New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-14
MATHILDE's DEATH CHAMBER.
Friends of the "Bonne Princesse" Visit Her
for the Last Time.
Paris. January Z.

niece Of the great Emperor vanished the last per-
sonage connecting time with the Ma
poleontc period. The funeral arrangements at ST.
Gratien are simple and impressive. To-day the
body was viewed by several hundred friends and
admirers, including the most prominent men and
women of republican we'll OF monarchical
France. for the loss of this good lady is regarded
national misfortune Even the radical social
ist papers join in respectful homage.
In company with personal friend OF the late
princess. called at the we'll known gray front
mansion No. 20 Rue de Berri. which for twenty
five years had been the Paris home OF this noble
minded woman. In the courtyard we con-
Quoted to the large books wherein visitors in
scribe their names. Count Primon received those
who had been personally acquainted with the
deceased. and walked with them to the staircase
leading to the first floor. Here met by
a footman in deep mourning. who conducted us
to the mortuary chamber. In passing the large
winter garden one notices superb marble bust of
Napoleon I on pedestal. twelve feet high. In g
reception room TO the left IS a large panel COW
cred with pictures and water colors executed by
the princess. who artist of real talent
In adjoining boudoir Princess Murat received a
few intimate friends while Nine. d Espinasse, who
for thirty-fve years had been close companion
and lady-in-waiting to Princess Mathilde i'm
parted in low tones to each caller the details of
the last illness large chamber, converted into
mortuary chapel. contained the body clad in
white. surrounded with vioets the imperial flower,
and resting bed. The head recned upon a
breast. and entwined with superb rosary. the
beads Of which of large dark crimson garnets.
At the foot of the bed two Sisters OF Mercy
seated. with down bent heads in the attitude OF
prayer. A small round table beside the bed sup
ported n picture of the Virgin, placed between
two lighted candelabra, and silver bowl OF holy
water in which placed a sprinkling whisp,
made of a branch OF holly. On a larger table
We're placed busts of Nine Leetita. and the
wall hung portraits Of Prince Jerome, Napoleon
IT Ia he NJ he
Princess Mathilde had become emaciated. and had
greatly changed during her illness. The skin had
assumed deep yellow tint. and the delicate lines
OF the forehead. eyes. nose and mouth produced
effect somewhat like that Of beautiful colored
glass of the sixteenth century.
Ia the room. dimly lighted by candles the friends
of The late princess entered after another.
! They each in turn approached the bowl Of holy
water. and dipped the holly branch into it. and.
holding the whisp In the right hand made the sign
OF the before the features of deceased. At
brief intervals Princess Clothilde would the
! mortuary chamber and kneel in prayer for an in
| slant velvet prie-dieu From 10 o'clock In
| the morning until O'Clock IN the afternoon
| continuous procession of visitors in single file.
passed through the death chamber. The funeral
ceremony st. Gratien will be very modest, and
| service of mass will be held each morning in Paris
| at the Church Of St. Philippe du Roulo.
| Princess Mathide has not left very large fort
une. The annuity of $4,000 in accordance with the
| arrangement made by the Emperor Nicholas in 1913,
| when she separated from her husband Prince
Denidoff de San Donate will. OF course with
| her death. In fact. the last instalment OF this
| annuity. sum OF $1,000 was received by the
| princess on January ?. the day before her death
Prince Victor Napoleon. now in exile at Brussels.
as head OF the Bonaparte dynasty. and pretender
20 the throne. by means favorite with
| tho Princess Mathilde, VINO made her nephew
Louis younger brother OF Prince Victor NapoIeon)
| her residuary leratce. Prince Louis Napoleon.
general in the Russian army, quortered at Tifis.
and now on his way Paris is thu most brilliant
and talented member OF the family. and viii re-
ceve the bulk his illustrioYs aunts estate. The
princess leaves to Prince Victor Napoleon the
family busts and relics She has bequeathed to
the Louvre Museum several fine paintings by Sir
Joshua Reynolds and her own ust by Carpeaux.
Her manuscripts and letters all 20 TO Prince Pri-
noli The last wish expressed by Princess Ma
thlde that her body should be placed IN
coffin with portrait OF Napoleon l. rose a white
maid who has cared for her with unremitting
bandsSm 1e ann,W man The personal estate Of the
late Princess Mathilde is well invested in govern
ment bonds in France and abroad, and amounts TO
among Witch is the famous pearl necklace given
by Napoleon 1 to her mother. the Princess of wur
temberg. upon tho occasion OF her marriage With
Jerome Bonaparte. King OF Westphalia- The
princess has hequeathed this necklace TO her favor
During the latter period OF her life Princess
Mathilde went but little into society. and her en-
In winter. well in summer: she never rose later
than o'clock Al $50 o'clock she worked IN her
aznes and writing letters. She always signed her
name simply, "Mathilde," and her letter paper was
small imperial coronet. She never went out In
the morning. and she never took anything TO eat
milk tea or conee-before the substantial repast
of the day-the French dejeuner, luncheon
which invariably served punctualy at ll;O
o'clock. Among her frequent guests at dejeuner
Bonnat. Gerome Detaille. Admiral Duperre
ten persons luncheon at dinner After de-
Jeuner there would be conversation until O'Clock.
all tho guests would depart at l O'Clock. when the
princess would retire into her studio and remain at
the painter. to whom she quite recently sadly
remarked: You See my eyes and my hands o are
usually be driven in her coupe for couple of hours
since the fall of the empire no one has ever seen
heF IN oH open of vne he exhSons Of paintings
and sculpture, and would frequently call at the
studios Of artists. She was usually accompanied
by her friend and dame d'honneur. Nine d'Espt-
nasse. Princess Mathde had horror of .
o'clock teas" and the princess herself described
that often characterizes those social functions
She would return home at o'clock The dinner
hour was at o'clock. except during the last threo
years. when as a concession to some of her
friends she consented dine late 1880 o'clock
was a skilled performer on the violin Since 1871
the Princess Mathilde dined only once at a res.
1900 She very seldom went to the theatre. and
then only to please some OF her acqpaintances
thors OF the plays to be performed.
Princess Mathilde was very fond of dogs She
kept dozen fox terriers and poodes at St Gratien.
and now and then would bring favorite bow-wow
with her to the Rue de 3erri The Bonne Prin-
cesse' she was called in Partisan society.
was very conservative, not to say old fashioned. in
regard TO dress She wore the bonnet with strings
that passed beneath her ears Her gowns were
made by the best dressmakers. always of the rich
material. but were very far from what would
pearls c. l. b.