The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-12
Death Of 4 Remarkable Lady.


The death of Madam Elizabeth Palter
sou Bonaparte, which occurred in Bali
more on Friday, the 4th inst. lends addi
tional interest to the sketch Of her remark
able career and intermarriage with Jerom,
Bonaparte, brother Of the great scourg,
Of France and Of all Europe, Napoleon
The sketch is published on the first page
Of this issue. The history of this lady
will serve to point moral as well as tc
adorn tale, and teach an invaluable lesson
to American girls generally, if they would
but heed it. But unfortunately such les.
sons are too often thrown away As q
rule the heads Of American girls are too
easily turned by every foreigner of any
distinction they may happen to meet,
Such was the case with Miss Patterson.
A giddy girl Of eighteen, in fortune and
social position far above her French sutton,
she nevertheless determined to marry him
against her fathers wishes, who was bit
terly opposed to the match. Napoleon
Bonaparte, brother Of her husband, was at
that time First Consul of France, and al
though he had not then achieved the full
measure of his distinction, he was ambi-
tious and busily occupied with plans for
the future ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of himself and
family. When Jerome took his young
American bride to France Napoleon for
babe her to land. She subsequently, went
to England where her first and only son was
born. Her fault had been romantic
marriage, tainted with ambition, an un.
LIBERALIZATION of herself coupled with an
generalization of her alliance with the
family Of the ambitious Corsican. Here
is the common error Of American girls
their decided weakness for foreigners of
distinction, and often of pretension with
out distinction. The American lady of
culture is the peer Of any on earth, esPc-
cially if possessed Of the adjuncts Of beauty
and fortune and a proper selfappreciation.
Royalty itself could add nothing il the
way of elevation to the status of such, for
though Boosting of ancient lineage and
royal blood, that blood may have 'erept
through seoundrels for a thousand years -
Napoleon, however, was of no royal line;
he was parvenu, with no superior excel
lenee save that Of skill at arms, and be-
came the bloody butcher of his race. He
was ambitious Of royal alliances, both for
himself and family, to strengthen his pc
sition after he had usurped the govern
mcnt of France, and Mrs. Patterson Bona
parte was ambitious to have her name
linked with that of the Corsican tiger,
even after he had spurned her and caused
her unworthy husband to desert her. The
only redeeming feature We can see in her
career at all, is in the fact that she came
to despisc her husband aud spurn his offers
of money after he had basely deserted her.
She had spirit enough to obtain divorce
aud to discard her husbands name. But
policy in part dictated her course 10 this
respect, for she had fortune, and after the
downfall Of Napoleon, which she must
have anticipated, it was possible that her
husband might return to the United States
and lay claim to her property. She was
ambitions, supercilious, cynical, and eco
nomical. She amassed fortune of ST.
100000, which she has left to her two
grandsons, one Of whom is member Of
the Baltimore bar The sketch Of her
career above alluded to, will be read with
much interest