National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-01-01
JOSEPHINE'S HOME.
THE BEAUTIES OF MALMAISoN.
Its Present Condition-The Desolation OF Imperial
ism-A Few "reminiscences Of the Old
Place-A Dismantled Retreat Kept
by an Old Couple.

When Napoleon Bonaparte was winning fame
and fortune as general of the French army IN
Egypt he directed his wife Josephine to select
suitable country residence in the vicinity OF Paris
for summer USE 1t was the fashion then TO make
long visits much more than 1t is now, ana the
most educated men and sDiritueUe women OF
France were wont to receive their friends in their
country homes, where they were entertained with
openair fetes, with literary amusements, and with
Watteau-like festivities Poets would read their
latest productions under the spreading trees to
polite audiences. Actors and amateurs would give
Rotations from standard original plays, ana the
general style of amusement was more dainty than
that in vogue nowadays. The young men OF that
period, instead of hunting, or fishing or geologic
ing, or rampaging around on bicycles, were con-
tent to sit on damp grass by the side Of streams
and listen to French poetry or while away day
in witty converse. 1t was all very nice and gen.
teel, but it must at times have been unutterably
stupid.
THE ATTRACTIONS OF MALMAIsoN.
Malmaison, before the time when Josephine, IN
following out the instructions ct Napoleon, secured
it for her home had been inhabited by families OF
rank and fortune, and was well known i'll the
salons of Paris as resort of artists and literary
men. The grounds were in good order, and run
ming stream of water almost wide enough to be
called q river ran through the wellwoodcd fields.
was gracefully reflected in the bend of the stream,
and there wasa fountain and few bits of statuary,
but the place was utterly free from the stiffness
which is characteristic of French gardens gene
rally and found its most striking development in
the artificial sylvan beauties of LIE Notre.
Napoleon brought from Egypt two small Egyptian
obeisks which stand to this day ON the terrace IN
front of Malmaison. He seems to have approved
of the choice made by Josephine, and made him
~ in, h
short walk, overhung by arching trees he used for
the lonely strolls during which, with his hands
behind him in the attitude which we all recognize
in pictures, he devised the schemes of conquest
which afterward lent such an unholy lustre TO his
name At this period he was only General Bona
parte, and dreams of an imperial crown had not
yet troubled his repOse.
THE FUNERAL.
After the divorce Josephine retired to Mamaison,
there to pass the remaindefos her days. Although
Marie Louisa was by this time the wife of Napoleon
Josephine was not neglected bya usually forgetfui
world. Princes and Kings came to the quiet NAL
maison home to pay her their respects Us if she
were still on the throne At Malmaison she died,
and in the village church of Reuil, near by, she
was buried. The funeral Was the occasion of
great demonstration of popular regard; the street
from Malmaison to Reuil was lined ON either side
with respectful crowds, and the coffin passed
through ranks of weeping people. Josephine was
buried beneath the chancel of the church, and the
fine monument to her represents her kneellng and
in life size On the opposite side of the chancel IS
a corresponding monument to Hortense Beauhar-
nais; Queen of Holland, erected during the Second
Empire by Napoleon III.
josephine had MalmaiSon very beautifully deco
rated in the style in vogue under the First Empire
The frescoes of the rooms, neat and delicate were
a reproduction of the POmpeian style, preserving
its grace and describing its RIGHTEOUSNESS. The
apartments of MalmaisOn were not large, but in
the time of their fame they formed an ideal home.
AN HISTORICAL BUILDING IN THE MARKET.
And to-day MalmaisOn is for sale, and any per-
son with 100000 can secure this splendid property
and the grounds about it. A company owns the
property has divided part of 1t into building lots,
and seeks to sell the chateau and grounds.
| Strangely enough, no one in France seems dis
posed TO buy the historical house. 1t stands empty
and dismantled, the furniture dispersed, the hang
ingS and curtains gone, the frescoes peeng of the
ceilings, the paper which once adorned the walls
lying in piles on the floor The Prussians occupied
the beautiful little building in 1870. They broke
the carved work thereof with axes and ham,
mers." They wantonly defiled the walls, smashed
| the mirrors, and acted like savageS generally. In
| the upper part of the grounds was Belvidere
dating later than the time of Josephine. 1t was a
substantial brick building, but its interior is now
| a mass of dusty ruin. The Germans amused them
! selves IN this way in the environs of Paris.
| After the death of Josephine Malmaison passed
through various hands till it became the property
of Queen Christina of Spain, who lived here sew
enteen years with her husband and children
Whatever may have been the career of this woman
in Spain, she certainly lived reputable life at
Malmaison and she and her family were much re-
spected Bnd beloved. Christina kept the chateau
in the same condition as in the time of Josephine
and built at one end of it pretty Gothic chapel
| where with her family and priest she held her
daily devOtiOns. Welladay! The chapel is now
filed with rubbish and old 1owerpots.
In 1867 Napoleon III. obtained possession of Nal
maison, and Eugene filed it with collection OF
| furniture and other articles which had belonged
to Josephine. The house and relics were then
thrown open to the public during the Exposition
of that year, and attracted much attention. Chris
tina did not wish to leave the place. but Napoleon
! and Eugene persuaded her to sell it to France
Then came the fall of the empire, and the barba
rous Prussians defaced the interior ofthe building
They did silly things. They took out oil paintings
| and burned them. In the porter's lodge they
found some photographs of distinguished French
men, and cut off the heads, leaving the rest as 9
memento of their visit.
| THE DEsoLATIoN OF TO-DAY.
| Sad, dismantled Malmaison is to-day awaiting q
purchaser. 1t is in the charge of a venerable
! French couple, who have lived there forty years
during the entire regime of Queen Christina. 1t is
sad TO hear them tell of the Prussian invasion; Of
the visits of Eugene Gnd the late Prince Imperial
of the Spanish family of children who passed theil
infancy and youth there; of the relatives of the
BOnapartes who now and then find their way to
the old chateau. But sad than all is to stroll
through the deserted chambers, to see the spot
where josephine sat at the head of her hospitable
table to be shown the place Of the last parting be-
! tween Napoleon and HoTtense. 1t seems as If the
blight that has touched the once Srea imperial
family of France is extending TO the very houses
in which they lived. Fallen! Fallen! And the
place that knew them shall know them no more
| forever! Their very homes shall be made DESC
1o.o tbo f1If Of Sornp nr0rhpcv