Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-08-06

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Consul Bonaparte was thus transformed
TO "the high and mighty monarch, Ma
poleon the First, by the grace of God,
and the will of the Revelation, Emperor
OF the French" Then turning TO his
consort he crowned her Empress. The
twill OF the Revolution" (to say naught
OF the grace OF God) had verified the jab-
bering OF gypsy.
Very briefly may the rest be told. The
Emperor. welding the manhood of o ne
/ ton that adored him, continued to wage
his stupendous wars against the ruling
powers of Europe. His consort held inn
pelial state in Paris. Five years after
the coronation Napoleon returned from
one of his great campaigns. II had made
him EurOpe's master. Tho idol OF France
and the vanquisber OF continent, he
saw every banner go down before his
eagle, and his mind was warmed with
visIons-of realm embracing Europe
of an Eastern empire stretching from
Egypt to Japsu-of Paris as the capital
OF the world. His sovereignty was mag
niticent, his triumphs were complete, tho
promise OF bis future was sublime.
Should sll his liie's achieyTnents die
With him. That was the burning ques-
ton. There bad not beon any issue OF
his union with Josephine. The Empire
must have an heir How, thenP An
other marris Ie? Napoleon made up his
mind lhst il should be so. Returning
home cUIquerDr in 1909, the glory Of
his people and lho Terror oil bis foes, he
abruptly told The Empress that their mar
rage should be- sunulled. The anguish
OF that moment 10 he heart OF Josephine
vas penalty TOO cruel TO ne wrung
rom her by fate IN return Tor "a flying
g.eam Of sp!endor. Her beauty and her
youth were gone. The disparity of age
between them seemed more striking than
ever now, for woman OF forty-Six is
rapidly growing old, and man. SOL
dior OF forty, has not Jet worn out the
prime OF life. Well, the stricken woman
knew that no hope was lett her but in
the pity or conscience of her husband.
She implored bim with tears aud sobs 10
spare her. AS well might she nave pray
ed 20 stone. 10 that black hour OF woo
what balm was there for her in the care
Napoleon had tsksn OF her son and
daughter. tho children OF mo brave de
Beauharnais? The daughter, Hortense.
as wife OF Louis Bonapsrte and Queen ot
Holland, WAS bound up with the family
10 whom Napoleon's will was Law. That
sou, Eugene, viceroy of Italy, and ser
want, heart sLd soul, TO Napoleon. was
the man who. IN the Senate of France,
spoke in favor Of diVorcing his mother,
on tho ground thai "the Emperor's will
must be obeyed." Hopeless aud help
less, the rejected wife gave way. Pope
Plus the Seventh refused to give bis
sanction, but subservient senate passed
statute of divorce; the Empress. leav-
ing court and capital far behind. took
refuge in close retirement until her
death and Napoleon, finding difference
OF religious belief an obstacle 10 Res
sian alliance, found bride of nineteen
in Maria Louisa, the daughter of the EN-.
peror OF Austria
The coveted heir was born, and styled
King OF Rome at his birth, but before he
had left the nursery kingdom and en-
pire were both lost TO him; nor was it
long till Josephine. in her seclusion at
Malmaison. heard the echo Of that cry of
many conflicting passions which rose to
heaven from Europe when Napoleon
died, prisoner on an ocean rock. She
quickly attended him 10 the grave
Scarce more than girl yet. Maria
Louisa became the wife Of her own Lord
Chamberlain. and the king of Rome"-
poor boy-died OF mans excesses ere he
had reached to msnhood's years. En-
peror's plans and kings are born bat the
plans of emperors and the lives OF kings
are subject to o will beyond.