The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-14

In February of the year 1896, Bona
parte had been named Gencral-in-Chi
to the armies of Italy but despite this
appointment he was still but a strug-
Cling soldier of fortune, already cele-
brated for deeds of yalor, but with u
very uncertain future before him. Tho
sections Of Paris were disarmed after
the 18th of Vendemiaire, 1895, and then
il was that he first became acquainted
with the woman who was destined 10 ex-
ercise the most extraordinary influence,
not only over his own life, but over the
dynasty in the future founded in MS
name. But here let him speak for him
self "a youth one day presented him
self TO me and entreated that the sword
of his father (who had been General Of
the Republic) should be returned. was
so touched by this ailectionato request
that / ordered IL 10 be given 10 him.
This boy was Eugene de Bcauharnais.
| On seeing the sword he burst into tears.
! i felt so much affected 10y his conduct
| that i noticed and praised him much.
| A few days afterward the mother came
and returned a visit of thanks. / was
much struck with her appearance, and
still more with her esprit.
So speaks Bonaparte upon this much
I
TO Josephine de Beauharnais. From
the time of that introduction he became
a frequent guest at the Rue de Chante-
RENE and no evenings were 80 agreeable
to him as those he spent there. The Sc
ductive grace of Josephine had special
charm for him. In society he was still
shy himself in the camp he was brave,
but he had never been trained TO courtly
manners as she had been-( here let 1t
be said that the Nicomtosse de Beauhar-
nais had been welcome guest within
the circle of Queen Marie Antoinette)-
and while the natural abandon Of her
manners, the splendur Of her raven
tresses, reminded him Of his own south
ern countrywomen, the refinement Of
her conversation was something new To
him, the traces of sorrow visible in her
expressive though not strictly hand
some face, evoked his chivalrous SYM
pathy, and the exquisite heNifility Of
her Creole movements appealed 10 his
heart ms IA man. Bonaparte loved Jose
phine de Beauharnais. Previously he
had entertained the idea of a marriage
between himself and Mademoisello
Clary, sister -in-law Of his brother Jo-
seph but that idea had ceased 10 be,
and henceforth his one desire was 10
unite himself 10 the widow of the Vi
comte de Beauharnais. She was then
at least thirty-three years Of age, and
he was considerably younger; but she
did not look as old ms he did, for his
prematurely grave though handsome
face was impressive, and hers was full OF
vivacity. He was a brave man, but 10
required some courage on his part to
ask her TO wed him. At first she hesi-
tated, but he was not easily daunted
and upon the 9th day of March, 1876,
Bonaparte and Josephine were married,
her son and daughter being present
upon the occasion, as also Barras, Tai
lien, and other political celebrities of
the time, who signed the civil contract,
then the only legal code of matrimOny
in France. In debating this contract
Bonaparte had purposely taken nc least
four years from the age of Josephine,
and added more than one 10 his own
believing perhaps in the French proverb
that cone is always Of the age one
seems to be-" Josephine was touched
by this polite, if not "pious fraud, "and
quietly walked home with her husband,
who, as her solicitor warned her, pos
sessed nothing but "his cloak and his
sword TO offer her" Never did Jose
phine seem further from the realization
of the double prediction made Of her
first 10y the negress fortune-teller, and
since 10y Cagiiostro) that she would bo
more than Queen" than on this, her
second wedding-day. The future Of
Bonaparte was quite uncertain-but his
love for her was 80 ardent, that when he
had TO part with her, twelve days after
their marriage, TO take the command IN
Italy, it was with regret which not
even his hope Of glory-his desire 10
place his laurels mt her fcet-could sub
"WUshriOw Women Of
France" by Mrs. GdHirC.