Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-04-08
ARENENBERG.


island Is Reichenau lying like gem in
the miniature sea. On the hills TO the
left the chateaux, villas and castles. AT
least one Of these is historical it is nj.
most the simplest among them. but is
interesting as having been for twenty
years the home OF Queen lIortense, the
daughter of Josephine. and step. daugh.
ter of Napoleon the First. With all
her brillisncy Of birth and character,
she was an unhappy and an unfortunate
woman.
She had seen her own father murder.
ed OH the guillotine. Her mother mar.
ried an Emperor, only to die broken.
hearted. Her stepfather died on "a lone
island of the sea. She herself married
a king, only to be divorced and de.
throned, while her children and her
whole family became wandering fugi-
tives 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 life.
When Napoleon became Emperor,
she was one of the most brilliant 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 tn this. Her song "Partsnt pour In
Syrie' may last with the French Ian.
guage.
When Napoleon's star OF destiny
failed him, and all who bore his name,
or were related to him, were banished
from France, poor Hortense, after being
refused resting place in many lands,
bought this little villa in quiet corner
of Switzerland. Here she devoted many
years to selfculture, and the culture of
her two sons.
Here was spent the boyhood of
Frances second emperor. Arenenberg
is plain villa outside, but is situated
on one Of the loveliest spots OF the
shores of the river Rhine. In the gar
den near the villa is long, low house.
used then, as now, for stables. The
upper floor of this out house contained
the rooms of the young prince, Louis
Napoleon. Here he studied, and here
he schemed.
In u recent visit to Arenenberg the
writer hunted up a number of old resi-.
dents OF the neighborhood who had
been companions of Napoleon, and a
few who had been friends OF Hortense.
There were many remembered incidents
of the lie OF both for both. though in
very different way, had been much
liked by all the villagers. Hortense's
kindness TO the poor of all the district
has embalmed her name in grateful
remembrance there, and even the stern
republicans of Switzerland had warm
sympathy for an unfortunate queen.
As to her son, the late Emperor, people
could never tire telling of the incidents
Of his boyhood that pointed to the COM
ing man. What n swimmer he was
what n horsemani what wrestler
and If half the stories be true, what a
rakei OF his horsemanship it is main
tanned he had not an equal anywhere.
II was habit OF his never tn mount q
horse by the use Of the stirrup, but to
run and spring over the crupper and
into the saddle at a bound.
Louis Napoleon visited Arenenberg
when he became Emperor, aad twenty
thousand people came to bid him vel.
come. As a young man he had been .
and 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 to see Napoleon jump into the
one horse wagon OF friend that hap
pened to be there, and with him head
the great procession through Constancei
How the people shouted and clapped
hands at the democratic Emperor
Hortense, after suffering several years
with dreadful cancer, ended her event
full life here in 1887. She died in the
little upper east room. The stranger
going in there now will be impressed to
see everything just as she left It. There
IL the bed on which she died, and near
il is the camp bedstead which her son
the Emperor had at Sedan. There, too,
is her harp, as well as the harp Of 10.
sephine.
Down stairs there are Eve rooms flled
with remembrances of the Napoleon
family. On a little table in the recep.
ton room is the gilt clock used by Ma.
poleon on the island of So. Helena. In
other rooms are good paintings and
statues made from life OF Napoleon the
First, Hortense, her mother Josephine.
aud 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 o crown of ivy, Is q
marble bust OF Napoleon the Third,
taken from cast of his face after death.
The Empress Eugenie repurchased
this place lie had been sold after the
desth OF Hortense), and presented II TO
the Emperor. IL was lately the sum-
mer residence of herself and the young
Prince Louis.
Over the hills from Reichenau, and
in another arm OF the lake, lies the
pretty little island OF Mainau, with It's
charming gardens reaching down 10 the
blue waters. Real royalty dwells here,
for II is the property OF the Grand
Duke of Baden and bis father. In. Law,
the Emperor of Germany, often spends
his summer days In this lovely retreat.