The New Orleans daily Democrat., 1880-02-29
JOsEPHINE'S EXTRAYAGANCE.
How Much the Empress Of France Loved
to Shop and Dress. s..
From Madame dc Rsmusats Memo.rs.l


After the campAign In Italy the salons Of
Malmaison, we read, were sumptuously deco
rated with pic lures, statues and mosalcs, and
che had diamonds, pearls and jewels OF all
kinds In profusion yet she Locked M money neg for
influence with prominent persOnages. Her al
lowances were double those OF the Arch
duchess Marie Louise, her successor, but the
latter had no "poor relations" to provide for.
but she was not so prudent as Queen Victoria
(whose invariable wedding present, when she
must give one, Is an India shawl, the shawls
coming to her from Indian potentates as
gifts, and so costing nothinR), and always
bought something to give away. She would
account of 1t, nor could Napoleon induce her
to refuse audiences to people with goods for
sale; any person could find the way to her
presence, and whatever he brought she would
buy. Her ante-roOms were crowded with
merchants and artists, one OF her manias be-
ing the dissemination Of her portraits
among her relatives, friends, attend
ants, and even her tradesmen. Dla-
monds, jewels, ehawls, stuffs, she bought
all that was brought to her without
or four hundred India shawIs, then brought
into fashion by the campaign In the east, and
left wardrobe as extensive and much more
costly than that Of Queen Elizabeth. EN-
ptre Tor Josephine meant al ulHmLeu priv
ilege to shop.
Josephine rose at o'clock. Her toilet was
elaborate; 1t occupied the attention OF six or
eight women; one portion Oft was conducted
In strict secrecy; 1t had reference TO making
up and painting her body. ibis done, sne
with fine laces. Her chem1ses and pett1coats
were embroidered and trimmed with lace.
She changed her linen thrice q day. and never
wore the same stockings twice. When her
hair had been dressed they brought her huge
hampers Of dresses, shawls and bonnets, that
she might make her choice for the day, wear
Ing In summer musllns or percales, lavlshly
embroidered and ornamented, and In winter
velvet or stuffs. In the forenoon she always
wore hats with feathers or flowers.
woman couid drape herself in a shawl with
such grace. and Napoleon was wont, finding
they hid too much OF her shoulders, to tear
them of and as likely as not to throw them
In the fire, when she would ring for another
one. One shawl more or less made little dlf-
from 5000 to 1000 francs, which she used for
bed quilts and dog-blankets. Rarely did she
wear the same evening dress twice, and the
slightest excuse In the way OF dinner or q
ball sufficed for the purchase OF new head
dress or costume. Tne dressmakers always
had something ION the stocks" for her-fre-
quently lace dresses ranging In value from
$4,000 to $4,000. She never gave anything
away, nor would she allow anything to be
sold or made over. She never opened book,
never took up pen, never occupied or amused
herself with any kind of work, did Dot care
for the play, never went out walking, unless
at Malmaison, and yet never was a
bored. Her fondness for dress and luxury did
not cease with her downfall, but In her retire
ment at Malmaison she led precisely the same
and on the last morning OF her life had q par
ticniar becoming robe de chanabre handed her