The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-04-24

perlSned also. Inc ueatn vi INC y rant saNc'
her life.
Attention to the education of her children
and the exciting circumstances of the nation
respecting which she was frequently consulte'
by those in power, gradually removed thu
gloom which had gathered around her. Sh'
mingled again in company, and was induced
to give her handto the energetic and aspirin!
Napoleon. The union was for him happ,
one. She counselled him in all his plans, ant
sympathized with him in his Affections. II wa
the influence of Josephine that made him Con
sui Of France, and opened the way to the em
pire. Against his assumption, however, o
that dignity, she earnestly demonstrated.
In the hour of his prosperity, Napoleon
sought an alliance with the reigning families o
Europe He wished to strengthen his position
and 10 leave an heir for his throne. Josephine
was divorced, and Maria Louisa of Austria
was crowned Empress. In her humiliation
she called to mind the declN qtion made to hei
in her youth that she should die miserable.
But while Napoleon lived IN honor. she sus-
tanned every affection with philosophic calm
ness. Often did he meet her at her residence
and consult her as to his future plans. She
always received him with respect, ard her
counsels were marked with a solicitude for his
welfare, which he could find nowhere else.
Amidst the traits of character which distin-
guished Josephine, we can, in this sketch, no
lice but two-her magnanimity of soul, and her
interest in the education of her children. The
first she displayed on many interesting occa-
sions. When VI. Beauharnais had abandoned
her, and when severe imputations had been
made against her, strong in the consciousness
&c Io ,nto ebo hatrav-o1 IN
against her husband. She was afflicted-she
resisted the application for divorce-but she
uttered no recrimination. In after times when
those who had been her enemies came into her
power, she exhibited no resentment-no retail
iation. When Napoleon triumphed, and CT
ties were subjected by his martial energy and
skill, her lips ever pleaded the cause Of hui
mainly, and urged TO acts Of kindness to the
vanquished. Around herself, she gathered, by
courtesy and condescension, the hearts of the
captured, and friends everywhere were won to
the brilliant commander. She rejoiced in his
success, she was proud of his merits, and yet
she wished no crown to be on his head, though
she would be the sharer in all his glory. Earn
estly did she plead with him TO restore the
Bourbon family to France, instead Of assum-
ing for himself the imperial throne.
When, for the Austrian Princess, she was
set aside, she predicted to Napoleon his ulti-
mate ruin. With his advisers she was thor
oughly acquainted, and she knew that no heart,
as truly as her own, wdS devoted to his inter-
ests. His ambition unrestrained, she perceiv-
ed would lead him into irretrievable errors,
and for him it is said she grieved as much as
for the disgrace inflicted upon herself and her
Unlike Medea, of classic song. she
sought no vengeance against the young En-
press. She planned no i'll against her erring
husband. When tidings of approaching dam
ger reached her ears, messenger was sent to
the Emperor, and in his gloomy hours Napo-
leon came for counsel to his most faithful ad-
wiser.
At his overthrow and exile to Eliza, she was
leeply panied. The restoration of the Bour-
bons pleased her, but not the humiliation Of the
Emperor. The allied powers of Europe Wis
tied her mansion. The Emperor Alexander
was exceedingly polite in his attentions. She
received them courteously, and the casual OBJ
server might have supposed she was flattered
but she was sick at heart. In the midst Of their
the kings Of Europe were in
her mansion-disease approached. And when
she found herself sinking and her two chill
dren, Eugene and Hortense, bathed in tears,
stood beside her bed, she called for the por-
trait of Napoleon that hung in the Chamber.
On that portrait fell her last tear, and on it
her eve rested as it closed in death.
Not less distinguished was Josephine for her
deep interest in the instruction of her chill
dren. The splendors of the court, the bull
liant triumphs of the camp, adulatiOn of syco-
plants at home and the grateful expression OF
L 1 1,,l o,. f,,l
ed TO withdraw her attention from the i'm
provement Of her Eugene and llortenSe.
Her mother was unusually domestic, and all
the entreaties of Napoleon could not induce
her to forsake her plantation for residence at
court Josephine, though not SO much attach
ed to the country, still loved domestic life
She loved to cultivate the flowers in her gar
den, and to join with her children in their
walks and social coverse. Into their youthful
minds she instilled the same high sense ofhon-
or, the same magnanimity of soul for which
she was so eminently distinguished. As the
result of such attentions, combined with the
circumstances in which they were placed,
they occupied high positions intellectually land
socially as well as in civil rank.
To strengthen himself by alliances with
royal families, Napoleon divorced Josephine.
How greatly he erred, time has shown. The
son OF Maria Louisa long since slept with his
ancestors, and no heir has remained of Aus
tran lineage. The posterity of Josephine are
allied to many of the noble houses, and are
now in power. The son of Hortense is now
President of France. Napoleon was in the
habi! of calling him his Pope because he had
been baptized by that Pontiff, and of predict
ing that some day he would be great man.
Eugene was married to the Princess Anne
liza, of Bavaria One of his sons married the
daughter of the Emperor of Russia, and one
of his daughters is now Queen of Sweden
A second son was married to the Queen of
Portugal, but shortly afterwards died, and an
other daughter was married to the Emperor of
Brazil Since his death, she is known as the
duchess of Braganza, and is said to be wo-
nan of great accomplishments and beauty
Thus, the posteIity Of Josephine are extensive
y united to the royal families of the world,
md by their success present striking COM
nentary on a mothers influence. May we be
Dardoned if we add, mothers educate your sons
md daughters, if you desire ttem to occupy
positions in lite ? You have the
1ower which can be entrusted to no other