The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-16
Prince N.p.I.oa at Home.

Translated for the Cincinnati Commercial from Les Echos
du Nord.l
WHY his imperial highness, Prince Napoleon,
should travel SO much Ia foreign lands, is sons
thing which we are At a loss TO understand, mas
much as there is in all that delightful city OF
Paris. no more charming place Of abode than
that part of the Palas Royal In which he and his
copsort the Princess ClOtilde, live. The princess
has q very fine suit of apartments on the first
floor Of the left wing Of that famous palace, and
her husband. the subject OF this sketch occupies
the ground door of the same wing. The rooms
IN this ground floor always were noted for their
sumptuOus and, withsl, comfortable appearance
aud arrangement; end, when Prince Napoleon
moved into them, it might have been expected
that he would not have deemed it necessary TO
make aDy alterations, but would have taken aad
used them as he found them.
Snch however, was not the case. whole
army Of Workmen and artists was at once set TO
work TO transform the rooms destined Tor the
special use Of the prince, 10 such manner AS
suited his aesthetic tastes and predictions.
those apartments which had q historical import
suce were, Of course, left unchanged; but nearly
All the rest OF them underwent very material
alterations, so that tire whole suit OF rooms, IN
their present condition, presents an appearance
which few of the old habitues Of the Palals Royal
would be able to recognize. Dan
tisuell known that the prince has for many
wears past ttudied natural history aud archie lOgy
with especial zeal and application. The resnits
Of these studies, able az be is TO crafty such ex-
rensiye vhims he likes 90 embOdy, IS it we're, IN
his surroundings. In this manner arose that mar
Vicious architectural and archaeological production
| Of his the Roman villa on the Champs Elystes,
which he sold several years ago, not because OF
financial difficulties, as was believed by crest
number of persons at that time, but because the
prince, highly pleased though he was with the
| villa as q faithful reproduction OF the Romsn
| style Of domestic architecture, found It TO be
| rather uncomfortable as place Of residence,
II is this feature. besides those others already
| referred TO- 10 which the prince devotes especial
attention in selecting, arranging, furnishing ana
decorating the houses and rooms IN which ne
! l4yes. They must remind him, in their whole sp.
J pearance Of something foreign or antique, snd
| conb ine with this popularity the comforts and
/ advantsg es of the best modern dwellings
| Animated by the desire TO realize this ideal, ne
has converted the apartments Of the Palais Roy AL
which he now occupies, into faithful representa-
tiops of yarious ages and olimes. When you enter
| the hall way, where you will find Longing about
i've or six servants wearing the msroon-colored
j Hyeriss OF the prince you believe that you have
suddenly stepped into the interior courtyard OF
| the mansion Of a wealthy Spaniard or Mexican.
| There is a bubblng fountain in the middle OF the
| marble floor, and all around are to be seen tall
and magnificent excite plants and shrubs No
I painiiDes on the walls. no statues IN the nlches
/ Tor they would be oct Of place here, and mar the
beauty OF the whole only the windows consist, II
tart Of colOred glass, arranged IN the ex4nlslti
| stvJe or decorations of the Albambra; and the
| ceiling is frescOed in a manner perfectly in keep
TIE waiting room into which visitors are con
| Quoted by the courteous servants seems 20 traus
fer us suddenly to Tivoli or Sorrento. It's ltslaI
| IL every respect. Horace himself would hSV'
found nothing to object 10 in this charming room