kept up, until was far In ad
Of the hunt and lost in the Of totally
| unknown 10 me- Having accomplished this feat, my
horse became more reasonable, and managed TO stop
L Jim