Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-04-24
&itsfeIlanecus.
cATHARINE OF wuRTEMDERa,

.rccsp WIFE OF ,rRosr s~os.pAsrs.

tkCOHD WIFE OF JEROME BONAPAkTk.
----
AT the commencement Of the present century,
The ancient palace Of Stuttgart was the peaceful
and happy abode Of the ducal family Of Wurtem-
berg. whose position, although high enough to ne
euro for them the homage and respect which Is
due to the princely houses of Europe, and yet
seemed not lofty enough to expose them to the po'
htical dangers 30 often cntsiled on the more elevat'
ed and ambitious potentatos of Christendon. The
srea, social revolution, however, which had shnkenl
continental Europe to its very foundatiuns,c a'no to
disturb that tranquil happiness Of the Wurtemherg
family, Napoleon the Great, now seated firmly on
the imperial throne Of France. resolved that n
crown should also enCircle each of his brothers
brows. The throne Of Holland Ind been bestowed
upon Lucien Bunaparte; Joseph was the King Of
Spain and a new kingdom-that Of Westphalia-
was about to be Surmed for Jerome. There was.
however, one serious obstacle in this latter ar.
rangement: Jerome had, III defiance of his BROTH
ers wishes. welded himself 10 an American lady,
who han recently presented him with a sou. Ma
poleop was seriously displeased Mt this union, and
refused to acknowledge its validity. jerome,
warmly attached to his wife, came over to Europe.
and, throwing himself AZ the Emperor's feet, be-
sought his pardon, and earnestly en'reaied him to
receive his spOuse as a member of the imperial
family. This request was made at an untUward
moment. for Jerome's interview with his brother
took place at Milan, in 1906. just after he had
grasped the iron crown OF the ancient kings OF
Lombardy, bearing this proud, vet beautiful device:
-"Dio me la dede qua che Ia t0ccd."
IL was at this proud moment OF his lio that Je.
rome asked him to receive u plebian sister from
republican America The request was indignant.
ly refused. jerome shed tears OF passionate atcc'
zion as he embraced his wife's portrait, and swore
never to give her up for any paltry consideration
Of earthly grandeur. lie, however, lacked the
frmnes; and resolution by which the Bonaparte
family we're 80 eminently characterized and
when the temptation Of a kingdom, with its power
- - -. l-11 -. a. Z. l.u.Inl r...,
he gradually became less vehement in his denials.
and finally yielded 20 the will of his imperions
brother, His vile was abandoned, his offspring
disowned. and Jerome stood alone, a weak and
guilty man, ready to sacrifice honor, affection, and
duty upon the base altar Of earthly ambition.
And, now, who is to be his partner upon the
newly erected throne of Westphalia?
Napoleon turned his glance towards Wurtem.
berg, which had recently been raised to the digni.
ty Of u Kingdom, and whose sovereign was now
degraded int, a satellite 90 imperial France. The
princess royal had com pleted her twentieth year
Fair in person and amiable in disposition. this
youthful princess possessed nevertheless, far more
frmnsss than her royal parent, and she resolutely
expressed her aversion to the proposed alliance, re-
rarding Napoleon as the direct foe of her native
German while. Mt the same time she
felt her native dignity deeply offended at
the thought Of being espoused 10 a man who
in her estimation, was already married TO another.
Vain, however. were all her circumstances. She
was compelled to bow beneath the iron will OF Ma
poleon the Great. with whom her father was at
this time allied and. before many months had
elapsed, she found herself welded, by proxy, to
Jerome, King Of Westphalia. and bad entered the
confines of France az the acknowledged sister OF
its imperial ruler. She was obliged, In compli'
ance with court etiquette, to part on the frontiers
with all her German attendants, and to advance
alone in II foreign country, surrounded, indeed py
q brilliant retinue, but with no familiar lace TO
p,eet her sad1anpd payp-nO sweet 6Ounu OF nome
voices to soothe the bitter feelings OF her heart
With the characteristic frmness, lot her disposition,
however, she gathered up all her courage to NEE,
the trying circumstance of her lot, and seemed
resolved that no telltale glance should betray INT
hidden conflict of her heart.
1t was on the Goth Of August. 1907, that, at al
early hour of the day, she found herself almost II
sigh, of Paris but, it being Napoleon's pleasure
that she should not enter his capital until evening
che was conducted by his order TO Rainey-a charm
ing country residence, once the abode OF royaly,
but now the possession of Juuot. Due d'Abrantes,
whose wife was commanded to receive the princess
with all the honor due to her elevated rank. The
duchess received her en- demi toilet de cour ON the
grand peristyle of the chateau, and conducted her
to her own apartments. where a repast OF tae most
costly description was prepared for her reireshment.
She cour ,eously insisted Oh Madame dAbrantes
aud her friends partaking with her of breakfast
and the animation with which she talked might
have ~bespoken q mind contented with its lot, but
that the rapid changes in her cnuntenance revealed
only too clearly the inward conflict of her heart
AT one moment her features were suffused with the
deepest crimson, at another they became liVid with
q deadly pallor. =,
The afternoon was filled up with a drive through
the Forest Of Bondy, during which the princes,
still exerted herself to appear pleased with the Ell
forts made for her amusement. Next came thu
grand affair Of her tuile> which seemed 10 MADAME
d'Abrates a matter Of the utmost Importance IA
this critical moment Of the princess's lie. Sh'
anxiously awaited her appearance IN the saiooi
before dinner. What was her dismay Cd hehoic
ing the royal bride enter the nnartmeht Gao IN
STYLE Of old fashioned magnihcenee, that migh
have su,ted her grandmother, but which was ill.bt
fitting the court Of the Tuileries in lsO7. In
material was u blush moire--at that time quite ou
Of datc-cut out into "A scanty narrow irock. with
short round queue, exactly resembling q beaver
tail the sleeves very narrow and very Hat, loot
ing as If her arms had been squeezed into them
and then the shoes. pointed, us IL they had bee
made some centuries ago. Around her neck hun
two rows of pearls. from whence was suspended
miniature of jerome, so clumsiiy set that 1t swun
about at each movement ut the wearer. In spite
this antiqe custume, the appearance OF the prince'
was pleasing and attractive. She 10 described
us as ''of n fair and fresh complexion. her beaut
full light hair and blue eyes harmonizinY we'll wit
the graceful and ~digni6ed turn OF her bead an
she entered the apartment with as much prIacel
seIf.posscssion ms if she had been attired urdt
THO OfEoCtou VI ~ ip'pO''ff h".US'
spsrsonag es of such importance rs to be remember
cd. even now, under the names Of Charbonnie
and Leroy.
Before dinner was announced. Catbarine's agitf
ton became 50 evident to her hostess. that the la'
ter ventured 10 inquire whether aught had occurre
to disturb her royal highness. Catharene, in re
ply expressed her wish to be informed a few me
ments bsiu-e Jerome's arrival. 80 that she Nigh
be prepared to meet him. This was promised
and while the princess thanked Madame d Abrante
for her kind readiness to oblige her. "ihe buruin
bushes on her cheek revealed no pleasing em.otio
but the passionate pain Of an indignant woman
heart.
1.-The dinner" Madame d'Abrantas write
twas dull. and even mournful. The princess wa
restless and agitated.
- I'VE Quilted table at half past Elk, and. feelin
anxious 20 satisfy the princess's wishes. vert
inquire whether there was any symI tom OF De
oms's approach. just at this nlomenta clound
dust became visible on the road from Paris, an
several carriages were seen to enter the p"pu'a
-. P 49, -rfnnaaa IN