The Newtown bee., 1879-08-13
The Head of the Bonanartes.


 There are eight men and boys now living who bear the name of Bonaparte, namely, three nephews and five grand nephews of the First Napoleon. They are: Prince Jerome Napoleon, son of Jerome, fourth brother of Napoleon l., and his two sons, the Princes Victor and Louis; then the descendants of Prince Charles, son of Lucien Bonaparte, second brother of the g eat Emperor. This Prince Charles sons are Prince Lucien Bonaparte; the Cardinal Prince Napo- leon Charles, ex-president of the Con seil-General of Corsica; Prince Louis Lucien, formerly senator. and long a resident of London; and lastly Prince Pierre, whose son, Prince Roland Bona parte, Is studying at the military school of St. Cyr
 The interest with which Prince Jerome Napoleon is now regarded as the head of the Bonaparte family, and the chief of the imperialist party, amply justifes any details that may be given respecting him. A larger man than either the first Napo- leon or his father, Prince Jerome re- sembles the latter more than the former, though in his earlier years his likeness to the great Emperor was simply extra ordinary. His-expression is placid and often extremely agreeable, but now and then the fire of the Corsican burns i'll his eye and his finely chiseled mouth adds to the intensity of his look The prince is hfty-seVen years of age, not yet gray, though somewhat bald. His head. says lgnotus, is a superb one, worthy alike of the prince and the thinker, and second only in what the enthusiastic reactionary writer calls aristocratic beauty to that of the Compte de Chambord. At home he usually walks to and fro while con- yersing, smoking cigarettes, and keeping one or both hands in his pockets. Sud- denly he stops before the visitor; his language becomes animated, and even vehement, while his words teem with color and picturesqueness. He never laughs, but onl y smiles. The prince has wonderful collection of anecdotes at his disposal. In the street Prince Jerome may be recognized by his broad brimmed hat; mincing along, he will suddenly quicken his steps when he is deep in thought. He rides every morn ing, being accompanied on Thursdays by his two sons. Although a fair horse man, he does not shine particularly in the saddle. Now for the two sons, the Princes Victor and Louis. The former is tall and looks more than his age, seventeen. The upper part of is face is that of Napoleon, the lower reminds one ofthe Hapsburg type. Quiet, intelligent and reserved is this Prince Victor PrinceSLouis is thirteen, and, unlike his brother, small for his age. He is pale, and as yet resembles none of the mem- bers of the royal and imperial families from which he is descended. His hair is very black and he is lively and intelli- gent. He is full of fun, but hardly a prodigy at school. Such is the family which has just been raised out of semi obscurity to that fierce light which beats upon a throne.
 The theory was propounded a short time ago, says a London paper. that Prince Jerome Napoleon's familiar nick name "Plon-Plon'' took its origin from his heroic behavior in the Crimea, where he ''smelt lead" with such frequency and relish that the officers of his division bestowed upon him the descriptive sobriquet of Plomb-Plomb. 4 core spondent, however, pronounces this de- rivation of the nickname to be incorrect, stating that he had himself learned from the lips of the late Minister of State, von saddled his imperial highness for life with so quaint a sobriquet. Prince J Jerome resided during his early child hood in the royal castle at Stuttgardt. It will be remembered that he was at one time subject of Nuremberg and that his first military service was per formed in the army of that State. The late King William of Wurtemberg was very fond of the little prince, and ire quently played with him in the royal | gardens The first time that he asked young Jerome "what his name was," the latter, who could not speak distinctly, replied, Plon-Plon," instead of Napo- leon" King William subsequently, spoke l to and of him by this pet name It was eventually adopted by the court and by Wurtemberg society in general and has stuck to him ever since. The sobriquet of Plon-Plon, therefore, was l hnetorrod tho ',,,i"no hu himself anC