Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1880-05-07
Arenenberg.

AICuCuUOrks
Just below Constance the beautiful
island of Reichenau lies like gem in the
miniature sea. On the hills to the left
are chateaux, villas, and castles. At
least one of these is historical it is al.
most the simplest among them, but is
interesting as having been for twenty
years the home of Queen Hortense, the
daughter OF Josephine, and the stop
daughter of Napoleon the First. With
all her brilliancy of birth and character
she was an unhappy and an unfortunate
woman.
She had seen her own father murdered
on the guillotine. Her mother married
an emperor, only to dis brok en- hearted.
Her step-father died on lone island of
the sea. She herself married king,
only to be divorced and dethroned,
while her children and her whole
family became wandering fugitives in
strange lands. 1t is extremely sadden-
ing 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 to this. Her song Partant pour
la Syrie" may last with the French
language.
When Napoleon's star of destiny
failed him, and all who bore his name,
or were related to him, were banlshed
from France. poor Hortense, after be-
ing refused resting-place in many
lands, bought this little villa in quiet
corner of Switzerland. Here she de-
voted many years to self-culture, and
the care 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 CT 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-
tanned 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 resi-
dents of the neighborhood who had
been companions of Napoleon, and u
few who had been friends Of Hortense.
There were many remembered Incl
dents Of the life of both for both,
though in very different way, had
been much liked by all the villagers.
Hortense's kindness to tho poor OF all
the district has embalmed her name in
grateful remembrance there, and even
the stern republicans of Switzerland
had a warm sympathy for an unfortu-
nate queen. AS to her son, the late
Emperor, people never could tire tell
ing OF the incidents of his boyhood that
pointed to the coming man. What
swimmer he was ! what o horseman
what a wrestler and if half the stories
he true, what rake Of his horse
manship it is maintained he had not an
equal anywhere. It was q habit of his
never ts mount horse by the use of
stirrup, but to run and spring over the
crupper and into the saddle at
bound.
Louis Napoleon visited Aronenberg
when he became Emperor, and twenty
thousand people came to bid him well
come. AS young lnan he had been a
captain OF militia sharp-sho oters here,
and president of the village school
board. These bodies joined officially
i'll 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
aud 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 Constance!
How the people shouted and clapped
hands at the democratic Emperor
HorteAse, after suffering several
years with dreadful cancer, ended her
eventful 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 is the bed on which she died,
and near it is the camp bedstead which
her son the Emperor had at Sedan.
There, too, is her harp, as we'll as the
harp of Josephine.
Down stairs there are five rooms filled
with remembrances of the Napoleon
family. On little table in the recep-
tion-roem is tho 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 mar
riage to Napoleon's brother. There,
too, covered with crown of ivy, is a
marble bust of Napoleon the Third,
taken from cast of his face after
death.
The Empress Eugenie repurchased
this place lit had been sold after the
death of Hortense), and presented it
to the Emperor. 1t 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 its
charming gardens reaching down to the
blue waters. Real royalty dwells here,