Delaware State journal and statesman., 1867-08-13
HOME AT mALnAIsON
IT'S RESTORATION BY EueENrE.

VI nlHlIlulhOa
1.-THE Empress Eugene has superlntenaeu
all the work of re-creating the home Oh Tue
first French Cesar, and of collecting 'ne
souvenirs of Josephine To walk through
the rooms of the chateau now is an epitome
of the most mary, elous epoch of French MS
tory. IL was the o'esire of the Empress to
have the house and grounds free to all this
year. They have not been open before, and
will not again for mai7y years Do am
| glad that in my suburban ramples spent
day at mala dOmas The country all aiouho
it is beautiful. Going thth er from Paris the
railway runs through the gardens OF Asnieres'
past Antique, where st. 6leneVieVe' tne
patron saint of Paris, was born in the MN
century, and where cathedral six hilnureu
years of age lifts up its crumbling spire, anu
to Reuil, quaint village, where stands fne
church In which Josephine is buried, anti
| from whence one walks down q long avenue
to Malmaison. Nowadays cne expedltes
the distance by taking the American horse.
cars from Reuil station directly to the avee
nue. which leads to the chateau. And here
let me observe that a Franco-American horse
| car Is us unllkb lut Idhl dAtiNAC fn u COM 10
unlike to rose. The guard shouts La NAL
maison and you wander up long path,
hedged by foliage which must have grown
since Napoeon's time; then you turn to the
right, and go up a graveled walk to light
stone building, whose exterior cannot be so
pretty as the old chateau is said TO have BEEN
Looking out beyond, on fine hill some
10 rttin ad
aqueduct, which old Louis Fourteenth built
10 carry water to his Versailles fountains,
and over beyond the hill lie the ruins of the
palace where the old king retired when he
was used up with the world, and the world
was used up with him. Then, too, one gets
q glimpse at st. Germain's wonderful terrace
in the distance, and on every side the scenery
is magnificent. Napoleon had an eye for
rural beauty, and the present Emperor would
do well to desert St. Cloud for Malmaison.
A pompous official in scarlet jacket shows
you the way of entrance, and in moment
: you are at Napoleon's home.
Q Everything has been restored as nearly
r as possible as 1t used to be. The entrance
room is a pretty room, paved, like all othel
n rooms on the first floor, in black and Whit
ii marble diamonds. The first room is thu
dining-hall, where Barras used to gorge him
III self; and where afterwards Napoleon uset
IN to seat himself, eating in hurry to get bacl
IN TO the library. The next room is the mos
a. important one, and brings the greatest tol
j. rent of recollections. tits the council room
be so-called because the emperor always me
his generals there. The furniture is now a
at newly decorated in red and gold, but is tn
ha same with the exception OF the covering
ho The writing table, however, has been II
~ spected, and the old cloth, faded and wit
he Napoleon's ink scratches on it, is left. Ovt
bo the mantle is a fine bust of the Emperor I
he looked when First Consul, and Il
ia sphynxes which do duty at the fire boar
m. recall the Egyptian campaign. The ceilir
wo Is panelled in wonderful blue and white, al
.sn the tables and seats are Inarvellously drape
ra. One comes next to the library, which lool
nd out upon the garden, and from one windo
,ur of which rustic bridge leads to the pleasar
es shaded walks
ac- "Great care has been taken in the repr
nj. duction of this library, and one may spei
pleasant hour here, seeing something ne
md each moment. AS in the council room Il
cad desk has its old covering, with hisscratches
ing it, probably when the Emperor's other hai
lnd was in his hair digging for ideas. A glo
of of the two hemispheres swung in its frar
il near one window, and the names of prom
ely nent Roman, Greek and English historic
sh- are inscribed among the frescoes on the &C
mt ing. A handsome bronze statuete of I
the Emperor tracing on the map OF Europe wi
a pair OF compasses stands on the old WI
ing desk; and handsome models of VIZ
'da) known Roman antiquities are placed hi
In and there In glass cases. The library ca!
'een are all in walnut and greeni and there is
ma immense array of maps and charts scatter
h'e' here and there. One peculiar feature is
wen great number of mirrors in the library. w
rom they were put there l cannot imagine.
the other side of the entrance-hall Is
-ow- billiard-room, with its old-lashioned to
rom and gigantic cues; and here are placed
81 busts of Josephine and Napoleon.
,.or oThen, passing through small ante-ch'
IL 10 Der, one arrives at the parler. This, too
rites CHEEKY, and opens on the lawn; the furnil
,ms. is the least bit gaudy-all in yellow
d, as gold' Near one Vi ING "inuo"s 9''ii'
,cnr. embroidery frame, with an elegant piec'
rose work upon il, and the last stitch
in taken on it by Josephine is marked by
ss,no needle which still sticks in the cloth. F
rsist. this room one passes into the art CALLER
fore long, elegant hall, filled with fine painti
,or n 1t is built precisely like the 'drawing-rc
turp. in the old English mansions, and is iurI
opep. ed with exquisite taste. Near one OF
led il windows stands the harp which Josep
pr 10 used to play, with the music book still
n inn before it; and on the stand near by lie'
con. mandoline. This was the fayorite resc
Josephine; and here, without doubt, \
when leon told his first tale of love.
racks, "Up stairs and through an array of p
,ols Of bath and bedrooms, and-tread sottil
IL was YOU have arrived at the bed chamber oi
ia and Empress. Over the couch fall the drap
10 not of white satin, spangled with gold, ant
nlmos, tapestries are all of the richest and s.
d. and colors. The carpet sinks under ones
sverev and the cushions. the chairs, the deepT rec
v him in the windows, are as luxurious as
,aok can wish. Crimson and gold is the fui
ing of the whole room in panels and &C
having 1t is only a step from this room to the
fender, chamber, where stands the old bureau
at the served Napoleon through all his camp
most and where autograph letters of himsel
Here Josephine are exposed in glass cases.
Oh, 10 mi