The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1867-08-16
NapOleOn's Mother.

ter of a million Inhabitants It's peo-
pie are mostly of Italian origin and
the products of the island are cattle
timber, honey, WAX and olive oil Ow-
ing to the careless and unscientiic
agriculture, the people are generally
poor; and few. even of the nobility
are able to live in a liberal style. The
great majority OF the inhabitants are
ignorant and superstitious, and they
have been distinguished for many ages,
for certain turbulence and fcrocty
Of character As they have never
been powerful enough to maintain
their independence, nor willing to sub
NIT to a foreign power tho island has
been the seat of wars, intrigues, and
civil disscntious
The maiden name Of the mother Of
Napoleon was Letizia Banolino. She
was born in Corsica, of Il respectable
but not opulent family, and was mar
ried in her sixteenth year to Carlo
Bonaparte, a gentleman of her own
rank. About the time of hel mar
riage, the people of Corsica, led by
the heroic Pascal Paol, resolved to
throw off their allegiance to Genoa,
and become an Independent State
They succeeded for ten years in main
tanning the struggle; nor would they
have again been subject to q foreign
I dominion If Genoa had not sold her
rights to France, and thus secured the
overthrow of the patriotic party.
Carlo BOuaparte was one of Paoli S
brayest and most trusted officers
man wise in counsel and brave in The
felt His young wife, Letizia, shared
both his sentiments and his pells.-
On one occasion, it is related, wien
+ the Corsicans had been defeated in
battle, she was obliged TO fly with her
husband to the mountain Businesses
in the interior Of the island She rode
on horseback, and carried in her arms
an infant SON AS the enemy were in
hot pursuit, the march was rs swift
peiilous, and painful Crossing a nv
er one day, her horse lost its footing,
and 1t appeared TO those on shore that
she could only save her own life by
letting 20 the ch1d The soldiers
cried to her TO do SO; but, with a pro-
disious effort, she regained her sad
die. and managed her horse so well
that She brought her infant safe to
shore, amid the shouts of her COM
rades
The child that she carried in her
arms that day was Joseph, her first
horn. who was afterwards King OF
Spain.
Peace was declared a few week af-
ter this fight and Carlo Bonapartc re-
turned to Aiaccio with his httle fami-
is. This was in the month of June,
1863 One day in the following Au-
gust, Madame Bonaparte's second son
Napoleon WINS born. 1t is curious
fact that Napoleon narrowly escaped
being born IL subject of the King OF
England If the British Government
had been prompt to succor Paoli, MS
was expected, Corsica had been IA
British island, and Napoleon, perhaps,
British officer. In due time, Mad
anne Bonaparte became the mother OF
thirteen children--the youngest OF
whom was born when she was but
thirty-four years Of age. OF these
thirteen children, eight lived TO mr.
turity.
It was from His mother that Napo-
leon Bonaparte derived the force II
not the talent which enabled him to
become the conqueror of Europe. He
himself said of her: "She had the
head of man on the shoulders OF a
woman; she administered everything
with degree Of sagacity not to be
: expected from her age or sex. Her
tenderness was Joined with severity
She punished, rewarded ali alike; the
good, the bad, nothing escaped her.
: Losses, privations, fatigue, had no eff
,, feet upon her; she endured all, brayed
b all. ALI what woman ! Where
look for her equal?'
And at St Helena he said "MS
mother had grand character; force
= and elevation of soul, and a noble
D pride. She watched with solicitudC
unexampled over the first impressions
e Unworthy sentiments withered III hel
: presence She instructed her children
only in what was grand and elevated
I Faisehood she held in adherence, ane
every other trait which indicated bas'
: tendencies. She knew how to punish
+ and how to reward; she watched mar
: rowly over everything that concerned
her children.
The portraits we have of her appear
to Justify this description She had
remarkably long head, and that Ions
firm set nose which indicates strength
of character; and there is in her char
acter an expression of serenity, higl
breeding,and self control, which make
the superior woman.
In her thirty-fifth year her hulban'
was seized with disease hereditar.
in his family cancer in the stomach
of which Napoleon himself died. Ill
went to France for medical aid, an'
5. proceeded as far as Montpelier, nea
O. The place where his son, Napoleon
was pursuing bis military studies. ;,
= Napoleon was summoned from the mil
!, itary school to his fathers dying bee
Is and arrived just after he had breathe
e. his last.
is The 3onaparte family was not rlcl
Is but their little income was SO careiul