Middletown transcript., 1869-05-15
Wotrs of Grarrl.
A Day at DIalmnison.
UriHenJts Me Mddietomn Transc,iyf.

NuLmdisOn, the favorite home of Napo-
leon and Josephine, a homcly chateau in
the midst of a beautiful country near Par
is, surrounded by gardens loyelier than
any others in France, led up to by long
shady avenues, was the shrine to which
the pilgrims from all parts Of the world
paid homage in 1867. 1t was open then
for the first time i'll many years. II has
long since passed into foreign hands, serv-
ing now and then as the retreat of the
queen of Spain, and earlier as the home of
other foreign royalty. During the "Great
Exposition" Napoleon wished all the trea-
sures of France open to public inspection !;
so Malmaison, where Napoleon, the First
planned bis campaigns, where he first low
ed, whittier he sent his hourly bulletins to
Josephine, was restored, as nearly as pos
sible, to precisely what it used to be be-
fore Napoleon abdicated and Josephine
died.
From SAG to 1870 the domain is known
to have belonged to the rich abbes of ST.
Denis. Then it fell into the hands of
rich landowner; in 1892, the landowner
gave it up to banker by the name of
Canteleu; but the man of stocks and spec
ulation did not keep it long 1t was dcs-
tined to be the scene of court splendors,
and later. Of hard, unhinching work, real
brainstruggle for power One year after
the banker had purchased it his title was
resigned in favor of handsome widow,
formerly of Martinique, the relct of Mon
sieM' Beauharnais. She loved the loca-
ton, and came to reside there She was
young and gracious, and began to dispense
hospitality with liberal hand She came
to resuscitate the urhanity and elegance of
the old French society, which had been
broken down in the terrible Revolution
just passed. Malmaison was kind of GA
sis, ont of wich the Parsians fled from the
desert Of Paris life, TO recover what they
had lost of social joys. The epicurean
Barras was accustomed to drive out to this
hospitable mansion to take his tea and a
crowd of fools were in the habit of accom-
panying him thither. There was only one
sensible man in the crowd. He was look
ed upon with kind of suspicious awe.
since he had blown the old Revolution in
to nothingness by means of his cannon,
placed on the steps of St. Roch's church.
He was small man, common in appear
ance, pale-faced, with long black hair,
generally alone, and always looking fierce
at the fops, whom he hated most unfeign-
edly. He was never 80 happy as when
alone in some corner, thinking and NUT
tering to himself; and to this day the old
Frenchmen will tell you that General Bon
aparte was queer, unsocial fellow.
By.and-by, however, this little unsocial
dictator became of more Importance at NAL
maison. The dandies were not of SO much
account when they found that Napoleon
was to marry the widow Beauharnais. The
general. too. was becoming very famous,
and in Paris his name was on every tongue.
Soon the marriage took place, and the
companions of the great general, Lannes,
Bernadotte, and Angereau, came oftener
to this delightful retrent than did Barras
and his company. Josephine saw her res
idenee metamorphosed it was no longer
little court, but miniature camp, and the
talk was concerning redonbts to be storm
ed and armies to be managed.
1t was kind of ante-chamber to war
bureau, and the only place where Joseph
inc was safe from hearing about battles
was in her bed-chamher.
Soon Josephine was alone, for the gen.
eral was on dozen battle excursions in as |
many months, and the courier came every
week to informI her what he was doing |
Sometimes 1t waS tender message often |
er bulletin ofIvictOry. The style ran