Evening star., 1880-02-14
THE GREAT NAPOLEON.
Daily Life in an Imperial House.
hOld-PersOnal Habits of the Ruler
Of France-PeCuliar Characters.
tics of the Empress Josephine

Daily Life in an Imperial House,
hOld-PersOnal Habits of the H uler
tics of the Empress Josephine.
] think 1t will not be amisS says Nine. de Re
musat In her interesting memoirs, to devote a
few pages to the interior management of what
was called the Emperors household Bona
parties expenditure on dress was put down on
the budget at 10000 francs. Sometimes 1t
Slightly exceeded this sum. During campaigns
IT was necessary to send him both linen
and clothes to several places at once.
The slightest sense of Inconvenience, or
linen or eIotn % Weuid N maee ea him throW sa
aside a coat or any other garment He always
said he wished to dress like a simple officer OF
what, as he said, " he was made to spend;'
while, from his caprice or awkwardaess,
the entire renewal OF his wardrobe was con,
Stantly necessary. Among other destructive
habits, he had that OF stirring the wood fires
. with his foot, thereby scorching his shoes ana
boots. This generally happened when ne was
In passion; at such times he would vlolentiy
KICK the blazing logs in the nearest 1Ie-paace;
M de RemusaJ was for several years keeper OF
the wardrobe, receiving no emolumentS. When
NJ de Turenne succeeded to that post salary
OF twelve Thousand francs was awarded 10 MIN.
Every year the Emperor himself drew up
scheme OF household expenditure with scrupu-
ious care and rem arkabie economy. During the
last quarter of each year, the head OF each de-
partment regulated his expenses for the fol-
plished a council was held, and everything
was carefully discussed. This council con-
sisted OF the grand marshal, who presided,
tie great officers, the intendant and the treas
urer to the crown. The expenses OF the EN-
press's household were comprised in the
accounts OF the grand chamberlain, on whose
budget they were entered. In these councils
the grand marshal and the treasurer undertook
to defend the Emperor's interests. The consul
tation being over, the grand marshal took the
accounts to the Emperor who examined them
himself and returned them with marginal notes.
After short interval, the council met again.
under the presidency OF the Emperor himself,
who went over each item of expenditure anew
These consultations were generally repeated
several times; the accounts OF each department
We're then returned to It's chief, and fair copies
of them were made, after which they passed
through the hands OF the fntendant, who finally
inspected them, together with the Emperor, in
presence OF the grand marshal By these means
all Xptndture was fixed, and seldom indeed,
did any OF the great officers obtain the sums for
which they had asked.
BoNAPARTE's HOUR FOR RISING
was irregular. but usually 1t was sey en- O'Clock.
II he woke during the night he would resume
his work or take bath or meal. He generally
awoke depressed and apparently in pain He
suffered frequently from spaSmS in the stomach,
which produced vomiting. AT times this ap-
peaIed 10 alarm him greatly, as If he feared he
had taken poison, and then it was difficult to
prevent him from increasing the sickness by
taking emetics The only persons who had the
right OF entry into his dressing room without
being announced were the grand marshal and
wardrobe was announced, but was almost
always admitted. He would have wished NJ. de
Remusat to employ these morning visits In Civ
ing him an account OF all that was said or done
at court or In the city; but my husband 1nvaria-
bly, declined the task, and persevered in his de-
termination with praiseworthy obstinacy. The
otner physicians or surgeons On duty might not
come unless summoned Bonaparte seemed to
put no great faith in medicine-ft was fre-
quently a matter OF jesting with him, but he
had great confidence In Coryisart, and much
esteem for him. He had good health and a
strong constitution, but when he suffered from
ay Ha Tas ns taapsd AND
slight affection of the skin, and sometimes COM
plained of his liver. He ate moderately, drank
little, and INDUCED in no exceSSeS of any kind.
He took good deal Of coffee while dressing
he was usually silent, unless discussion arose
between him and Corvisart on some medical
subject. In everything he liked to GO straight
being III his first question was always, evil he
die?T A doubtful answer dIspleased him. and
medical science. He acquired with great diff
Guilty the art OF shaving himself. NJ. de Remu-
sat induced him to undertake this task on see
ing that he was uneasy and nervous under
trials, and when he had finally succeed
ed, he often said that the advice to shave
service to him Bonaparte so thoroughly ac-
customed himself during his reign to make no
account OF those about him, that this habitual
disl egard pervaded all his habits. He had not
any OF the delicacy that Is ordinarily impaired
by training and education, and would make his
toilet In the most thorough fashion In the pres
IL
way, If he got impatient while his valet was
dressing him, he would lily into passion heed
less OF all respect for himself or Others. He
would throw any garment that did not please
him on the floor or into the fire. He attended
to his hands and nails with great Gre. Several
pairs OF nail scissors had to be In readiness as
were not sufficiently sharp. He never made
Use Of any perfume except eau de cologne, but
OF that he would get through 60 bottles in
month. He considered 1t very wholesome
prat tice to sprinkle himself thoroughly with
eau de cologne. Personal cleanliness was with
him matter OF calculation, for, as said be
was concluded,
HE WENT TO HIS CABINET,
where his private secretary was in attendance
Precisely at o'clock the chamberlain on duty.
who had arrived at the palace at am. and had
carefully Inspected the whole suite OF rooms,
that al! nigh be In perfect order. and seen that
1he servants were at their posts, knocked at the
door and announced the leyee He never en-
tered the cabinet unless told to come In by the
Emperor. l have already given an account OF
these levees. When they were over Bonaparie
the principal persons present-princes, minis
tiers, high officials or projects en- leave. Those
who had not the right Of entry to the levee
could only obtain an audience by applying to
the chamberlain on duty, who presented their
names 10 the Emperor. He generally refused
would last until the hour OF breakfast That
meal was served at II O'Clock, In what was
called the salon De Se1rtce, the same apartment
III WHICH ut private uuuleHCt5 anu re-
ceiyed his ministers The project of the
palace announced breakfast aud remained
present, standing all the time. During break
fast the Emperor received artists or actors,
He would eat quickly OF two or three Dishes
and finish with large cup of coffee without
milk. Alter breakfast he returned to his work.
The salon OF which have Just spoken was ordi-
narily occupied by the colonel general OF the
guards on duty for the week, the chamberlain,
the equerry, the prefect Of the palace and on a
hunting morning, one Of the officers OF the hunt.
The Ministerial councils We're held on fixed DAYS.
There were three state councils week. For
nve or SIX years the Emperor frequently pre-
sided over them, his colonel general and the
Chamberlain being in attendance on him. He is
SAID TO have generally displayed remarkable
ABILITY In carry Ing on or suggesting discussions.
He frequently astoniShed his hearers by ob3er-
rations 1ull OF iuminousnesS and depth on SUBJ
1ectS wh!cl would have seemed 10 be quite be.
yond his reach. In more recant times
he showed less tolerance for others In these dis
cuSSions, and adopted a more imperious tone
The state council, or that OF the ministers, or
his own priv ale work, lasted to six D. m After
1906 he ain. oSt always dined alone with his WIFE,
except when the court was at Fontainebleau;
he would then invite guests to his table. He
had all the courses OF the dinner placed before
him at once; and he ate, paying no attention to
his food. helping himself TO whatever was at
hand, sometimes taking preserves or creams
before touching the more solid Dishes The
prefect OF the palace was present during din
ner; TWO pages waited, and were waited on nv