NAPOLEON'S OLD HOME

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 24, 29 January 1934, Page 16

NAPOLEON'S OLD HOME

"LONGWOOD" TO BE "Longwoad," that modest and sadly dceayedcountry house on-the Island of St.'; Helena, in which Napoleon lived for, nearly : six years and ■ died .as an exile in 1821, is to bo restored. When tho -steamer Gloucester Castle left London 'recently she took with her SO- tons, of tiles, slates, . and oth.cr materials, and 55 toils of ceinenf, which are, to be used'in. the work of repair. A French architect, M. Gogois, and two skilled French workmen, who will be occupied for three months on .the. famous islaud, travelled in the same ship. .-■ - : ~ ! Representatives of the French Society of Friends of St. Helena, which is carrying out the restorations, have recently discovered several Napoleonic relics on tho island, including a billiard table, ;ij mirror, a Sideboard, a desk at which he used to work, and two terrestrial and celestial globes -which he 'frequently Used. These have been presented to the socicty-'bysfuc British Government,-and arc to form the nucleus of a collection which is to bo housed in one of Napoleon's rooms. Part of "Longwood" was used' as a stably for years after.Napoleon 's^dcath. j Cows, were-stalled more than once, it' is alleged,;in;tlicj room iu,.which lie.died. Tt was bought and restored last century by Napoleon 111, but has ' sinco been much damaged by rats. •In recent years the curator of the building'has, had to live in Napoleon's actual apartments owing to the dilapidated state of the rest of the house, which'is to bo transferred into a sliowplaee considered'-to be worthy of its undying, historical associations. Tho simple tomb near "Longwood," in which Napoleon's body'lay for nearly twenty years before it was transferred, j with the consent of the British Government,'to its present magnificent restingplaco under the dome of Les Invalidus, in Paris, is also to be repaired. liritish people'arc now eating about four I limes us. tamii \im»mL foods its tlicy ilii! I iii 1914. ,