West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-05-01
The Home OF t,,s E.neasapo,eon,.

island of Reichenau lies like a gem in
the miniature sea. On the hills to tho
lett are chateaux, villas and castles. Al
least one of these Is historical; IL is nj.
most the simplest among them, but 1,
interesting as having been for twent,
years the home of Queen Hortense. tn,
daughter Of Josephine and the stem.
daughter of Napoleon the First. With
all her brilliancy of birth and char &C
ter, she was an unhappy and an unfor.
tunate woman. She had seen her own
rather murdered on the gulllotine
her mother married an Emperor, only
TO die broken hearted. Her step-fatheI
died on lone island of the sea. Sb,
herself married King, only to be di.
vorced and dethroned, while her chill.
dren and her whole family became
wandering fugitives in strange lands.
Ii Is extremely saddening to walk
through the rooms OF her little home
here, and recall the fate that followed
her In lite. When Napoleon became
Emperor, she was one OF the most bril-
liant and talented women of his court.
She wrote excellent verses, arranged
plays and composed songs that have
cheered the French armies In battle
from that day to this. Her song
"Partant pour la Syrie" may last with
the French language. When Napol-
cons star of destiny failed him, and
all who bore his name, or were related
to him, were banlshed from France,
poor Hortense, after being refused a
resting place in many lands, bought
this little villa in quiet corner OF
Switzerland. Here she devoted many
years to self culture and the care of her
two sons. Here was spent the boyhood
of frances second Emperor. Arenen-
burg is plain villa outside, but is sit
uated on one of the loveliest spots of
the shores of.the river Rhine. In the
garden near the villa is long, low
house, used then, as now, for stables.
The upper floor of this clubhouse con-
tained the rooms of the young Prince,
Louis Napoleon. Here he studied, and
here he schemed. In recent visit to
Arenenburg the writer hunted up a
number of old residents OF the neigh
Dorhood who had been companions of
Napoleon, and a few who bad been
friends of Hortense. There many re-
membered incidents of the life of both ::
for both, though in a very different
way, had been much liked by all the
villagers. Hortense's Kindness TO the
poor of all the district has embelmed
her name In grateful remembrance
there, and even the stern republicans
OF Switzerland had a warm sympathy
Tor an unfortunate Queen. As to her
son, the late Emperor, people never
could tire telling of the incidents of his
boyhood that pointed to the coming
man. What a swimmer he wasl what
horseman what wrestler! or his
horsemanship 1t Is maintained he had
not an equal anywhere. 1t was habit
OF his never to mount horse by the
use Of stirrup, but to run and spring
over the crupper and Into the saddle at
bound.
Louis Napoleon visited Arenenburg
when he became Emperor, and twenty
thousand people came to bid him well
come. AS young man he had been n
captain of militia sharp-shooters there,
ana president of the village school
board. These bodies Joined officially
In the greeting. There were several
coaches and four drawn up at the sta
ton for the Emperor and his staff to
ride In. What was the astonishment
and JOY 10 see Napoleon Jump into the
one-horse wagon of n friend that hap
pened to be there, and with him head
the great procession through Con-
stance How the people shouted and
clapped hands at the democratic En-
peror. Hortense, after suffering several
years with a dreadful cancer. ended
her eventtul life in 1887. She died In
the little upper east room. The
stranger going in there now will
be Impressed to see everything lust "a
she left 1t. There is the bed on which
she died, and near 1t is the camp bed
stead which her son the Emperor had
at Sedan. There, too, Is her harp. as
well as the harp Of Josephine. Down
stairs there are five rooms filled with
membranes of the Napoleon family.
On little table in the reception-roon
ls the gilt clock used by Napoleon on
the island Of ST. Helena. In other
rooms are good paintings and statues
made from life of Napoleon the First.
Hortense, her mother Josephine, and
her brother Prince Eugene; also the
furniture presented to Hortense by the
city Of Paris at the time Of her marriage
TO Napoleon's brother. There. too
covered with crown of ivy, Is a mar
Die bust of Napoleon the Third. taken
from cast Of his face after death. The
Empress Eugene repurchased this place
tit had been sold after the death of
hortense), and presented il to the En-
Peror. IL was lately the summer real
dence OF herself and the young Prince
Louis. over the hills from Reichenau
ana In another arm Of the lake, lies the
pretty little Island of MaInau. with its
gardens reaching down IN
the blue waters. Real royalty dwells
mere for 1t IL the property of the
Grand Duke Of Baden; and his father
in-laW, the Emperor Of Germany. often
spends his summer DAYS In this lovel,.
retreat In fact, the Kings and Princes
OF Europe have managed 10 secure rnost
Ot Ihe rare spots around the lower end
L "a q q