Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-26
NapUleOn's Parents.

49,
The family of Bonapartes we're of
pure Italian race; there was not drop
OF French blood in any of them. Their
ancestors had come from the main land
in tho early history of Corsica, and
their names are found in the remote
annals of Ajaccio. Carlo Bonaparte
was poor gentleman of excellent
breeding and character, who married in
his youth a young and romantic girl
named Letizia Ramolino, who followed
him in his campaigns up to the momen
of the birth of Napoleon. 1t is impos-
sible to say how much the history Of
Europe owes to the high heart and in
domitable spirit Of this soldierly wo-
man. She never relinquished her au
thority in her family. When all her
children were princes and potentates,
she was still the severe, stern Madame
Mere. The beauty and grace of jose
phine Beauharnais never conquered
her; the sweet Tyrolese prettiness OF
Maria Louisa won from her only a sort
of contemptuous indulgence. When
her mighty son ruled the continent, she
was the only human being whose child
ings he regarded or endured. She was
faithful in her rebukes while the sun
shone, and when calamity came, her
undaunted spirit was still true and de-
voted to the fallen. Her provincial
habit of economy stood her in good
stead in her vigorous old age; she was
rich when the Empire had passed away,
and her grandchildren needed her aid.
1t must have been from her that Napo.
leon took his extraordinary character,
for Carlo Bonaparte, though brave
soldier and an ardent patriot in his
youth, was of an easy and genial tenn
per, inclined to take the world as he
found it, and not to insist too much on
having it 60 in his especial way. After
the cause of Corsican liberty was lost
by the success of the French arms, he
accepted the situation without regret,
and becoming intimate with the con-
querors, he placed as many Of his fami.
ly as possible on the French pension
list. His sons Napoleon and Louis
were given scholarships at Brienne and
at Autun, and his eldest daughter,
Elise, entered the royal Institution at
st. Cyr. While yet in the prime OF
life, he died of the same deadly disease
which was to finish Napoleon's days al
St. Helena; and the heroic mother, heI
responsibilities becoming still heavier
by this blow, lived for eight years
longer amid the confusion and civil
tumult which had become chronic in
Corsica; and then. after the capture OF
the island by the English in 1898, she
made her escape with her children tc
Marseilles, where she lived several
years in great penury.-Uarper's Mag
dzine.
A Book AND MAN Sold"
have an infirmity of the eyes," re-
marked q dismal man to O well-to-dc
Pawtucket citizen. "Won't you ex
anime this aud see if I have been cheat
ed?" The citizen thus accosted tool
tho article in his hands and inspected
it. It was book, bran new and with
uncut leaves. "Would you give So Sc
for such q book as that?" continued
the man with the defective eyesight
Certainly" replied the citizen. "Is
it full of plates and pictures ?" "It
is" replied the resident, unhesitating'
ly. lis the binding substantial Us
we'll as ornamental" Beautiful,
was the answer. "And you are quite
sure that you would give 81 so for sucl
a noble book as this?" continued the
inquirer. "In u minute" he replied
"Well, then, take it, replied the bool
agent. II have q hundred and fifty
more just like it in the express Office.
can change five. You will not b'
robbing me-" The citizen took tn,
book. car ried it to the falls, dropped i
into the seething caldron of whitening
water, entered his house by the bach
door and went softly to bed.
A fungus, similar to that which DIR
Salisbury first noticed in the blood o
persons suffering from malaria, is nov
announced as constantly present in tn,
blood of consumptives, and therefore ii
suspected as being the cause of thi.
dreadful malady.