The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1853-11-30
Srltrtr0 { MIR Z.
From TH5 Georgia Home GureEe.
The Empress Josephine.

lcadlcy's Life ofthc Empress Josephine
has been before the public for mouths,
but it was but recently that we have been
able to give it careful perusa. The
work affords an excellent porira;ture OF one
0: the most lovely cIaractcrcs that the
world has ever seen, an honor 10 her sex
and a it'modcl for imitation bv woman
III every rank aud condition of life. The
history If Josephine partakcs greatly of
the nature OF romance. OF humble origin
s'c was early in life married to Niscount
Hrauharnais, by whom she was introduced
at the Court of Queen Maria Auoinettc.-
Her husband, afer playing CONSPICUOUS
part IN heiirst period of the French Rev
"'niou, was impr;:ored by the Jacobims
aud afterwards p"rishcd by the cruelty Of
Eohcspjcrre. josephine was herself i'm.
rri>ou"d, and would no doubt have shared
r4ae same f"te, h"d.-nat that .yrant fell
victim TO tlc rage ofthe mfura;cd people.
\ few months after these events, Jose
,hiuc met Cor the first lime in the saloons
f Paris, the youthful Napoleon. Whether
tie hgOrty Of her perso or the rank
with whch tic marriage woul cndow h''r;
vas he primary cause Of his proposal, is
It ia d"ul'; perhaps, both motives in
i!ucurcd him. However this may Gc,
,hc rr0pcsition was made and accepted,
.uL 1o>crliuc become his wife, about two
wears af,cr the death ofher first husband.
Twelve ,lnys aftcr the ceremony, Napoie
. cn left his Lridc to enter upon that carer"
of'suorss, the parallel {" " ich no az"
or cnUu;ry can furnish.
70 trace tie foo,->tcp' Of this vivtorio u:
cl,icftau to tire goal Of his ambitious de
signs aud startling conquests, Is not on'
Object. Indeed, all th,s as familiar to tie
reader, "a il was when the roar Of the las
cannon died upon the Geld OF Waterloo
First the successful General, tlicn the Firs
Consul of the Republic, with Pcor'
ohedicnt to his will awl u soIdiery de
voted sosbis Interests, hc rnsc rapidly I
tie tiseens aud to the sceptre Of II va'
Empire.
Josephine, mp to this point, had bee
his faithful wife, his devoted frien', h
loving companion. Will, his own han
he had crowned her Empress. His he
to use IIeadley's expression, had OFF,
turned from the spoils ofviciury and Il
applause ofmiIions to meet the smile
her approval. But now, it suited Il
wishes of the ambitious Emperor To uni
tie dez,ince orhis Empire with those oI
royal family and to render his tIro
"ncrpetual" In bis coronation speech,
said, my descendants shall long sit rp
s this throne" IL is not 10 be wondered
that these words fell like knell OF ter,
upon the heart Of POOR Josephine. 5
held giddy height. The world env
her, but little did Il know the bittern
.of her bosom rs she saw the hour dr.
nigh when separation between Ma
Seoa sld 'bsrself would be inevitable Z
history cftiiis trying period is full Of
,teress, and as specimen ofthe auth
powers Of marathon, we give bis {
words:
- "That Napoleon was proud Of j
phiae and that he loved her, we .
not doubt. As his Empress, recei'
ahe homage Of bis court to her rare
gance Of person and manners, he do
less admifed her; but it was the hea
Josephine which he loved. Hers W
warmth Of affection rarely combined
so much culture and strength OF intel
and, c6ntrafs 10 the opinion Of some,
are constrained to'believe, 'hatit wa
which enabled her 70 ezereise 'oyeF
Emperor so controlling a power. Il
rare thing for Napoleon 70 be love
Tba affection Of Josephine was