Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-02-24
Josephine.
BY Il. W. CHALMERS.

patllOs as the uiNOIce Oh lHt Enprtss
Josephine.
The Emperor, Napoleon l., (the Great
Emperor) weary of lncessant wars
thought If he could form a marriage
alliance with some one of the royal
families of Europe, he might put an
end to these conflicts and perpetuate
the order of things established in
France. For long time he dreaded
to speak upon the subject To Josephine,
who had become aware of her impend-
ing doom, and was overwhelmed with
grief. At lat this fatal hour came
wnen the emperor was to make the
dreaded announcement to the empress.
Ii was at the palace of Fontainbleau,
the last day of November, 1909. Dark
clouds Obscured the sky, and a freezing
wintry wind moaned through the
towers of the castle. The emperor
and empress dined alone. Neither had
the heart to speak a word. As the
attendants retired at the close of the
repast, at which il was said that neither
could eat a mouthful, the emperor,
pale and trembling, took the hand of
Josephine, and said:
MY own dear Josephine. Won know
how | have loved You. 1t is TO you
alone that | owe the few moments of
happiness | have known in the world.
Josephine, my destiny is stronger than
my will. Ny dearest affections must
WELD to the welfare of France"
The dreadful blow prOstrated the
empress, and she fell fainting to the
floor The Count de Beaumont was
called, and by the aid of the emperor,
Josephine was borne, apparently life
less, to her apartment.
Queen Hortense, her daughter, was
summoned, she said reproachfully TO
the emperor:
"3iy mother will descend from the
throne as she ascended it, in obedience
to your will. Her children content TO
renounce grandeurs which have not
made them happy, will gladly go and
devote their lives TO comforting the
best and the most affectionate OF
mothers"
The emperor sat down and wept
bitterly. Then raising his eyes, flooded
with tears, he said to Hortense, whom
he loved with paternal fOndness:
mo, not leave me, Hortense. Stay
by me with Eugene. Help to console
your mother, and render cain, resigned
and even happy in remaining my friend
while she ceases to be my wife.
Eugene (Josephine's SOM soon came
from Italy. He Immediately repaired
To his mothers apartment, and, clasping 9
her in his arms, they wept In mutual
anguish. He then entered the cabinet
of the emperor, and recoiled from the
cordial embrace with which the en-
perOr would have greeted him, said:
'Sire, permit me to withdraw from
your service"
what r. said the emperor, sadly and
with deep emotion, will you, my
adopted son, fOrsake me 7"
Yes, SIRE" Eugene firmly replied.
"The son of her who is no longer
empress cannot remain Niceroy of Italy.
| will follow my mother into her retreat.
She must now find her consolation in
her children"
The emperor was deeply moved.
Tears filled his eyes.
"Iou know said he, "the stern
necessity which compels this measure.
VIII you fOrsake mef Whom, then,
should | have for son, the object of
my desire and the preserver of my in
terests, who will watch over the child
when am ABSENT If | die, who will
prove to him father?'
I.
and. arm and arm, for long time they
walked up and down one of its avenues
engaged in earnest conversation. The
noble Josephine, with a mothers love,
could not forget the interest of her
faithful to the emperor.
"The emperor she said, 'is your
benefactor, Eugene; TO You more than
father. To him you are indebted for
everything. To him, therefore, you owe
boundless obedience"
A fortnight passed and the day arrived
for the consummation of this cruel sac
ritice. Ii was the 18th of December.
All the members of the Imperial family
were assembled in the grand saloon of
the Tuilleries. An extreme paleness
overspread the face OF the emperor. In
his brief address 10 the assembled dig
nitaries, he said:
The politica. interest of my mon
archy, and the wishes of my people,
require that | should transmit to an
heir, iuherlting nay love for the people,
the throne on which Providence has
placed me. 1t is this consideration
alone which induces me 10 sacrifice the
dearest affections of my heart, TO con-
to desire the dissolution of our mar
riage. God only knows how much such
a determination has cost nv heart
But there is no sacrifice too great for
my courage when it is proved to be for
the interest of France. Far from having
any course of complaint, havenOthing
to say but praise in the attachment and
tenderness of my beloved wife, She
hac hal ha1 4, Of, Il 81.
and the remembrances of them will be
forever engraved on my heart. Let
her never doubt my affection, or regard
me but as her dearest and best.friend."
Josephine then endeavored TO read
her consent to the divorce. But tears
blinded her eyes, and sObbings choked
her voice. Sinking into a chair and
handing the paper to Mr.. Reynaud, she
buried her face in her handkerchief,
and remained in that position while it
was being read aloud.
Napoleon then embraced Josephine,
and led her, almost fainting, to her
where he left her alone with
her children. The next day the Senate
met to sanction the divorce. The
careworp, wretched, pale as a
statue, leaned against pillar. A low
hum of mournful voices alone disturbed
the gloomy silence of the room. There
was a table in the center of the apart
ment, on which there was a writing
of gold. Josephine entered,
leaning upon the arm of Hortense. Her
face was as pale as the muslin dress
she wore. The daughter, not possessing
the fOrtitude of the mother, was sob
hing aloud, The whole assembly rose.
Tears blinded nearly all eyes. jose
phine sat down and leaning her pallid
forehead upon her hand, listened to the
reading of the act of separation.
Eugene and HOrtense stood by the side
If their mother, the daughter weeping
Josephine, as the reading was finished,
or a moment pressed her handkerchief
o her eyes, and then rising, in clear
,ut tremulous tones, pronounced the
'ath of acceptance. She then sat down
nd taking the pen signed the deed
Vhich sundered the dearest ties which
an be formed on earth.
Eugene fell falnting to the floor. His
nanimate form was borne out of the