The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-16
NAPoLEoN,s GREAT DREAM.
a Babylsninu Palace for His Court. Most Cor.
Ecous In All the World.

PARIS. Jan. 5.-M. Lafitte, founder of the
Toitai,e newspaper and since many years a
deputy Mayor of Paris. has just contributed an
interesting page to Napoleonic history in a me-
mortal volume dedicated to the little village of
Passy. NJ. Laffitte did n deal of rummnging
through the dusty State archives. and he
was rewarded by finding complete details and
draughted plans of what was probably one of
the pet dreams of the great Empcror's later days.
1t appears that Napoleon, arrived at the pin
naclc Of martial glory after having vanquished
Continental Europe and forced the proud house
Of Hapsburg to offer him n princess for the pur-
pose of founding a direct dynasty, conceived
the plan of adding new lustre to his throne by
constructingi in his capital q Babylonian palace
for his court, which would eclipse all that had
gone before. even the works Of Louis NV.
With this idea in his mind he summoned two of
the imperial architects. Percier and Fontaine.
and said to them:
II wish to establish at the gates of Paris, at
the threshold of my capital, a monument the
most vast and the most beautiful OF the uni
verse. have chosen as the seat of this cdiico
the heights which overlook the Seine and the
Champ de Mars. The palace itself, which will
dominate all the surrounding country, shall face
the field OF mannuvres, consccrated to my
soldiers: in the background shall be the Ecolo
Militaire. the cradle of my officers. The palace
shall benr the name Of the King of Rome. the
son whom ! await; it shall be in every detail
worthy Of him and worthy of me. Besides the
grand State apartments. the reception rooms.
and the festal halls. there shall be ample
accommodation for the dwelling of myself. the
Empress. and our son, likewise for the kings.
queens. princes. and princessGs OF my family
and the high dignitarics of my court. l desire.
further, thIt tho arts. the sciences. the uni
versity, the archives shall have each its own
particular palace. In n word, I wish to create a
Krcmlin II hundred times more beautiful and
imposing than that at Moscow. All this will be
my imperial city-the Napoleonic city"
The architects lost no time. The qunrrles
which existed upon the chosen site were imme.
diately closed md a large force was set to work
devlslny plans for what wns to he the greatest
building. or series OF buildings. the world has
mite discovered among forgotten Slate docu.
menis. together with many notes by Fontaino Of
interviews he had had on the subject with his
imperial master.
The place. as planned. was to have occupied
very nearly The exact site OF the present Trocn.
dero. Three broad terraces were to have
risen from tho banks of the Seine. AMI the
summit WIS, the cmplacemcnt OF the central
double cnlonnnces copied after those of 81.
Peters, Tn" gala apartments. with n huge and
splendid ballroom, were to have occupied the
entire side facing the Seine, and they were to
have been separated from the wing palaces by
other colonnades. On the west, or Passy side,
the chapel. Each was 10 have been many times
larger thnn those Of Versailles. Tho pnlace on
tho east was 10 nave contained the apartments
of y lpnleon. the Empress. and the KingOt Rome.
To IN" rear OF the chapel, again. n number Of
smaller palaces were planned 10 afford dwelling
places for high people Of the court: and further
hack were To have been established the stables,
the kennels, the orangcrie. and other depend
encies. The Chateau de Ia Muette was to have
hcen given over entirely to hunting horses nd
their grooms. The plans contemplated turning
the Bois 10 l~tOulOgne into an imperial private
park. and all the Intervening SPACE up to the
group OF palaces, including the present park of
La Mueite, was 10 have been laid out in lawns
and pleasure grounds. Tho entire palace park
would have been nearly three times the size of
the park Of Versailles, and the total cost of the
establishments including buildings, would have
been nearly 5000, 5000 calculated in money
OF our day.
Across he Seine. the Champ dc Mars was 10
have been left intact by Napoleon for reviews
OF his beloved army, but the field was to have
been hnmmed In by monster administrative
buildings occupying the sites of the ENpOsitions.
Behind the Ecolc MilitniTo was 10 have heen a
new official quarter. Thus tho hrart of Paris
was to have been carried to the west had. NapO-
Icons dream been realized. But this, like so
many other OF the great Captains drohms.. was
destined 10 he obliterated In the SHOWS Of Rus
STA. Work on the plans was stopped Mt the be,
ginning OF the retreat, and they were filed
away In niReOn holes. there to remain hidden
from the light OF day for over four score years.