Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05


M the Empress Josephine and q
v v few other garments from her
once enormous wardrobe were
Unexpectedly discovered the
other day in Paris they appeared once
more in the light of day after 125 years
in so amazing state Of freshness that
it might have been yesterday they were
worn by one Of Europe's proudest and
most extravagant rulers,
Behind the coming to light Of these
so historic garments lies an interesting
tale of how they were kept in so per-
feet state of preservation. From Ger
tain papers In the possession OF their
last owner it now seems that shortly
after the death Of the Empress jose
prime her daughter. Hortense, probably
for certain sentimental reasons, selected
a few garments from the wardrobe.
which numbered tens OF thousands OF
articles. Among the things selected
were the coronation dress and another
evening dress, scarf, q bonnet and a
pair of satin slippers. The so precious
relics Of q woman who even today COM
mands the interest Of q vast reading
public were carefully wrapped in black
tissue paper and then placed in an air
proof box. Time and changing for
tunes brought the box into the posses
sion Of Nine. Salvage de Faverolles, q
direct descendant of Hortense. Yet
though relics of Napoleon's first wife
would have commanded vast sums from
private collectors, the owner, for rea-
sons that can now never be known,
sionS secret. She never even unpacked
them. 1t was only when she died in
Paris and her estate had to be divided
that the garments Of one of the most
noted women in history were brought to
light.
THE making public Of the news was
= hailed with tremendous interest by
private collectors, because. due to the
estate being divided among numerous
heirs, 1t was announced the coronation
dress and other articles Of Josephine
apparel would be sold at public auction.
The day set for the historic sale was
eagerly waited. and vast prices we're
assured, for many were the wealthy
men and women who longed to possess
these remnants Of the magnificent First
Empire, these symbols of the once power
and glory of Napoleon, who came nearer
than any other man in all history to
ruling the whole of Europe.
NJ. Jean Bourguignon, a noted anti
quarian and authority on the First En-
pire, whom the government had ap-
pointed curator of the National Palace
at Malmaison as mark Of recognition,
was among the most enthusiastic view
ers of the discovery. The relics were
valuable beyond words because, though
curiously enough Josephine had left an
enormous wardrobe, only a few gar
ments have come down to us today, and
these, in the Carnavalet Museum. were
shabby and falling to pieces. While the
slow legal processes Of closing ont the
estate were proceeding M Bourguignon
secured a loan of the garments, mount
ed them in special glass cases and car
ried them of to the Palace Of Malmai-
son, a strangely ironical thing, because
they had originated 125 years before
in this same palace. And it was IN the
first days of the garments public exit
bition that your correspondent received
the permission to make the first photo
graphs ever taken. The remarkable
state of preservation of the garments
can be readily grasped, for though the
photographs had to be taken in tht
unsatisfactory light of a low-Ceilingec
room, every detail of the fabric end tht
wonderful gold filigree work stands ou
clearly. The preservation Of the beau
tiful metal work in an untar-lisheC
condition is due to the dresses beinl
packed in black tissue paper.
once the garments were mounted il
~ the Palace OF Malmaison, M. Bour
SdS eyed them more longingl
every day. With all his heart he de