The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-08-16

nn.m We meet mere, we might very well I'm CINE
that we are not in the sn,e.room Of the French
prince, but in sn apartment Constructed and
decorated by an architect OF the period Of Angus
tus and that those magnificent wall paintings ran.
resenting scenes Of Roman mythology, arose M
uer lhe magic penci OF contemporary of
Mark Anthony, and not under that of one of
Eugene DelaerOiX's most talented pupils A
small oraDgery in tubs curiousy wrought in
mahogany and rosewood, adds greatly TO the
Charming impression which this room makes upon
the behOlder. =
The next apartment is the reception hall. From
the villa Of a Roman sybsrite you seem 10 stem
Gil OF sudden into the armOry OF a knight of the
middle ages. In every niche stands the somber.
threatening figure Of mail clad knight armed
With sword and lance, OF battle-ax Tropbies
arranged with considerable symmetrical t.s,s
adorD the walls. All decorations are in perfect
keeping with them. Gothic architects painters
and sculptoTs seem to have got them up. Where
ever you turn your searching eyes. you will not
century.
The impression which this room makes on thoss
who enter It is very curious one aud this Is the
hest proof OF the consummate skill and ingenuity
with which It has been fixed up. 1t does not look
like museum, but like a room preserved fresh
and intact for five hundred years.
Ihree doors lead out of this curious reception
ball. Few OF the visitors who are not intimately
acquainted with the prince are permitted to pen.
citrate any further aud 70 enter by these doors the
next three rooms which are much smaller, bat all
furnished and decorated with exquisite taste
One oil them contains the aquarium of the
prince, IL IL not IS large as some OF the aquaria
which may be found in Paris aud its environs:
but il is filed with specimens of the rare-t and
most curious marine creatures. The prince
watches over this aquarium with especial care aud
solici'ude and spends large to enrich it with
choice and valuable additions.
Everything else in this aquarium room reminds
US Of the ocean. The frescoed walls show us ON
sea green ground, Neptune, armed with his tri-
dent and seated in his chariot by the side of mis-
queen, Amphltrite. Shell shaped consoles and
ornaments support, everywhere handsomely ar
ranged piles OF magnificent shells. The mantle
piece looks like an enormous cOnoh /; everywhere
"reminiscences If the ocean. You seem TO inhale
it's pure, braciDg air. Draw a deep breath of it,
for that door yonder will lead you into room
locking very much like the interior of a superb
Arab tent, pitched in some oasis of the desert
IL Is The smOking-rOOm of the prince, and we
doubt II there is, anywhere in the world, cOsier
place TO smoke nargliehh or q Havana. Soft
cushions around the walls; baldachin rising IN
to the ceiling the windows yelled with dark vel.
vet curtains, subduing the light regning in the
room. How delightful place To rest aud smoke
and sip coffee after dinner!
When the sultan conducted into this room
he was delighted with it; and so was that other
Oriental guest, Abd-el Kader, several years ago
But let Us pass on.
We enter the blliariroom. Here we are at
length, IN the middle of the nineteenth century.
ANO lut ulilihIu NhNltst uhub Dy Alexander aud
containing below large music-bOxes, stand 10 the
middle Of the room. Most OF the fine paintings
which the prince bought at the Last annual art
hibtiOns adOrn the walls. The whole room ia ele.
gsnty furnished but there is about il nothing too
gorgeous, nothing indicating that it belongs 10 a
prince and not to private citizen of wealth and
refinement.
There are two more rooms for us to describe.
They ale the private cabinet and the library OF
the prince. The library contains five or six thou.
m mat nj aifaIu ham nd
and all Of them arranged in small black walnut
cases, each surmOuntiDg carved reading and
writing desk In front OF each of them stands
large and deep, exceedingly comfortably looking
essy-chair, or, rather, small sofa. Nine or ten
statues, several hne paintings, and q number of
cunOusly wrought stands, filled with all sorts of
cuTiosities, etc., impart most picturesque ap.
peaTaDce 10 the room, which no lover Of litera-
tnTe can see without heaviHg a longing sigh.
The private cabinet-the princes study-where
he writes all those letters and brochures which
never fail to produce such d marked impression
upon public opinion, is one Of the largest rooms
on the ground floor, and is chiefly remarkable for
the numerous relics of Napoleon and his fam.
lily, which It contains. For many years past the
prince has collected these precious and highly
interesting rel cs Of his great uacle, and not only
is bis collection Of them the most valuable now
in existence in France or else where, bat he him.
self is acknowledged 10 be the best Judge aud
cODnosseur Of tht IN. He spends large sums Of
money TO enrich this collection, and those who
nsT TfS On YaSns pe 81 the at emperor
The old-fashioned writing desk standing on the
table near the window, was the one used by Ma
poleon at ST. Cloud, and during most Of his earlier
campaigns. Most Of the other furniture IN this
room ljkewite was u.ed by NspoleOn |, ani the
books in the three small yellow book cases are
those which the emperor used to carry with him
in his large travelling coach, and which accompa-
MED him from Spain into the heart Of frozen Rus
STA. This curious collection of books had been
scattered throughout several countries; but an
agent of the prince, by dint of perseverance, and
liberal expenditure, succeeded in recovering most
Of the volumes.
The prince, when he is at home in the delight
full abode which we have just desc ibed to our
readers rises between and in the morning.
reads the newspapers and the letters which bis
secretary has arranged for him, breakfasts with
his wife and children, works for three or four
hours in his study, dictates to his secretary 10
the library; at twelve he lunches, either alone OF
with some political friends, with whom he talks
over the political events of the day; at O'Clock
receives visitors, both acquAintanceS and stran.
gers who have procured an Introduction to hun,
which as the prince is a very affible man is by no
means difficult; at he takes ride, drives TO she
Iuileries into the environs Of PARIS, or calls on
his friends, and returns home at 5, when he die
tates again to his secretary, hears the reports
Of the officers of his household; at 6 O'Clock be
goes to the salon of the Princess ClOtilde, 40
stairs, chsEs a while with his wife and plays with
his children, until the nlGitIe d hotel opens the
door and announces, =" LeutIS AleSSeS HIlpeft0ueS
SOHt serUisS " whereupOn the prince conducts
the princess to the dining-rOOm, where one of
those epicureaR repasts for which the table or
Prince Napoleon is famous, Bwsits them. Ten or
twelve guests. and Oftentimes many more, are
present and after dinner is the prince retires
with them to his apartments below, which by this
time aTe brilliantly lit up, aud where De spends
The evening with them, unless he goes TO the thea
ter or accompanies the Princess COtde to
a sOir6e or ball az the Tuleres, or at the hotel of
one Of the ministers or foreign ambassadors.
Bureau Order.
IIp.D,r- pr-uu II oE RrFuaEPc ERRED-l