The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-04
NAPOLEON III.
The Last Scene in His Strange,
Eventful History.
CAMDEN HOUSE AT CHISELHURST
The Prince Imperial's
First Levee.
The Bonaparte Party at the
Emperor's Funeral.
POLITICAL SPECULATIONS.
The Lying in State---Napoleon
the Thirds Last Levee.
VISIT OF THE PRINCE OF WALES.
A Legend Of Camden
House.
The Morning of the
Funeral.
THE MARCH TO THE GRAVE.
The Route to the Chapel--.Mass for the
Dead..-Reception Of the Young Prince
A Legend Of Camden
House.
Morning o.
Funeral.
THE MARCH TO THE GRAVE.
The Route to the Chapel---Mass for the
Dead..-Reception Of the Young Prince.
"VIvE NAPOLEON THE FOURTH"


It has fallen my duty to write for the HERALD
the last chapter Of the strange, romantic history
Of Louis Napoleon Bonaparte. This duty took me
to Chiselhurst the exile home Of the Empress. A
little rain had dampened the meadows and the
ground was muddy and unpleasant as we tramped
up the long hill leading to Camden House. Chisel-
hurst Is about as far from London as Yonkers is
from New York. 1t is an old-fashi0ned, pretty
Kentish village, with mass Of freshly built work.
mems houses grouped near the station. The most
prominent feature is the sign announcing the man.
ufacture and sale Of ale and beer. But this is no
special characteristic, for the same announcement
may be found in every English town. Back from
the station, the distance OF mile, is the old town
Of Chiselhurst. In America, the railway being
older than most such villages, the stationhouse is
In the very midst Of the village, and you walk from
your carriage into the hotel. But here the towns
were made before railways were fancied and were
built on hills, on bright, inviting SITES
near streams or noble wooded English castles
and homes. Chisehurst proper is dun town, with
little spots OF rural beauty here and there-Queer
old mansions in quaint architecture the two rival
taverns, one called Tigers Head,n the other un-
known to me by name. l see no special use for
Chislehurst, unless it may be as an agricultural
centre for the convenience farmer6 But it looks
fresh and warm and comfortable even ON this cold
and raw winter day.
CAMDEN HOUSE.
We pass up the hill and through the pretentous
archway, made Of variegated brick, and before US
Is the exile home Of the Emperor, Camden House,
1t stands back from the fence, and all that you see
are the low gables, the coat of arms cut in whitish
stone, the nagstaf with the French tricolor at
half-mast, every window closed and darkened, SEN
tinels In citizens apparel pacing up and down in
'front.' now and then carriage hurrying away,
groups Of eager Frenchmen, mainly with the red
ribbon in their coat lapels, sauntering about for
the air or hurrylng some errand Of grief or duty
Wayfarers slacken their gait or bring their horses
to q walk as they pass, for this is now the house
Of death.
CAMDEN PARK.
Through favor Of an old retainer OF the Emperor
we were among those whe obtained entrance to
Camden House this Sunday afternoon, the third
DAY OF mourning. few curious people were at
the porter's lodge, chatting with the woman who
kept ia CHEEKY, bright-faced Englishwom oman
wi -3wered all questions promptly and did not
In any way underrate the Importance Of the great
event. long avenue OF trees runs from the gate
to the house. Along this avenue couple Of gen.
tlemen were strOlling, whose salute was returned,
and we were informed they were the son Of Mar
shal Ney and the grandson Of Murat. SO we
quietly kept on to the house, walking slowly, as
becomes one ,whe enters the house OF death and
woe. There were two carriages or rather one
carriage and O small pony wagon, at the door in
charge OF grooms People slowly moved in and
out, apparently, as is the habit OF people in house
Of mourning, from the want OF something
else to do. Two superb footmen, in the
Bonaparte livery of dark green cloth and
imperial buttons, kept watch at the door. As we
passed the window we saw group IN earnest dis
cussiOn or conversation, prominent among whom
was the face of Prince Jerome Napoleon. There
were also Princes Lucien and Charles, all Of whom,
especially Prince Jerome, bore striking like
ness to the old Emperor. But we are not hidden
to their discussions, and so we pass in. The foot
men receive our outer garments; we open the
door, return the bow Of the Duke de Bassano who
welcomes all comers and continue to the drawing
room. We are in the house Of Napoleon ILL.,, and
above us lies all that remains OF his majesty and
power.
THE HOUSE OF MOURNING
Everything is closed, and all light seems to be
excluded, and the men and women who are around
NJ look like shadows. But in time the eye accus-
toms itself to the darkness, and we see one after
another that these men and women were among
the glorious company OF highborn ladies, maidens
and gentlemen that formed the Court OF the
third Empire. They we're the CAV conspic
nous butterflies OF the gided era in France. We
see Rouher, De Failly, Marshal lie BGuf Fres
sard, Pietri, the old Project Of the Empire; the
Duke de Bassano, formerly Grand Chamberlain
the Duke de Cambaceres, Count Clary, Prince
Murat, Princess Clothde, daughter Of Victor
Emmanuel ana wife of Prince Napoleon; the Prince
sfMoscow, Able Lame, Able Metaire, honslegneur
Bauer, Father Goddard, the priest who confessed
the Emperor and gave him the last Offices; Marquis
a'Avrincsurt, Comte de Egviore, Baron de Bour-
goigne, Baron de Pierre, NJ Delessert, General
Casteinau General lie Brun, Duke de Tarent
Count de Case Brissac Prince Poniatowsky,
Countess walewski, whose husband was natural
son of the old Napoleon; Princess de Ia Moskowa,
the wives OF Marshas Canrobert and Pelisser
Maurice Richard, Duke de Gramont, Foreign
Minister at the end OF the Empire; Jerome David
She famous Count Benedict, whom Kaiser William
snubbed so at Ems. Count Rousset and Others
whose names would weary you, to the number OF a
hundred. at is all here" said my companion and
friend; 'ali there was OF leadership and dignity
and glory under the Empire-al here to see the
Sear GOOD old Emperor. He Is alone on Two