The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-05-31

tenderness,
that the wounds of her heart were closed that
she could trust in happiness and devote her life
to q new love, 70 q new future. she shrank
timidly away from such shaping Of her d. stny /
and even the persuasions of her friends and rela-
tives, even the father of her deceased husband,
could not bring her to decision.
The state of her mind is depicted in letter /
which Josephine wrote TO her friend Madame de
Chateau Remand. and which describes In great /
measure the strange uncertainty OF her heart:
"You have seen Gen. Bonaparte at my house.
Well then, he is the one who wishes to be father /
Of the orphans of Alexandra de Beauharnais and |
the husband of his widow. do you love him.
you will ask. Well. no. 80 you feel any repug- |
nance towards himP No, bui feel in state of |
vsailston and doubt state very disagreeable to |
md which the devout in religious matters |
.sider to be the most scaDdalziDg. As love Is |
kind Of worship. one ought in It's presence to
feel animated by other feelings than those now |
experience, and therefore long for your advice,
which might bring the constant indecision of my |
mind to a fixed conclusion. To adopt firm
course has always appeared to my creole non
chdldnce something beyond reach, aud find 1t
infinitely more convenient to be led by the will OF
another.
"Iadnire the courage of the general; am
surprised at his ample knowledge, which enables
him to speak fuently on every subject; at the
vivacity of his genius, which enables him to
guess the thoughts of others before they are ex
pressed; but am frightened at the power he
seems to exercise over every one who comes
strange. which cannot explain, bat which has
controlling influence even upon our directors
judge therefore. of his influence over a woman.
Finally, the very thing which might please-the
violence of his passion, of which he speaks with
so much energy, and which admits of no doubt
that passion is exactly what creates in me the I'M
willingness have so often been ready 10 express.
1.-The first bloom of youth lies behind me. Can
therefore hope that this passion, which in Gen;
h~paparte resembles an attack OF madness, Will
lastSng! II after our union he should cease 10
love ne, would he not reprOsch me for what he
hsd donel Would he not regret that he had not
mace another and more brilliant uniong What
could lhen answer! What could do! could
weep. "A splendid remedy!' | could hear you
say. know well that weeping is useless, butte
weep mas oeen tn~ only resource which could
nnd When my poor ne.rt SO easily wounded, has
been hurt. Write to me = long letter, and do not
fear to scod me if You think / am wrong. You
know well that everything which Snmes from you
is agreeable TO me"
After their marriage and the successiSl cam.
| paign in Italy, the happy pair enjoyed Zach
others society for a brief time at Montebelld,'
when occurred the following characteristic scene:
All Italy did homage TO the conlueror, and II
was, therefore, very natural the sculptors and
| painters should endeavor TO draw some advantage
| from this enthusiasm for its deliverer, and that
they shou endeavor to represent TO the admirers
| of Bonaparte his peculiar form of ceuntenance.
But BoDsparte did not like to have his portrait
painted. The startling, watchful gaze OF an artist
and anxious as if he feared that the scrutinizng
look at his face might read the secrets OF his SOUL
Yet at Josephne's tender and pressing request he
| had consented TO its being taken by young
| painter, LIE eros, whose distinguished talent had
| been brought to bis notice.
lie eros came therefore. to Montebello, happy
| in the thought that he could immortalize himself
through a successful portrait of the hero whom
/ he honored with all the enthusiasm of young
| heart. But he waited in vain three days for Bo-
nspsrte TO give him a sitting. The general had
not one instant to spare for the unfortunate
! young artist.
At last, at Josephine's pressing request. Bona
parte consented on the fourth day to sit for him
| one quarter of an hour after breakfast. LIE eros
came. therefore, delighted. at the time appointed.
into the cabinet Of Josephine, and had his easel
| ready, awaiting the moment when Bonsparte
should sit in the armchair opposite. But alas
the painters hopes were not TO be realized. The
general could not bring himself to sit in that arm
chair doing nothing but keeping his head quiet,
so that the painter might copy his features. He
had no sooner been seated then he sprang up sud
denly, and declared it was quite impossible to en-
| dure such martyrdom.
LIE eros dared not repeat his request, but, with
tears in his eyes. gathered up his painting ma
ierials. Josephine smiled. 81 see very well,
said she, that must have recourse to some ex-
traordinary means to save for me aud for poster
ity portrait of the hero of Arcola."
She sat down in her arm chair, and beckoned
| to lie eros to have his easel in readiness. Then
with tender voice she called Napoleon to her,
and opening both arms she drew him down on
| her lap, and in this way she induced him to sit
| quietly few minutes and allow the painter the
sight of his face, thus enabling him to sketch the
| portrait.
At the end Of this peculiar sitting, Bonapsrte
smilingy promised that he would next day grant
| the painter a second one, provided Josephine
would again have the " extraordinary means
ready. She consented. and for four days in sue
cession LIE Gros was enabled to sit before him a
quarter of an hour and throw upon the canvas the
features of the general while he sat quietly OF
Josephine's lap.
The picture which lie eros thus painted, thanks
to the sweet rriSe of Josephine, and which was
scattered throughout Europe in copperplate
prints, Represented Bonaparte with uncovered
head, hslding standard in his hand, and will
face turned toward his soldiers, calling on then
to follow him as he dashed on the bridge of Ar
cola amid a shower of Austrian balls.
II is beautiful and imposing picture, and con
temporaries praise t for its likeness to the hero
but no one could believe that this pale, grav'
countensnce. these gloomy eyes and earnest lips
which seem incapable of smile, were those Of
Bonaparte as he sat on the lap of his beloved
Josephine when lie eros was painting it.
I. | o