The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-05-04
The Woman who Welded the Brother
Of the First Napoleon.

baltimore Correspondence of the Washington
Chronicie.]
Nine. Bonaparte, the sister-in-law of
the First Napoleon and widow of jerome
Bonaparte, is still living in Baltimore at
a very advanced age. A little less than
a century ago her father, Mr.. Patterson,
was wealthy and distinguished citizen
here, and about seventy-five years ago
his daughter, the subject of this sketch,
gay, brilliant, imperious, and noted
beauty, made ready conquest OF the
heart and hand of the French Emperors
brother, Jerome, who was then sojourn-
ing here. With high hope and the
boldest ambition, the young bride set
sail for France with her royal consort in
a ship presented by her father. But the .
American bride was promptly disowned
by the Emperor. On reaching French
waters they were met by a ship COM
manded by French naval officer, who
presented a royal order to jerome to
report at once to the Emperor, sunaccom-
panied by his companion, the young
American lady, who was not to be recog-
nized as 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 Mime. Bonapsrte,
fearing to place herself within the power
of Napoleon, commanded the captain of
her vessel to sail for England, which or
der was executed by successful ruse,
and she made good her escape. $50,
sir," said the Emperor coldly on meet
ing his brother, "you have presumed to
dishonor your blood by an alliance with
backwoods milk-maid. You must at
once consent to honor my com
mands, OF be forever disowned.p The
desertion of his wife by jerome and his
subsequent royal alliance at his brothers
command are we'll known. Subsequently
the Emperor somewhat relented, and for
time Nine. Bonaparte received an al
lowance from him Of SIC, 900 per annum,
which she has by judicious investment
so multiplied thatshe is now worth some
thing over 81, ,000, 900. But the Emperor
would never consent to meet her and
she has never seen him. Notwithstand-
ing his ungracious treatment she has ever
been an ardent admirer of his character.
She considers him the greatest man the
world has ever seen and his name the
most honorable; and for this reason and
no other she has never relinquished it.
To-day she is Nine. Bonaparte and her
marriage has always been sustained by
the Catholic Church. She hsd one child,
son, now deceased, but she has two
grandsons still living. The elder, who
was the pride of her old age, and no
whom she had set great hopes, was gall
liant and spirited fellow and an officer in
the French army. The madame supplied
him abundantly with money to entertain
as became one Of his blood. Although
the French authorities would not permit
him to bear his rightful name of Bona
parte her patron had set her hopes on
his forming noble alliance. But when
the young officer married against her
wishes she transferred her favor to his
younger brother, who is to-day a modest
yet honored member Of the Baltimore
legal fraternity.
But to return: am unable to trace
the course of Nine, Bonaparte chrome
logically, though / have heard it from her
own lips. She has spent altogether
about twenty years at the various capi-
tails of Europe, though her principal re-
sort has been Geneva, and she has ming
led freely with the best society of the
Old World. She is something more
than the result of rare opportunities for
culture and social intercourse. On meet
| ing her one becomes instantly conscious
| that he is in the presence of superior
intelligence and royal soul. But she is
fbo IN, ,afuofu She ooar1 :