Middletown transcript., 1869-05-15
TOWN. NEW CASTLE COUNTY, DELAWARE SATURDAY

precisely like the i" drawing-room" in the
old English mansions, and is furnished
with exquisite taste. Near one of the
windows stands the harp which Josephine
used to play, with the music-book still
open before it; and on the stand, near BY.
lies her mandolne. This was the favorite
resort of Josephine; and here, without
doubt, Napoleon told his first tale of love.
Up stairs, and through an array of pret-
ty bath and bedrooms, you arrive at the
bed-chamber of the Empress. Over the
couch fall the drapcries of white satin,
spangled with gold, and the tapestries are
all OF the richest and softest colors. The
carpet sinks under ones feet, and the cush-
ions, the chairs, the deep recesscs in the
windows, are luxurious. Crimson and
gold is the furnishing of the whole room,
IN panels and ceiling. 1t is only step
from this room to the ante chamber, where
stands the old bureau which served Napo-
leon through all his campaigns, and where
autograph letters of himself and Josephine
are exposed in glass cases. Then we come
to the room which is the most interesting
of all. 1t is most zcalously guarded BY
soldiers, and one must enter without noise
On raised pedestal stands the simple cot
bed in which Napoleon died, at St. Hele-
ma; there, too, is the great white wrapper
which he used to wear, even the eoverlet
which was last arranged over his corpse
and the other platform, near by, is mount
ed by his old camp-chair, which was with
him in so many battle-felds, and the hun
dred souvenirs which one cannot find room
to mention here. In cases all around the
room one sees the personal arms of the III.
pcror, the little sword which is always
represented in his picture, his other swords
and pistols, his epaulets, the watch of Jo-
sophine Bcauharnais, pictures of the d" lit
tie king of Rome, four years DID," the
last SLIPPERS worn by Josephine, and hun
dreds of little souvenirs, which have been
scattered far and wide, but have been col
lccted by Eugcnie's care, from the Louvre,
from private collections, from every posi-
bic source, to figure at Malmaison this
once, and to awaken remembrances of Ma
poleon and Josephine.
Rueil, where the unfortunate and di-
vorced queen found her grave, was once
the home of Richelieu. The old cardinal
had his country-seat there, and used to
come thither to refresh himself after his
tolls for France. The only other thing
for which the little town is celebrated is its
church, which has a tower built in the
twelfth century; the rest of the edifce is
of the time of Francis First. In this
church, in one of the chapels of the
nave, lies buried the Empress Josephine
The tomb is an imposing one, and it is be-
cause it is there that the old church has
been kept inrepair by the present Emperor.
In 1924, ten years after their mothers |
death, the Queen Hortense and the Prince
Eugene purchased the chapel in the
church, and erected the tomb there. The |
remains were conveyed there not long af- |
ter. The monument is in white-veined
marble; and under and arch the Empress
is represented kneeling, with her face up
turned in prayer.
The face, according to those who knew
the Empress, is correct likeness. This !
bears this single inscription
ITO Josephine, Eugene and Hortense,
1925" The tomb of Queen Hortense is in
the same church, but one descends into |
vault to see it. The tomb Of Josephine is
dull and gloomy in the dark nave, and
would have been more appropriate under
the roses of Malmaison, which she appre-
ciated so much. B. S. r..
New York, May, 1869.