Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-12-22
pailp Aelaebre 4oarnal.
NALMAIsoN AND ITS MEMORIES.

4 most disappointing ana melancnoly
place 10 visit now is Malmaison. The
chateau could never have been beautiful,
bu, il must have had in the time Of Napo-
leon and Josephine pleasant, home-like,
free -and-easy look. 1t was then sacred to
love, happiness and repose, as it was alter
ward to misfortune, and the memory OF
that most winning and womanly Empress.
II was first desecrated by being made the
residence OF Christina. of Spain, royal
mother of intrigues and scandals, and al
last. during the last war, was damaged
and dismantled by the Prussians. A regl-
mept occupied the place for some weeks,
and now French soldiers are quartered
there. They have even turned Josephine s
private rooms, including the chamber in
which she died, into barracks. The day
of our visit was not bad as days go here,
but it was gusty and Novemberish. Ly-
ing thick on the terraces and in the wide,
dry moat, choking the pretty little brook.
and drifting away down the sombrc ave-
nues of the park, were fallen leaves-all
one sad color and very dead. AT home
relenting nature gives to dying foliage
thousand dyes, which are to us so many
tender farewclls; here she smites it with
swift decay, and hurries and harres 1t
off with fierce winds and rains to rot in
undistinguishable heaps. There is no
such thing as an Indian summer in this
savagely. civilized climate.
Among the few apartments still to be
seen at Malmaison which are associated
with Napoleon, is a singular council cham
Der. which he had made to represent. in
form and hangings, a marquee. The freak
reminded US of that Of an old retired sea
captain, of New England, who had a
mound constructed in his garden, OF the
exact proportions OF his quarterback,
whereon he used 10 take his constitutional
in all weathers, and smoke and swear ret
respectively. There is also pavilion in the
grounds which was Napolean's private cab
met. Here he toiled terribly at his mighty
plans of conquest-here his pen traced the
march of armies and blotted out the bound
aries of Empires. Not far away, in the
old Norman church of Ruiel. Josephine,
his forsaken Egeria, seems to be in per-
petual prayer for the repose of his flight
ing soulr-that soul OF fire and OF steel
sent to light and to smite his age. In an
opposite chapel, Queen Hortense seems in
as profound supplication tor another i'm
perions, if not imperial soul. born in the
purple to die in exile. Happily these two
memorial statues have not suffered from
the shock of war. They still pray in
peace, and not in pieces.
Our friend, the old French lady, of whom
have already spoken, says of Josephine:
"She was not pretty, but she was the most
graceful woman in the world" OF Napo-
leon, whom she remembers as First Con-
sui and as Emperor, she gives singular
ly vivid description. She says that though
in youth he was thin and sallow. and in
middle age stout and pale, and his face
had always strange beauty-stern, yet
when at rest they had an absent, dreamy
look it was only when they regarded you
that you felt their power: then something
cold and sharp seemed tor pass through
you. His finely cut chin was firm as mar
BILE, but it had dimple fit for young girl.
He had small, beautiful mouth, which
seemed always ready to smile and never
smiled. His speech was abrupt and start
ling; il made one tremble il he only said
Bon jour. There was something mecleant
about him, even in his pleasantly. He
played roughly, especially with the En-
press Marie Louise, whom he treated as a
child, sometimes tossing her in the air,
and carrying her down stairs on his
shoulders"
Of Marie Louise she said: Her neck
and arms were fine, her complexion was
not bad, but she had an ugly face. un-
meaning eyes, and q vile nose" The old
lady startled me by adding that as a wife
and mother that royal dame was sans en-
trdilles. 10 Grace Greenwood in Ne,U York
Times.