Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-03-13
0Rlo Statesn1an,
The Destiny of .Josephine,eeI

The history OF Napoleon is yet to be
written, and by an American. The world
has been amused with fables OF this mar, of
destiny, which have been transmitted as
heir-looms until they have reached him
who now sits upon the throne of France,
and is pleased with the title, "the man of
destiny" .stf f.,.affroY ~
This, though favorite idea with every
class of Frenchmen,d undoubtedly arose
from the story of Josephine, and through
her attachment for Napoleon. Though her
simple story is smothered in the more bril-
liant one of her husband, yet it is well
known that long before Napoleon's admir-
ers claimed for him the destiny he finally
accomplished, it was a common story in
Paris what we are about TO tell. Ia1
1t was while almost a child that jose
phine, in some of her wanderings with her
school fellows, came across yagrant gipsy
or fortune-teller The woman, attracted
- in some way toward the beautiful child,
insisted upon telling her fortune, even
against her will and without reward. She
told her that she would very soon be wife,
widow, and afterward Queen of France.
The prediction in itself was common
enough, but as simple as it was it had its
effect upon Josephine, who Immediately
embraced it as fact, and could for long
time think of nothing else.
When the fulfillment came.to the first
part Of heprediction itof course strength
ened her in the belief of the rest; and even
when in prison under sentence of death,
and her bed was taken from her because
she was to die in the morning, she babe her
friends have courage-that it would not be
so, and that she would sit upon that throne,
then in ruins beneath the bloody feet of
Robespierre; and when the jailers, i'm
derision, called upon her to name her
rNnf hg of th.N L. l.
when she was Queen, she did so, and her
nomination was finally fulfilled to a letter.
On that very night Robespierre fell. Had
his downfall occurred one week earlier,
Josephine's husband would not have been
one OF his victims; had he lived one day
longer, she would have been another Of
them. . Esd
There was but littlelapse of time between
her liberation from prison and her marri-
age to Napoleon, and it was by the IN
iluence she eXerted that he was appointed
to the command Of the army in Italy latter
which the path that lead them upward was
clear and open, until he destiny which she
had insisted upon was accomplished, and
the crown of France was placed upon her
head. i.rN> .-..
But there was one thing more that Jose
phine had fOretold for herself which was
the utter loss OF the power and rank to
which she had been so wonderfully elevated;0
and still while she brooded over this, Napo-
leon, who was her lord, gathering new
power and yielding to new ambitions, she
tried to crush it, and to point out what
should be its true aims but he was an En- L
peror, and desired to be the founder of
new empire.
How well her instincts told her that the
time was rapidly approaching when that
ambition would make him put her away ! O
Then came the close of the campaign OF
1900, and she saw that the hour was ap-
preaching still nearer that was to seal both
their fates. There was no longer the con- 81
fidence OF the past between them; no long 4
er the seeking of sympathy and advice. ,.,-r
1t was on the Goth otNovember, 1909, and i,
the court was especially gay, in honor of
the visit of the King of Saxony, Josephine
sat at the window of her boudoir, looking
out on the river, when she heard stop at ,,
the door, and rose to receive Napoleon, who
caught her in his arms with more of an old "a
en- time embrace than she had known for
months. She led him to the sofa on which
she had been sitting, and seated herself by
his side. For few moments there was
silence and he spoke: l'
Josephine, you have been weeping. Are ID
you unhappy" ,,...,-
mo sire not with you.' -.-
Nonsense! Josephine, whom do you call !
sire? OF late you are making these forms
Overshadow all our happiness.' s.
"Then why should they not be forgotten
by both? You have now reached that
point of ambition that should content you.
Will you turn the unquiet god from your
bosom, and own your own happiness?n
You misunderstood me, lady," he said,
quickly rising from his seat, and leaning
against the window. IL am seeking moth
ing for myself but everything for France" u
1T is for France, Napoleon" she said,
drawing close to his side and taking his
hand in hers, 'that you would put away
from you not only true wife, but true
friend. Think not that i have been blind,
sire to this. My alarmed heart has told me ,
all; and believe me, that am Offering not 4
protest to your will, but oh, sire examine
well your heart before you actln Do 1Hhga'
He stood silent while she was speaking,
and then, with face turned full upon the .
moonlight, he drew away his
hands. She went on: no. Z, Nv
"And oh, sire, believe me, that though I
am to leave your throne and your side, /
shall never cease to love you, too deeply for
my peace. Therefore it is that plead that
you willlook well into your heart before
you yield your future to bad counsels." -
He drew quickly from the window and -d
walked forward to the center of the room.
''You cannot sympathize with me, mad
lme; / act only with reason. The good of
IN individual must yield to the good of
France. Farewellw .r.e -. ida.l y,I
"Stop ~ said she, and Josephine stepped
quickly across the room and caught his
lrm, drawing him as she did so again to
he window. "Do you see that starr" and
The pointed to one of marked brightness. o,
That is my destiny. BY ityou have risen.
To it was promised throne. Through me.
you have accomplished it; part from me
md you fall. Yes, fall to die in sorrow,oiil
neglect and exile! Remember this, Napo- ,,
con, and remember these words when it is
90 late to recall the act that no words Of
nine can prevent" ga1i1iN 90 a3eha8 2dL
Napoleon gazed almost in terror at her. To-.
Who stood like q prophecies gazing out yI
With eyes OF fire upon the heavens, and \,
hen with al heart clouded almost TO sick"
less, he turned away and left the room fil
Without o word. aysd sJgs gncifeiio 9d1 500 %
Ten days passed before he had, nerve to yn1
trike the blow that broke the, golden chain
hat bound them, and from that moment,
s he afterward confessed at St. Helena, gI
he fall of Napoleon began, till he died aioii
exile upon an Island in mid !, \
- -.