. A life of Napoleon Boneparte:. t through their rehearsals as if they were preparinga play for the stage. Before the time of the coronation theyhad become fairly at home with court usages and were readyto take up the rehearsals for that ceremony with fresh en-ergy. Indeed, for a month at least, all Paris was absorbed inpreparations for the coronation. Fontainebleau was to beput in order to receive the Pope. Notre Dame, where theceremony was to take place, was to be superbly carriages and trappings for horses and liverywere to be provided. Robes and uniforms were to be ma
. A life of Napoleon Boneparte:. t through their rehearsals as if they were preparinga play for the stage. Before the time of the coronation theyhad become fairly at home with court usages and were readyto take up the rehearsals for that ceremony with fresh en-ergy. Indeed, for a month at least, all Paris was absorbed inpreparations for the coronation. Fontainebleau was to beput in order to receive the Pope. Notre Dame, where theceremony was to take place, was to be superbly carriages and trappings for horses and liverywere to be provided. Robes and uniforms were to be madeready for the actors. All of the decorators, jewelers, cos-tume-makers, merchants of all sorts in the city were busynight and day. As for the court itself, there one heard noth-ing talked but the coming spectacle. Under the direction ofthe Grand Master, the ceremonies had been planned down tothe most trivial detail, and everybody was busy learning andpracticing his part. By the time the Pope arrived at Fontainebleau, on Novem-. rtm I ,«,/^^ THE EMPRESS JOSEPHINE. From a pencil sketch made by David in the Cathedral of NotreDame at the time of Josephines coronation, and presented to hisson. The original is now in the Museum of Versailles. 380 THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION 381 ber 25, everything was practically ready. The court hadgone to Fontainebleau to meet His Holiness, and in the fewdays it remained there before going to Paris, Josephineachieved a victory which completed her happiness for thetime. No religious marriage between her and Napoleonhad ever been celebrated, and although it had been a part ofNapoleons policy since he came into power to restore thechurch, and although he had insisted on an observation ofall its ceremonies, he had always refused Josephines requestfor a religious marriage. Now, however, she obtained apowerful advocate—the Pope—to whom, at confession, shetold her trouble. He declared he could not officiate at thecoronation unless a religious marriag
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, booksubjectnapoleo, bookyear1901
