Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-03-17
JOSEPHINE, "THE STAR OF Ma
POLEON."
NY REV. JOHN 8. @. ABBOT.

her, and her society was ever courted.-
AS time softened the poignancy Of her
past sorrows, she mingled more and more
in the circles of that metropolis ever de-
voted to gaiety. The terrible convulsions
Of the times had thrown the whole fabric
of society into confusion. Great efforts
were now made to revive the festivities of
former days. Two centres of society
were naturally formed. The first inclu-
ded that in which Josephine moved. 1t
was composed of those remains of the an
cient nobility who had returned to Paris
with the fragments of their families and
their shattered fortunes. Rigid economy
was necessary to keep up any appearance
of elegance. But that polish of manners
which almost invariably descends from
an illustrious ancestry, marked all their
intercourse. The humiliations through
which the mobiles had passed, had not di-
minished the cxclusiveness of their tastes.
The other circles were composed of mer-
chants and bankers, who had acquired
opulence in the midst of the contiscations
and storms of revolution. The passion
for display was prominent in all their as
semblies, as is necessarily the case with
those whose passport to distinction is
wealth.
At the theatres and all places Of public
fcstivty, there were presented studied
memorials of the scenes of horror though
which all had recently passed. One OF
the most fashionable and brilliant assem-
blies then known in Paris, was called
Tile Ball ofthe "Fictims." No one was
admitted to this assembly, who h>d not
lost some near relative by the guillotlne'
The most fashionable style of dressing the
hair, was jocosely called ga la guiIlotine." "
The hair was arranged in the manner in
which it had been adjusted by the exc
cutioner, for the unimpeded operation of
the axe.
Josephine, young widow with beau
ty, grace, intelligence and property, was
sure to attract attention, and to meet ad-
mirers who would seek her hand.
A new insurrection of the populace of
Paris was at this time planned against
the Convention. The exasperated people
were again to march upon the Touilleries.
The members were in extreme consterna-
ton. The mob could bring tens of thou
sands against them, we'll armed with mus
kets and heavy artillery. There were
but five hundred regular troops, with
which to resist the onset. Menou, the
officer in command, acknowledged his in
ability to meet the crisis, and surrendered
his power to Barras. He Immediately,
as by sudden thought, exclaimed L
know the man who can defend us. 1t is
q little Corsican, who dares do anything,
and is perfectly reckless of consequences
The Li!!!e Little c"gge:tan, ANI@%rreei!eea NJ Bona
parte, the day star of whose fame was
Just beginning to rise over the shoulder
ing ruins of Toulon, was presented to the
Convention. His fragile form was almost
feminine in its proportions, but an eagle
eye calmly reposed in his palid and ema-
ciate countenance. He had been severe
ly sick, and the Convention looked with
amazemcnt upon this feeble youth, as
the one presented to rescue them from
their peril.
The President looked uron him doubt
ingly and said, 'Are you willing to under
take our defence?'
yes = was the calm, laconic reply.
But are you aware of the magnitude
of the undertaking :?
L am in the habit of accomplishing
that which undertake. was the imper-
turable response.
From that moment his authority was
established. Every member of the Con-
vention felt the mysterious fascination of
his master mind. Barras surrendered
the whole command into his hands. He
instantly called in all the national forces
which were round Paris, and disposed
fifty pieces of heavy artillery under the
command of Murat, so as to rake all the
avenues to the Convention. His calm
and almost superhuman energy sought no
repose that night. The delay of but a
few moments would have placed that very
park of artillery which secured his Victo-
ry, into the hands of the insurgents
When the morning dawned, the Touil-
lerics, as ifby magic, had assumed the
aspect of fortified camp. The little
Corsican was calmly awaiting the onset,
as secure of triumph, as if the victory
were already achieved.
But in every quarter of Paris, during
the night, the insurgents had been mus
tering their forces, and the mutterings of
the approaching storm were dismally
ochoed through the streets of the metro
polls. Above thirty thousand men, all
well armed with muskets and artillery
in regular military array, and under sx-
perienced generals, came pouring down
upon the feeble band which surrounded
the Convention.
VIII the little Corsican dare to FIRE upon
the people? Win this pale and slender
YOUTH who had hardly yet entered upon
the period of manhood, dare to deluge the
pavements of Paris with the blood Of her
own citizens Will he venture on a con-
flict so unequal, when failure is certain
death
Napoleon with his colorless cheek, his
flashing eye, and his air of mysterious