The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-06-17
OBITUARY.

died in that city this morning at the age OF sxy-fve
years. When Jerome Bonaparte became acquainted
with Miss Patterson he was In command OF a French
frigate, which arrived at New York in 1903. His
lationship to the most prominent man OF the day
caused him to be much sought after and he
tertained with lavish hospitality by the best society
of all our principal cities. During visit to Balt-
more he became acquainted with Miss Elizabeth
Patterson the belle OF the city and the daughter Of
q wealthy merchant. Miss Patterson was nattered
by the attentions Of the handsome young French
man, and Jerome found difficulty in falling
in love with the beautiful American. Miss
Patterson doubtless thought herself the most
fortunate woman alive when Jerome pro-
posed matrimony, and Jerome, infatuated with
his present bliss, must have forgotten all about this
terrible brother in Paris, who already preparing
to assume the imperial purple, and who had other
prospects for his brothers and sisters than alliances
with republican citizens OF the United States who
could do nothing to advance his power and the in
terests of his family. The marriage ceremony
performed on the 14th of December, lsO3 by Bishop
Carroll, Of Baltimore, according to the rites Of the
Roman Catholic Church; and the marriage contract
which was drawn up with unusual care by the Hon.
A. j. Dallas, was witnessed by many Of the most
prominent citizens of Baltimore
A Washington correspondent OF the New York
World gives the following interesting particulars or
the courtshlp of Miss Patterson, as told by Old
schoolmate, which are interesting in this connec-
toni
"Am0ng the residents OF washington are some
charming old ladies who could I'LL column after
column with the social gossip OF other days. Ooe
OF these was schoolmate OF Madame Bonaparte,
and has much to say of Betsey Pattersons conquest
and the way in which it was accomplished. or the
brilliant beauty and remarkable conversational
powers Of this woman, whose history hat 30 much
OF tragic romance about It, her friend says too much
cannot he affirmed. She was justly entitled to all
the admiration she received, aud even now that ner
beauty is gone her intellect is perfectly clear,
her wit and readiness ia conversation have
lost little of the fire of her youth. Mary
friend few years ago, to think OF
woman Of my ambition being 50 crushed she
was, to some ladies, with a perfectly Innocent and
surely not wonderful pride in its lovelness, and
said, DO you see how pleased and happy look?
That was because all the time l was sitting the
artist was telling me how much h" admired me and
allow the picture to be copied, but she Indignantly
refused to do SO, saying it was for her grandson,
waiting of Jerome Bonaparte was done of malice
rrepense. She had heard of his arrival III Balt-
to visit her at her fathers country-seat few miles
from that city, on the York road the conversation
Se We n se n
Betsey, and meet Bonaparte.' Il snail come replied
the young lady, prepared for conquest on, to 60
Europev A few days afterwards she went to Balt-
more. 4 heard voices in the street. says the
friend, 'and looking out the window saw
Betsey coming on a jacSass.' In this way it
seems the beauty rode on to glory. The next
day there were races and Betsey attended them,
wearing white wig. 1t was the fashion III thos
days for ladies to wear wigs of every imaginaDie
color A belle might appear in the morning with
red hair, at noon with white, and at night with
brown, her own perhaps being black, as was the
with Miss Patterson's, which was OF a beauti-
full SHADE Of black-not the inky- black, yet the
blue-back Wearing her white wig and seated IN
the carriage with other ladies, she was introduced
by Commodore Barney to JerOfAe Bonaparte VINO
was at once struck with admiration OF the 'Grecian
beauty as she was called, while a rival belle VINO
afterwards married one of JerOmes suite General
RubeD, was known as the Roman beauty The
same day General Smith, the hero of Audfor,'
gave a dinner to the Frenchmen at which Miss Pat
tersOn appeared, wearing her own ha r. and COM
pleted her conquest on the spot. Jerome Cold her
she was so much more beautiful when adorned by
her natural tresses than she could possibly any
wig that she never again donned one of those
mOnStrOsities.
sIn the course of few days young Bonaparte
gave grand ball, and Miss Patterson was his part
chain, to which was attached a miniature likeness
OF himself, set in diamonds and the lady bore it OH
in triumph Thus the engagement was made Miss
Pattersons father, however, disapproved, and Sent
her away to what Is termed the wds OF Virginia.
Jerome's love penetrated even to that secluded
spot and he succeeded in having letters carried
her. When Mr.. Patterson discovered this, he made
further violent opposition but brought his daugh-
ter home, and in a short time the marriage took
place. When the young couple were ready to 20
TO Europe, Mr.. Patterson, who was merchant aud
ship-owner, fitted one of his own vessels to
vey his daughter regal style to that France which
she hoped to conquer by her beauty"
The great expectations OF the lady were doomed
to bitter disappointment. During the residence OF
Jerome In the United States Napoleon had been de-
clared Emperor OF the French, and on the arrival
OF the young couple on the other side OF the Atlantic
they found that an order from the Emperor had
closed all the ports OF France against the bride,
and that she was forbidden to set foot upon its
shores. Napoleon, who had other views
for his brother, not only disapprOved OF
his marriage, but he determined to totally
disregard it. He accordingly declared the
marriage TO be null and void, and arranged matr-
monial alliance between Jerome and Frederick
Caroline, the daughter OF the King OF Wurtemburg
Jerome had not the spirit or perhaps the disposition
to resist his brother, and he accordingly tamely
submitted, and his second marriage took place on
the 18th OF August 1907. The Church of Rome,
however, refused to recognize this disregard OF one
of its most important sacraments, and the Pope
Plus VIl-would not sanction the bigamy.
When Jerome and his wife found themselves eX-
cluded from France they landed at Lisbon, when
Jerome bade his wife farewell, and after directing
her to proceed 10 Amsterdam, hastened Paris with
the hope that he would be able to reconcile Napo-
leon to the match Madame Bonaparte went 60
Amsterdam on an American ship, but here also she
was by an order from the French Government pro-
hibited from landing, and she accordingly
went to England, where she TOOK up
her residence at Camberwell, London, To
await the decision OF her fate. Thereon the Tth of
July, 1905 was born the subject Of the present
sketch. Madame Patterson -Bonaparte lived in hOps
that her marriage would finally be recognized, and
that she would be permitted to rejon her husband
and figure at the Court OF the Emperor one OF
It's brightest ornaments. The second marriage OF
jerome, however, proved how unavailing her hopes
were, and in 1871 she returned TO Baltimore anu
took up her residence at her fathers house.
Her son received every educational advantage
and in 1926 he graduated at Harvard University
Afterwards q studied law hut peVer Fractisad IL