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

sired to keep them here always, for
Malmaison (under his direction since
1910 has become the home of the finest
collection of Napoleonic relics in the
world, collection which was started
by the Empress Eugene in 1867. But
ing these garments, which he knew
would bring a fabulous sum at auction.
And he. as curator of the museum,
knew the governments small allowance
with which he could make purchases
was far too little to permit bidding,
and France had so much debt it was
hopeless to ask for a larger grant. So
M. Bourguignon resigned himself to the
thought that these dresses. which had
come so strangely home after more than
100 years, must again depart.
Only a few days before the time set
for the sale remained. But in this last
hour M Bourguignon succeeded in in
teresting a wealthy South American in
the matter. This gentleman, M. j.
UnZue, was great lover Of France. He
entered into private negotiations with
the. heirs. They on their part, appre-
ciating something Of the historic aSSo-
Citations connected with the garments,
and upon receiving assurance that M.
Unzue was purchasing them only with
the motive of giving them as a gift to
the museum, consented to a private sale.
While the purchaser made 1t stipula-
ton Of the gift that the price must
not be made public, your correspondent
learned the amount in confidence and
while unable to give the exact figure,
can safely say that it was the highest
price ever paid in the history of the
world for secondhand" garments. Even
the proud Josephine, who spent for
tune yearly for clothes, would not need
fn he eh nf YTiFA rInfhHg
brought after a hundred years. Un-
doubleday, however. had the clothes
gone to public auction and the various
wealthy collectors who were interested
been permitted to bid the amount re-
ceived for them would have been still
greater.
4 BOUT the time Josephine's gar
n ments made their surprising ap-
pearance in the modern world, the
French Government presented to Ed
ward Tuck. an 88-vear-old American
residing in Paris, the grand cross OF
the Legion of Honor. In the entire his
tory of the United States, and though
the ties between France and these
United States have been the closest,
only eight other Americans ever re-
ceived this honor, the highest the order
BOUNDED by Napoleon) awards. Other
Americans, living and dead, to receive
it are: Admiral w. s. Benson, Gen.
Tasker H. Bliss. Ambassador Myron T.
Herrick, Gen. John j. Pershing, Horace
Porter, william Graves Sharp, Robert
Mccormick and Ambassador Hugh
Wallace. But Frances evidence Of es-
TEEN did not stop there. A few weeks
later Mr.. Tuck was presented with still
another honor. He was given the f1rst
National Museums Medal ever issued
as a token of French appreciation for
what he had done in helping what may
be fairly called Frances newest
museum"
Now Just what connection there could
possibly be between the finding OF
Josephine's coronation dress and other
garments and the heaping Of many
honors upon an aged American citizen
by the Frech government, would not at
first be apparent. Yet, in a way, these
two interesting happenings are curious
ly linked, for it was through the bene-
factions of Mr.. Tuck and his wife that
the MalmaiSon Museum (once the home
of Napoleon and Josephine, and from
which the dresses came hundred years
ago and to which they recently re-
turned was immensely helped in its
task of becoming the holder of the
largest and finest collection Of objects
relating to Napoleon and his period.
Before dealing more fully with this
| American benefactor's particular aid
| to the Malr1aiSon Museum, the interest
ing story of which will be set forth in
| following paragraphs. SOM of his other
! outstanding benefactions may be noted:
| A large endowment to Dartmouth Col
lege In the United States: erection of
building and endowment of New Hemp
shire Historical Society. during the