The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-13
EMPRESS JOsEPHINE's HOUSE.
'EAIaImaisOn" Shipped Across the Sea
for a Vanderbilt Summer Home.
Philadelphia Press

Tor a vanderbilt summer hOmes
Philadelphia Press.
1t is likely that a storm of protest will
arise in France when the people learn that
MalmaisOn, the historic home of Napoleon
and Josephine, is to be transplanted to the
Hudson. Mrs. Frederick Vanderbilt is to
occupy 1t. 1t will be g. repetition OF the In
dignation that swept over England when
the people learned that Jumbo was sold:
long been indifferent to the fate of NAL
maison to resent its removal now. 1t has
permitted it to fall into neglect and decay
since the Prussians stabbed their horses in
it's chambers in the days when Paris was
attacked. Since that time it has been I'M
tenanted. The present owners purchased it
of the French government for purposes of
speculation, and about eight years ago the
famous park was plotted and the lots CT
fered for sale on easy terms. Then followed
the sale of all the interior decorations to
Frederick Vanderbilt, who is having them
brought to this country to be used in the
adornment of the superb villa he is building
at Hyde Park, above Poughkeepsie-on-the-
Hudson.
Ships have brought over the marble col
umns that supported the ceiling of the
great hall; the mantels, too, have been
taken up in sections and packed and sent
over the water. All the woodwork and
doors, and paneling, and castings, all the
tapestries and succeed walls and ceilings
all the freScoeS and paintings, all these and
the great staircase have been removed from
the old chateau with the utmost care and
have followed the other treasures across the
sea- OF necessity, the work has been very
slow and tedious; each part has had to re-
ceive the most serious consideration, for the
removal and packing of these costly fur
n1shingS has been problem far more diff
cult to solve than the placing of them in
the new house on the Hudson.
1t was Mrs. Vanderbilt who first con-
ceived the brilliant idea of bringing the in
terror of the neglected home of Josephine
to America to adorn her new palace. Once
Mr.. Vanderbilt had been won over to the
idea the thousand difficulties that at first
presented themselves to forbid the enter
prise were gradually overcome by lmitleSS
wealth and the skill of the architects.
Although the firm that built the great
Madison-square Garden, the Herald build
ing, Columbia College and many other of
the finest structures in New York and it's
vicinity has been assigned to the work, it
has taxed all it's resources to take down the
interiors of MalmaiSOn and to set them up
again intact on this side of the Atlantic.
In the seventeenth century Malmaison
was owned by Christophe Perrot, councillor
of the Parliament of Paris, who styled him.
self the Lord of Malmaison. Later it be-
longed to the De Moleys, from whom Jo-
sephine purchased it in 1898, just after Ma
ways essentially her home. She enlarged
the park and beautitied the chateau that IL
might please Napoleon when he returned.
Under her care the gardens of Malmaison
became among the most beautiful in the
world. She lavished fortunes upon them
She built temples and grottoS and pavilions
In the park; the hothOuSeS became famous.
The chateau was entered from a porch
built in the form of a military tent. The
vestibule or hall opened from this porch,
and, supported by columns, ran the length
of the building opening upon the gardens
The picture gallery, the reception rooms and
the billiard room were located in the right
wing, while in the left wing were the din
ing room, the council chamber beautifully
adorned with frescoes of military subjects,
and the library. On the second floor were
the private apartments of Josephine and
Napoleon.
In lSO0-O2 MaImaison reached the height Of
its glory. 1t was the faVortte home of the
rCyEQTfll world N1nnla0p
loved it and delighted in making it beauti-
full. Here he met his ministers, and here
every great question that Influenced the
deStnies of Europe was considered.
After the divorce in 1909 Josephine retired
to MalmaiSon, where, with the exception OF
two years Of restless travelling, she re-
manned until her DEATH in 1914. Napoleon s
rooms were never changed and no one en-
tered them save Josephine. who cared for
them with her own hands. After her death
her BODY lay for three days in state in the
vestibuIe, where 1t was viewed by 10000 per-
sons. She was buried in the little Church Of
Rueil, a mile away.
retired TO Malmaison. 1t was here that he
formed the brilliant plan that might have
resulted successfully had Fouche consented.
wellington and Butcher were advancing to
Paris in separate columns Napoleon be-
lieyed that he could crush the forces under
Butcher before Wellington could come to
his assistance. He sent messengers from
Malmaison to the provisional government in
Paris But his offer was declined by
Fouche.
II was from MaImaison that he fed when
the musketry of the Prussians could be
heard from across the Seine Here his
mother, Hortense, and his brothers babe
him farewell, promising to meet him In
America. A few days later he surrendered
to the English and his marvellous career
was closed
sion OF the Beauharnais family. In 1872 Il
was purchased by the ex-Queen OF Spain.
IN 1861 Napoleon III bought back the estate