Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1876-04-08
The Sister.in.Lnw OF Napoleon
Bonapnrte.

Madame Bonaparte, INC s'sV'
of the First Napoleon aud widow OF
Jerome Bonaparte, is still living in Bal
,imore at very advanced age. \ III
tie less than century ago her father,
Mr. Patterson, was wealthy and dis
tinguished citizen here, and about sev.
enty.tive years ago his daughter, the
subject of this sketch, gay, brilliant, I'M
perious, and noted beauty, made
ready conquest Of the heart and hand
of the French Emperor's brother, Je-
rome. who was then sojourning here.
With high hope aud the boldest am
bition, the young bride set sail for
France with her Royal couso:t in ship
presented 10y her father. But the Amer
lean bride was promptly disowned by
the Emperor. On reaching French
waters they were met by a ship COM
manded by French naval officer, wlo
presented rOyal order to Jerome TO re-
port at once to the Emperor, unaccom
panied by his companion, the young
American lady, who was not TO he rec
ognized rs his wife. Jerome, fearing
to disobey, took leave of his wife and
boarded the French ship. The captain
OF the American vessel was then COM
manded TO follow. But Madame Bona
parte, teariug to place herself within the
power of Napoleon, commanded the CAP
tain of her vessel to sail for England,
which order was executed 10y = success
fui ruse, aud she made good her escape.
80. sir" said the Emperor colJly on
meeting his brother, lyon have presnm-
ed to dishouor your blood by an alli-
ance with backwoods milkmaid. You
must at once consent 10 honor my com
mands. or he forever disowned. The
d.scrtiou OF his wife by Jerome, and his
subsequent royal alliance AT his broth
er's command are well known. Subsr
quently the Emperor somewhat relen'ed
and for a time Madame Bonapartc r.
ceiyrd an allowance from him of ten
thousand dollars per annum, which she
has by judicious investment so multi
plied that she is now worth something
over a million. But the Emperor would
never consent TO meet her and she has
never seen him. Notwithstanding his
unoraciuus treatment she has ever been
an ardent admirer OF his character. She
considers him the greatest man tho
world has ever seen aud his naine the
most honorable; and for this reason and
no other she has never relinqnished II.
Today she is Madame Bonaparte and
her marriage has always been sustained
by the Catholic Church.
She had one child, son, now deceas-
cd, but she has two grandsons still liv.
lug. The elder who was the pride ot
her old age aad on whom she had set
great hopes, was gallant aud spirited
fellow, aud an officer in the French
army. The Madame supplied him ahun.
dainty with money TO entertain as be,
came one OF his blood. Although the
French authorities would not permit
him to bear his rlghtful name OF Bona.
parte, his patron had set her hopes OIL
his forming noble alliance. But when
the young officer married against her
wishes, she transferred her favor to his
younger brother, who is 10 day mod.
est yet hoaored member Of the Balli-
more legal fraternity.
But to return am unable 10 trace
the course of Madame Bonaparte chro-
nologicaly. though have heard it from,
her own lips. She has spent altogether
about twenty years at the various Cap-
tolls of Europe, though her principal re.
sort has been Geneva and she has min.
gled freely with the best society of the
old world. She is something more than
the result Of rare opportunities for cul.
turc and social intercourse. On meet.
Ing her, one becomes instantly conscious
that he is in the presence Of n superior
intelligence aud n royal soul. But she
is very old-mOro than ninety. She
seems like the spirit Of past aye raised
from the graves OF the Napolcons and
Wellingtons, and Byrous, 10 utter over
again the sayings OF the wits and stars
OF that early period. She is still witty,
epigrammatic, full Of incidents and me-
moirs, and of the "ise sayings Of the no.
table persons whom she has known. II
time and space would permit, / should
like 10 report some Of the incidents con.
cerning NOltaire, Lamartinc, Guccuiioli
and a score OF others, whicn she rcmem-
bers as if they occurred yesterday. Ma.
dame DE Stael she refused 10 meet, and
when | expressed surprise, she raid
20, De Stael was accustomed 10 pro.
nounce judgment on every one she met,
and there was nc appeal from her de-
cision. II a person, newly introduced,
did not strike De Stael's fancy, or ia
vent some remarkable witticism out oil
hand, her death sentence was instantly
pronounced" Madame Bonaparte lives
III very modest and retired manner,
and occupies herself chiefly in reading
her fayorite authors aud ia writing .
Journal and autobiography which are
not to be published until after her death.
She is disIncliued 10 converse on relig.
ious matters but says that her religious
opinions are fully expressed in her wri.
tinga However, one may infer from
her high appreciation Of voltsire's works
that her religious views are not unlike
bis.
Mr. George H. Brooks, Of Hancock,
has invented and had patented Q CON
trivance for steam canal boats, by which
the propeller is raised and lowered q
the boat is loaded or unloaded.