The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-07

Divorce of Josephine
Napoleon had become very strongly attached to
ms tlle grandchild, The son Of HOrtense, and oil
his brother, Lonis, the King Of Holland. TIE boy
was extremely b-autful, and developed all those
noble and spirited traits of character which de-
lighted the Emperor Napoleon had apparently
determined to make this young Prince his heir.
This was 50 generally the understanding, both in
France and in Holland, that Josephine was quite
at ease, and serene days again dawned upon her
heart.
Eary in the spring of 1907, this child, upon
whom such destlnies were depending, then hve
years Of age, was seized suddenly and violently
with the Group, and in few hours died. The
blOR felt upon the heart of Josephine with most
appalling power. Deep as was her grief at the loss
of the Child, size was overwhelmed with uHcon-
trUilabe anguish in view Of those fearful cOnse-
qusnces which she shUddered to contemplate. She
knew that Napoleon loved her fondly But she
also knew the strength OF his ambition, and that
he would make any sacrifice Of his affections,
which, in his view would snbserVe the interests ol
his power and his glory. For three days she shut
herss up in her room, and was continually hathed
in tears.
Tie sad intelligence was conveyed TO Napoleon,
when he far from home, in the midst Of the
Prussian campaign. He had been victorous-aL-
most mlraculously victorlOus-Over his enemies.
He had gained accessions Of power, such as in the
widest dream of youth he lad hardly imagined.
All opposition to his sway was now apparently
crushed. Napoleon had become the creator of
constrained to do his bidding. II was in an hour
Of eNnltaliOn that the mOurnlul tidngs reached
him. He sat down in silence, buried hs face in
h- hands, and for a long time seemed lost in the
HosT painful musings. He was heard mourniulIy
and ayi0usly 10 repeat to himse fagaiH and again,
To whom shall leave all this 20 The struggle
lI his mind brtween his love for josephine and lis
ambitions desire TO found q new dyt asty, and to
transmit his name and fame to all rOsterity, was
fearful Il was manifest IN his pald cheek in
H. aF ,ytl sl4
Bot the s,ern will of BOnaparGe was uurrentug in
ls purposes. With an energy which the world has
never seen surpassed, he had chosen his part. 1t
was the purpose Of his soul--the lofty purpose he.
tore which every thing had to beud-to acquire
the glory Of making France Me most IllusriOus,
powerful and happy UatiOn the earth had ever
seen. For this he was ready to sacrifice comfort,
,ase, and his sense Of right For this he was ready
10 snuisr the strongest ties Of affection.
Josephine knew Napoleon Sac knew the power
uD his ambition. With almost insupportable an
gush she wept over the death of this child, upon
whose destinies her own seemed to be so ieariully
blended and with trembling heart, she awaited
her husbands return. Mysterious hints began to
II the journals Of the contemplated divorce, and o
the alliance OF Napoleon with various prlncesses O
io.-ign courts In October, 1909, Napoleon re.
turned from Vienna. lie greeted Josephine with
the greatest Kindness but she perceived tha
hrs mind i'll at ease, and that he ponder
ing the dreadful question. lie appeared sad ant
with his ministers. A general feeling OF constrain
parvaded the court. Napoleon scarcely venturec
to look upon his wife, as II apprehensIve that the
very sight Of one he had loved so well, nigh
ruse him to waver in his firm purpose. Jose
mime was in a state of the most teversh soIictude
and yet was compelled to appear calm and uncon
strained. As yet she had only some rebodings o
her impending DOOM She watched, with the mos
excited apprehension, every movement OF the LIN
perOrs eye, every intonaon OF his voice, every sen
fiment he uttered. Each day some new and trivia
Indication confirmed her fears. Her husband be
came more reserved absented himself from her so
cety the private access between their apartment
was closed he now seldom entered her room, AM
whenever he did so invariably knocked. Aud ye
not one word had passed between him and Jose
phne upon the fearful subject. Whenever Jose
phne heard the sound of his approaching footsteps
the fear that he coming with the terrible an
nouncement of separation, Immediately cause
such violent palPitation Of the heart, that it wa
with the utmost difficulty that she could totte
across the floor, even when supporting herself b
leaning against the walls, and catching at the art
cles Of furniture.
The months Of October and November pass
ed away, and while the Emperor discuss
ing with his cabinet the alliance into which h
should enter, he had not summoned courage t
break the subject to Josephine The evidence
indubitabe that he experienced intense anguish |
view of the separation, but this did not mfuenc
hls iron will to swerve from its purpose. III
grandeur of his fame, and the magnitude of h
power was now such, that there was not roy
family in Europe which would not have felt hol
ored in comforting upon him bride. 1t was
first contemplated that he should marry some pril
tess Of the Bourbon family, and thus add to the ST
bility of his throne, by cOnclllatng the royasts
France. princess of Saxony was propose
Some weghty considerations urged altlan
with the majestic empire oil Russia, and some az
VanCes made to the court OF st. Petersburg
having in view a sister OF the Empero- Alexandt
j was at length decided that proposals should
made to the court OF Vienna, for Marie Louis
daughter of the Emperor of Austria.
At last the fatal day arrived for the announc
rnent to Josephine. 1t the last day OF n
vember, 1909. The Emperor and Empress din
at Fontainbleau alone. She seems to have had
presentment that her doom was sealed, and for
that day she had been in her retired apartme
weeping bitterly. As the dinner hour approache
she bathed her swollen eyes and tried to rega
clmposure. They sat down at the table in silent
Napoleon did not speak Josephine could not tn
her voice to utter word Neither OF them ev
Gpigned to eat Course after course was brOug
IN, and removed untouched mortal palene
revealed the anguish of each heart Napoleon,
his embarrassment, mechanically, and apparen
uncOnscousy, kept striking the edge OF his gil
with his knife, while lost in thought. mt
melancholy meal was probably never witness
The attendants aronnd the table caught the inf
ton and gazed in motiOness silence. At last
ceremony OF ulhHeT was over the attendants w
dismissed and Napolean and Josephine W
alone Another moment of most painful siIe
ensued when the emperor, pale death,
trembling in every nerve, arose, and approach
Josephine. He took her hand and placing it VI
Lis heart, said:
Josephine. my own good Josephine
know how I have loved you. 1t is to you al
that | owe the few moments of happiness | h
known in this world. Josephine my destiny
stronger than my own will. My dearest Affect
must Weld to the interests of France !"
Iosephine's brain reeled her blood ceased
circulate she tainted, and fell hteless upon
floor Napoleon alarmed, threw open the doc
the saloon, and called for help. Attendants +
the ante-roon Immediately entered. NapO
took taper from the mante, and utterlng n
word, but pale and trembling, mOtioned to
Count de Beaumont to take the Empress into
arms She was still unconscious of every tn
but began to murmur in tones OF anguish, T."
no you cannot surely do it. You would
kill me-"
The Emperor led the way through dark
sage to the private staircase which conducte
the apartment of the Empress. The agtato
Napoleon seemed now 10 increase. He utt
some incoherent sentences about violent ner
attack and finding the stairs too steep and MAJ
for the Count de Beaumont to bear the body o
life Josephine unassisted, he gave the light t
attendant, and supporting her limbs hmsolf
reached the door Of the bedroom Napoleon,
Htsru,-,isg his male attendants, snd laying Jos