Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1869-02-19

DOtlc0S over IOur llueS
RossINI's VILLA-Now that the great mu-
steal composer is dead, his favorite retreat at
Passy, that suburb of Paris where Benz. Frank
lin lived, is to be sold The great beauty of
this home of the art author, is its "boundless
contguity of shade" 1t is built on piece OF
ground that belonged to the BOs de BoulOgne
before Nj. Theirs fortified Paris. The earth
works of the Notifications now bound the west
ern side OF the little park and garden In which
the house stands, and so far from being an
eyesore, are extremely ornamental, A row OF
fine chestnuts is planted at the base, and
through and ABOVE the branches one percelves
series of terraces covered with turf as green as
that of the slopes at Windsor. The foliage OF
the Bois de BouOgne is in the back ground.
The Rossini villa is enclosed by high lroa
railing, so thickly covered with ivy that a small
bird could scarcely get through. The eastern
boundary is the Auteuil railway, but the gar
den is SO arranged that the nne Is not visible
from the house. Half way down the long OBJ
long garden is the kiosque or Summer house
in which Rossini was wont to study In iue
weather.
The little park in which the villa stands is
planted with fine sycamores, and also laurels,
some of which were transpanted from the
tomb of Virgil at Naples, and some from Pet
trarch's garden at Vaucuse. The maestro had
a passion for flowers, and surrounded himself
with them in great variety. Last summer he
had in his garden q collection of roses as
fne as any | ever saw at a horticultu
raj show in the Crystal Palace. For near
~ a quarter of mile the air was perfumed
with them Rossini took great pains to peo
pie the trees and shrubs In his domain with
song birds. The house is built of white stone.
1t has heavy aspect by no means In harmony
with its surroundings. The reception rooms
are on the ground floor, and entered by hand
some vestibule. TO the lett is spacious draw
ing-room decorated with trescoes, crimson
panels and golden baguettes. In the corners
of the ceiling are medallion portraits OF the
hosts musical kindred, to wlt:-Beethoven,
Mozart (before whose bust the composer OF
''Il Barblere" never passed without touching
his hat), Gretry and Boieldieu.
Fronting the fireplace is the likeness OF
Rossini himself, painted by Hyppoyte Elan
drin. This drawing room communicates by
folding doors with a boudoir and q smaller
saloon hung in Persian chintz and containing
stuffed birds, old china, shells and Italian arti
cles of vertu. There used to be, but are not
now, in this room, harp, guitar, tambOurine,
and other minor instruments. The grand piano,
on which Rossini was wont frequently to ac-
company his guests, stood in the great draw
ing room. The dining room is the beau ideal
OF comfort. On the chimney piece is Dustin
bronze of the maestro, taken thirty hve years
ago. The bed room on the first floor was at
once library and study. The furniture OF
the house generally shows that comfort rather
than luxury was sought after. The chairs and
sofas are not of rosewood, but mahogany,
which in France Is considered common. The
etageres in the bed room are, however, filled
with costly Saxony porcelain. Correspondent
of London NelcS.
TEST. T.OATHS.-Cougress, in perssting in its
avstem OF test oaths, is doing, if possible, more
Injustice to its good sense than to any other
oripciple of action. Even the majority must
agree that lit is greater honor to the South
ern people than any achieved on battIe-heldS
that. though impoverished by war, and, 10
many cases, in absolute need Of the necessaries
ot life-though many of the people were
involved in war without the exercise of their
own yoIition, they refuse, with few exceptions,
10 swear that they never yielded voluntary
support to the Contederacy. They are willing
enough tc take the oath to support the constl-
tuition and the Union.
Their adherence to truth and conscience rem
ders them most trustworty official agents, and
vet these good qualities are made the cause OF
their punishment. Reasoning on the lnvolun-
tary support given to the South, the late At,
tOrney General Stanbery argued forcioiy ard
truly. that, when inSurrectlon taxes the iorm
of de facto government aud entorees laws
over the people within its territory individual
lights and obligations updergo modification
and the righttul aud displaced authority, Wnen
it again comes into place, must consider things
rs rightIully done, which, IN mere lnsurrec'!ou'
would have no color OF legality This principle
was enforced in Englaud by statute and b2y de-
cisions of courts as early as the reign of Henry
he Secoud. The established law is that obe,
dience to the de facto government, established
ander a usurping monarch, does not involve
subject in the guilt of treason to the lawful
King. Cannot republic afford TO be as mer,
clul as monarchy? Ought not some respect
20 be paid 10 the virtues of people who esteem
personal honor above public office? Must this
thing of test oaths endure until cousclences be-
come scared, or oppression makes men madF--
N, 7. Erpress.