Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1868-02-07
THE PALACE OF JOSEPHINE. TaE
BELOVED OF NAPOLEON.

Maimaison, the favorite residence Of Jo-
sepmne and Napoleon, in their days OF
glory, Is now undergoing a thorough restOr-
alton. The Empress Eugene has under
I taken tins pIoHs work, and her plan is said
20 be 70 restore the place to precisely the
same condition, 50 far as possible, as when
first Inhabited by the first Napoleon and his
only beloved Josephine, who died there
May Il, 1914. Among other things, Eu-
genie IS gathering into Malmaison all the
relics Of Napoleon and Josephine which can
be found. His simple cot bed. on which
he died at ST. Helena; his camp-eLair.
which followed him through SO many fields
q oaItlei hls swords, pistols, epaulets. etc
Josephine watch, slippers, aud hundred
I other little souvenirs of the first Emperor
and Empress Of the French, arc already
gathered into tne house Of the dead.
10 writing upon the subject of Napoleon
ana Josephine, memory carries US back TO
our own pleasant travels in France, twenty
years ago, and these rise up before Us, clear
and bright as visions only Of yesterday; such
we're our associations and privileges then
that we visited all the important Institutions
81 Paus and its enyir0ns, st. Cloud Nal
maiso2n, Versailles and the splendid CALLER
les there, grand beyond description. the
-~--E FAAA AA%A@NAff a1 ~ ~ ~ EdA4EAA. AAitl tue
numerous palaces, and these scenes were
made familiar to US from the days Of Marie
AntoInette down TO Napoleon and Josephine.
IL was there and then that we gathered. for
our own interest and qualification. many his
tories Of the past, and these We have kept
IL our travelling sketch book, to be used
when occasion required. Thus we are ia
mlllar with what we write, and the days Of
Napoleon are full Of incidents that never
yet have been made known.
There Is another gem connected with this
palace-the beautiful RosE-the favored Of
the noble Josephine, known as SOuralir De
Ia -HatDl93s0a. This was the favorite rose
OF Josephine, aud was the one worn by her,
as the hrst flower presented TO her by Ma
pole0n. From this originated the name,
associated as 1t was with Napoleon love
and the palace Malmaison.
lis said that Napoleon was as earnest
and faithful 4 lover as he was a General,
and among the private Memoirs Of Nap0-
leon and Josephine" are found the records
Of their ,trysting day, from which we gath
er the following. Ca one occasion Napoleon
was attracted TO a beautiful Rose tree. and
so much was he delighted with It's gorgeous
beauly, that he selected it as a special gift
% Josephine, This gift was planted BY bis
own hand, aud ever after. that Rose tree
and that little garden spot was nurtHred and
watched with the devotion which fond
heart knows how to bestow. This Rose
being the special gift Of one who was so
tenderly yet nob.y allied to her was cher
ished by Josephine as a Souvenir Of Love,
and linked with her home and bappiest
hours. When the darkened days came and
she was 20 be separated from Napoleon, that
Rose was saved by her own hand and borne
away a. the brightest SOUVENIR OF NAL
MASON. Hence the name, Souvenir de
la Malmaison. Loving, affecttonate, ten
der memories and bitter regrets are thus
linked with one of the most beautiful Of all
Roses, and Poetry, Music and bright flow
ers are wingled with the memory Of NapO-
leon and Josephine. Many interesting his
tories connected with those days are found,
which have been attributed TO Napoleon's S
pen after the loss of Josephine aud the des-
ecration of their favored Garden Spot where
this FIRST Rose was planted These are sup
posed to be the last sad thoughts Of Napo-
leon as he looked upon the place where his
feet would never tread more.-48oR.