The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1860-07-31
DEATH OF JEROME BoNAPARTE.

The great age and physical infrmty of Jerome
Bonaparte and the recent account of his illness,
have prepared the public for the announcement of
his death With him dies the last of the Bona
parties of the same generation the great founder
of the dynasty; and though inferior to the other
brothers in most respects, none OF them-eXcept-
ing, of course his illustrious brother-has been
regarded with such interest by the people of this
country. 1t is to his American marriage, and his
dsgraceful practical denial of it, that Jerome
BOnaparte owes his notOriety 1--WE know OF no bet
er world in the United States
He was born at Ajaccio, Corsica, on the 10Th OF
December, 1874, and consequently was seventy-six
years old at the time of his death In 1902, Ma
pOleOn ordered Jerome to proceed to the Southern
coast of this country to cruise about for English
vessels, France at that time being at war with
England In this enterprise the young naval COM
mander appears to have shown discretion
than valOr, for fearing to meet the enemy, he re-
tired to the port of New York. The fame of his
brother insured for him warm reception, and he
travelled Southwark, mingling in the best society
of this city and Philadelphia. In Baltimore, he
became acquainted with Miss Elizabeth Patterson,
the daughter of wealthy merchant of that place,
and after a short courtship married to her on
the 24th of December, Bishop Carroll officiating.
The alliance created considerable talk at the time.
Young Jerome, then but twenty years old, after
remaining year or so in this country, decided to
return to France and inform his brother personally
of the marriage. He embarked with his bride in
American ship for Lisbon, whence he fastened
to Paris, leaving Madame BoEaparte on the vessel.
OF course Napoleon had heard of the alliance,
highly indignant. and his reception of his
young brother was anything but cordial The
Emperor issued a decree, annullng the marriage,
although the Pope. Plus VII, with Conscientious
heroism, refused to allow divorce, notwithStand-
ing the threats of tile angry Napoleon. There is
no reason to believe that Jerome Bonaparte mar
ried Miss Patterson from other than motives of true
affection, and visited France expressly to win Ma
poleons consent to the union, which he did not
then think of breaking; but unfortunately his af
lection could not withstand other influences, and
the young man consented to sacrifice his wife, and
the child to which she had in the meanwhile given
birth in England. to the ambition Of his brother
This he called ''immoating himself on the altar of
thc Napoleon dynasty" Such was the influence
Napocon exercised over the members of his FAINT
IT.. that. at his demand, the husband deserted his
BRIDE and the father disowned his child. Jerome
re-entercd the navy, and Madame Bonaparte re-
turn ID to Baltimore. They never met again.
Over half century has passed since that time,
and both parties have lived utterly estranged, Je-
rome pursuing the career marked out for him by
his ambitious brother, and his niurnd wife re-
naming in dignifed retirement in her native city.
She lives there still. surrounded by friends, her
single hope and purpose the exaltation of her son
to the rank which his blood, in her estimation,
entities him to. His grandson, who graduated at
West Point, and is now an officer in the French
army, has been willing to disgrace himself
by impeaching the legality of his grand mothers
marriage, though tempted in various ways to an
extent which no ordinary fortitude could resist
The father, on the other hand, never turned to
look upon his injured wife after deserving her. but
regardless of every instinct of morality and manli-
ness, married again, on the 18th of August 1907,
the Princess Frederick Catherine. daughter of the
present King of Wurtemburg He was soon after
proclaimed King of Westphaia. He had, in the
meantime. done the State some service on the sea-
as Ambassador to Algiers, and by capturing some
English merchantmen in the West Indies, for
which he was made Admiral and decorated
with the Cross of the Legion of Honor. He, how.
ever, disliked naval le and after his accession tc
the throne of Westphalia, never returned to SEES
again. His government Of that Kingdom, which
comprised all the Northern portion of the Prussiar
dominIons, and embraced Of nearly eight
thousand square miles was mild and liberal, rath
er from the easy good nature of the ruler thar
from any serious desire to increase the sum of hu
man liberty
AT Waterloo, Jerome had the work of opening
that great battle, and the disastrous result of thu
conflict sent him to live with his wife's relations
in Wurtemburg, but he soon left them for Austria
The revolution of 1913 brought him into motto,
again; for, though he took no part in the con,
d'etat of 1851, family pride induced Louis Ma
poleon to invite his uncle to his Imperial Court
Since that time Prince Jerome has lived at the
Palias Royal.
The character of Jerome Bonaparte presents M
features of grandeur. He was the mere tool of hi
great brother and owes what little space he ma,
occupy in history wholly to accidental circum
stances, which he did not improve to any grea
advantage. He was one of those many persons il
prominent positions who would have been better
and happier in some humble station, and his name
will go down to posterity only a satellite of Ma
poleon Bonaparte. Personally his manners wer,
pleasant and affable, and there are still living
many of our old citizens who we'll remember h
visit to this country, and have met him in society
or while traveling.-Nsw York Post.
With whiskers thick upon my face, went my
fair to see; she told me she could never wed bear
faced chap like me. l shaved them clean, Their
called again, and thought my troubles DER; she
laughed outright, and said 1 was more 6are-faced