Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-27

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THE GARDENS.
The gardens Of the castle are besnt'
fully laid out and are varied in style
The English garden is . collection o
rockeries and shady walks and groves
! It's fountain, " Belle Eau," or INT
water, is supposed TO have given ~
name by shortening to Fontaineoleau
and to have been the first means oil AZ
tracing hunters to this spot in remote
centuries. This spring also led to tn
royal hunting lodge being built, wh'ct
afterwards developed into palace. II
these gardens the little Prince Imperial
son Of Napoleon ILL.,, had his play
ground, and the gymnastic and shooting
erections are still kept in good repair
The flower garden is . space o.
about three acres, overlooked by tho
front ofthe palace, aud laid out in sym.
metrical hower-beds, with terraces
fountains, and avenues Of lime-trees'
This is par excellence chateau garden,
AS its extent and accessories would
scarcely permit il to belong to any other
owner than nation willing to lavish
untold sums on q favored few. The
Diana garden is named from a fountain
in the form Of copy Of an antique bronze
statue Of this huntress and her dog.
This garden resembles the English one,
but is smaller, and the walks less re-
tired. 1t was till within two or three
years interdicted to the public at all
seasons and kept sacred to the
exclusive use Of royalty. Several
pieces of water ornament the grounds.
One is nearly a mile long, and has
avenues of forest trees on both sides
which are Just now in the full beauty OF
autumn coloring. Another is pond
literally alive with carp which have
been suffered to remain unmolested
since the last time the pond was
drained in 1915. Some of the fish
have grown to be two feet long, an
enormous size for this kind. They are
as greedy as can be, and rush in shoals
to gobble up any amount Of bread
people amuse themselves by throwing
to them. An old woman sits close by
with pieces OF bread for sale at price
that she fixes according as she estimates
the spending qualities of the buyers,
and tleeces them accordingly on small
scale.
THE WHITE HORSE.
The main entrance to the chateau is
in the principal court, called the White
Horse. from statue once standing in 1t,
or more generally the Horseshoe, from
remarkably fine double set of stone
steps in that shape which lead up to the
floor Of the grand apartments. From
the top Of this horseshoe Napoleon
said adleu to his beloved guards after
his abdication, just before retiring to
Elba, and again received their homage
" hen he returned to make that attempt
TO regain Ills power which collapsed so
sIgnally at Waterloo. The exte-
rior of Fcntainebleau cannot vie with
many other chateaus in France
in beauty of architecture, as it is much
more like collection of buildings than
a single palace; but, as to the interior,
it is most splendid and beautifully
decorated. An hours quiet walking
takes us through suits Of rooms dating
from the time of Francis l., Henry H.,
Henry ", and Louis XIII., most Of
them redecorated in the styles CORE
spending to the dates of their erection.
1t needs two or three visits to get into
the relation Of one suit to another with
regard to position, history, and in
trinsic merit. In some respects
one may call it a vast soli-
tude that has become an ex-
ploring ground given over to bands
of sight-seers and handful Of painters
and other artists who come for the pur-
pose Of copying or studying some of its
many works Of art. The spirit Of the
palace seems to be lying dormant, wait
ing for a court and pageants to wake it
into life again.
EXAMPLES OF ART.
Francis /. is the earliest monarch OF
whose taste in art any permanent traces
remain in the chateau. The artists
who worked under him have received
the name of the "School of Fontaine-
bleau." Many of them came from
Italy, and among their number were
some ofthe great ones of the Renaissance,
as Andrea del Sarto, Primatice. and
Leonardo da Vinci. The last is said to
have died much regretted in the arms
, Of the King, Paintings Of a date fol-
lowing these artists, aud also modern
ones, are scattered through the
palace. There is an untold wealth
Of tapestry of every date, early Flemish
Gobelin and triumphs Of the Inanutac
tories of Beauvais and Lyons. They
are in wonderful repair, and that Of the
time Of Louis XIII. is as good, to al
appearance, as if it had been made yes
terday. One room has the fables o
La Fontaine, so beloved of the French
people, on the walls and chairs. Many
Of the ceilings are Of the most elaborate
kind, and painting, carving, and gliding
have been laid under the heaviest con
tributions for their decoration.
NAPoLEoN's APARTMENTS.
The apartments of Napoleon |. ar
so called because he had them re-deco
rated, and also because they are init
mately associated with his triumph
and his fall. We reach them by pass
inc under the horseshoe" and as
cending the grand staircase. We 500
find ourselves in the abdication room
where Napoleon signed the documen
I by which he renowned the throne G
. France and the fruits Of his ambition
life. In these apartments are beautifC
specimens of Empire work, notably
, cabinet belonging to Marie Louise
wife Of Napoleon, Of polishe
, wood nearly covered with orn'
!, ments OF lacquer. The throne-rool
!. still bears the initial IN" al
= the golden bees. Louis XVI. and Mar
o Antoinette were the immediate pred
: cessors Of Napoleon, and traces Of IL
/ preparations made for receiving the
. after their marriage still remain. Son
v exquisite paintings on glass we
% brought from Versailles to adorn Of
y Of the rooms. The designs are wreath
Of flowers with cupids climbing up al
down, the whole having Renaissan
4 L. a.. of l..