life among surroundings so splendid that they
merited a more gay existence.

At the Revolution the palace became a national property, and, under the
Consulate, was the scene of many popular fetes, it having been rented to
a concern which arranged balls and other entertainments for the pleasure
of all who could afford to pay. Its name was now the Hameau de
Chantilly, and, considering that the entrance tickets cost but fifteen
sous--including a drink--it must have proved a cheap, satisfying and
splendid amusement for the people.

This state of affairs lasted until 1805, when Murat bought it and here
held his little court up to his departure for Naples, when, in
gratefulness for past favours, he gave it to Napoleon. The emperor
greatly loved this new abode, which he rechristened the Elysee-Napoleon.

After his defeat at Waterloo Napoleon, limping lamely Parisward, down
through the Forests of Compiegne and Villers-Cotterets, sought in the
Elysee-Napoleon the repose and rest which he so much needed, the throng
meanwhile promenading before the palace windows, shouting at the tops of
their voices "Vive l'Empereur!" though, as the world well knew, his
power had waned forever; the eagle's wings were broken. The throng still
crowded the precincts of the palace, but the emperor fled secretly by
the garden gate.

On the return of the Duchesse de Bourbon from Spain the magnificent
structure became again the Elysee-Bourbon. The duchess ceded the palace
to the Duc and Duchesse de Berry but, at the duke's death, in 1820, his
widow abandoned it.

Some time after it was occupied by the Duc de Bordeaux, and, in 1830,
it became one of the long list of establishments whose maintenance
devolved upon the Civil List, though it remained practically uninhabited
all through the reign of Louis Philippe.

In 1848, the National Assembly designated the palace as the official
residence for the presidents of the French Republic. Three years after,
on the night of the first of December, as the last preparations were
being made by Louis Bonaparte for the Coup d' Etat and the final
strangling of the young republic, the residence of the president was
transferred to the Tuileries, and the palace of the Faubourg Saint
Honore was again left without a tenant, and served only to give
hospitality from time to time to passing notables.

After the burning of the Tuileries, and the coming of the Third
Republic, the Elysee Palace again became the presidentia