The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1880-04-09

least one Of these Is historical; il Is al
most the simplest among them. but Is
interesting as having been for twenty
wears the home Of Queen Hortense. the
daughter Of Josephine and the step
daughter Of Napoleon the First With
all her brilliancy Of birth and charac-
ter. she was an unhappy and an unfor-
tunatc woman.
She had seen her own father muir
dered on the guillotine. Her mother
married an Emperor. only to die broken
hearted. Her step-father died on
lone island Of the sea. She herself
married a King. only TO be divorced and
dethroned. while her children and her
whole family became wandering fngi-
tives in strange lands. II i extremely
saddening 10 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 thai have cheered
the French armies in battle from that
day to this. Her song "Partant pour
la Syrie' may last with the French Lam
guage.
When Napoleon's star Of destiny
failed him. and AL who bore his name.
or were related TO him, were banished
from France. poor Hortense. after be-
ing refused resting-place in many
lands, bought this little villa in a quie.
corner Of Switzerland. Here she de-
ysted many years 10 sclf-culture and
the .are Of her two sons.
Here was spent the boyhood Of
Frances second Emperor Arenenberg
il 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 a long. low house,
used then. as now, for stables The
upper floor Of this clubhouse contained
the rooms Of the young Prince. Louis
Napoleon. Here he studied, and here
he schcmed.
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
few who had been friends II Hortense.
There were many remembered incidents
OF the life Of both; for both. though III
Q very different way, had been much
liked by all the villagers Hortcnse's
Kindness to the poor Of all tho district
has embalmed her name in grateful re-
membrance there. and even the stern
republicans Of Switzerland had warm
sympathy for an unfortunate Queen.
As 10 her son, the late Emperor. people
never could tire telling Of the incidents
Of his boyhood that pointed 70 the com
inr man. What swimmer he was,
xrl. nf xrr lfarf
OF his horSemanShip ii i maintained he
had not an equal anywhere. II was q
habit Of his never 10 mount a horse by
the use Of stirrap, but to run and spring
over the crupper and into the saddle al
a bound.
Louis Napoleon visited Arenenberg
when he became Emperor. and twenty
thousand people came 70 bid him wei
} come. As young man he had been
a captain Of militia sharp-Shootcrs here.
and president Of the village school
board. These bodies joined officially in
( the greeting. There were several
, coaches and four drawn mp at the sta
ton for the Emperor and his staff %
ride in. What was the establishment
I and JOY 70 see Napoleon jump into the
! one-horse wagon If friend that hap
pcned 10 be there. and with him head
. The great procession through Con-
+ stance, How the people shouted and
! clappcd hands at the democratic En-
peror!
Hortense. after suffering several years
with dreadful cancer. ended her event
: full life here in 1887. She died in the
4 little upper east room. The stranger
E going in there now will be impressed q
: see everything Just as she left it, There
4 Is the bed on which she died. and near
? Il i the camp bcdssead which her SOL
Z the Emperor had nj Sedan. There. too
. Is her harp. as well as the harp Of Jose
phine.
Down stairs there are FIVE rooms file,
r with remembrances Of the Napoleon
y family. On little table In the rccep
J tion-room i the gilt clock used by ~
Y poleon on the island Of 81. Helena u
= other rooms are good paintings am
q statues made from life Of Napoleon tn
: First. Hortense. her mother Josephine
z and her brother Prince Eugene: also IN
J. furniture presented to Hortensc by tn
q city Of Paris nj the time Of her marriage
,. 10 Napoleon's brother. There. too
= covered with a crown Of ivy. l. mar
y BILE bust Of Napoleon the Thru. takel
: from cast Of his face after death.
= The Empress Eugenic repurchase'
Y this place (it had been sold after N
A death Of Hortcnse). and presented Il Y
" the Emperor. II was lately the sum
y mer residence Of herself aud the youn
I. Prince Louis.
D Over the hills from Reichenau. and l
= another arm % the lake. lies the prett
y little island II Mainau. with It's charm
4. ing gardens reaching down 70 the blu
a. waters. Real royalty dwells here, -
IN \, - Tho pronprtv az the Grand Duke Z