The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-29
NAPOLEON'S HOUSE MOVED
One OF the Vanderbilts Transfers il to
the Hudson.

One OF the Vanderbilts Transfers IL to
the Hudson.
New York. July 2s.-Malnaison, the his
toric old chateau near Paris in WHICH Ma
poleon this great and his wife Josephine
spent the happiest days of their lives, has
been taken from its site in France and
rebuilt in Hyde Park. Frederick W. Van
derbuiit's magnificent estate on the Hud-
son river.
When the las, piece Of furniture and the
last bit of tapestry shall have been put
in their places. Mr.. Vanderbilt VIII have
spent several millions Of dollars on his
pet fancy and the finest piece of "Napo-
leana" will be safe in The United States.
Within the same walls beneath which
the great emperor entertained the roy
atty of Europe Mr.. Vanderbilt viii enter
tain his New York friends. This work.
be it understood. is not mere facsimile
OF the grand old chateau; it is the identi-
cal interior, even to the smallest piece OF
wood mosaic floor, the hangings, the furni
ture, the pictures the beds, the panels and
the tapestry, they were gatherd by Ma
polan from all parts of the world 10 make
a palace for his empress.
Already the outer walls of the palace are
built on a slight eminence overlooking
the Hudson River. More than 300 feet
of stone structure extends along the crest
of the hill, dimensions unusual for any
private dwelling in America. The per-
feet outlines of Napolean's palace are re-
vealed behind trees which will add 70 its
picturesqueness in summer or in winter.
But. magnificent as is the exterior. it
is the gorgeous interior of the palace
which will be of the most thrilling in
terest 10 Americans who love 20 linger on
the memory OF Europe's most distin-
guisshed general. There will be only one
regret for lovers of Napolean in Mr..
Vanderbit's purchase and trans planta-
ton of the historic interior of the pal
ace. While Malmaison stood intact IN
France the American tourist was permit
ted to wander through its superb apart
ments, to pass in and out the dining-rooms
supperrooms and bedchambers OF the en-
peror, and TO feast his eyes on the tapes
tries and pictures that looked down upon
the happiest hours of Napoleon's life.
Now that these treasures have been
bought and sequestered by Mr.. Wander
bilt, the admirers OF Napoleon Will have 10
toric relics are in America, for the sight
of them will, il is understood, denied 10
all eyes save those of Mr.. Vanderbilt
himself, of his friends, and OF the army
Of servants that will attend to the care
of the palace.
There is no room in the imperial pal
ace but one that can compare in interest
with the gorgeous dining-room. The CEN
fury old work in panels on the ceilings
has been retouched by French artists.
who have guaranteed that the decorations
will look precisely as they did a century
ago. The piece de resistance Of the cell
ing is the great italian oval, which Ma
poleon took from Rome and placed in his
palace. The walls OF the room. which is
so by 80 feet. are decorated with columns
of Italian marble. panels OF rare woods.
rich tapestries and carved pilasters, while
the floor is of fine inlaid wood.
On the second floor are the bedchambers
of Napoleon and the empress. The bed
steads in these rooms at Malmaison were
carefully taken down and are now being
rebuilt in the palace at Hyde Park. The
bedsteads are great affairs, with the head
pillars built into the walls Eacn bed rests
on q raised 0AlS anu - OFGtAuAS Win z
massive canopy.
All the other rooms OF the chateau are
being rebuilt in the precise manner in
which Napoleon saw them
Happy indeed Will be the fortunate
"seventy-five" or "40o'' individuals who
VIII be allowed the privilege of visiting
this superb memento Of Napoleon's life.
of course. Mr. Vanderbilt VIII not throw
his treasures open 10 the public, as do
gentlemen in Europe who possess like pal
aces. and this fact IS ali that o5scures
the otherwise great glory Of his enterprise
Mzlmasson. in the seventeenth century.
was owned by Christophe PeTrot, who was
councillor OF the Paris parliament Il
came into the possession OF josephine
about 100 years ago Napoleon transfer
red K into the gorgeous affair now being
reconstructed BY Mr.. Vanderbilt. Queen
Co7istiauia once owned *, and It was also
the property Of Napoleon the III
NJ. Vanderbilt is me third son Of the
late William H Vanderbilt, and Is me
treasurer Of the New York Central rall-
road.