Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-04-23
MADAME BONAPARTE.
story of Real Life that Reads Like
Romance.

Almost every one is in some measure
familiar with the main details of Eliza
bqth Patterson's marriage to the brother
If the great Napoleon, and the promi-
9ent facts of her subsequent career;
but there ale many facts touching her
He as girl and woman that do not APP
near in the biographies. She first met
ant Jerome Bonapartc at the Bdltl
more races in the autumn of 1898. He
1ad left his ship, which was returning
rom cruise il the West Indies, and
was on brief visit to Capt. Barney, of
Baltimore. 1t is said that Miss Patter-
son, the most beautiful and attractive
woman of her time in Baltimore, ex-
pressed a wish to go to the races,
NTH the hope of meeting the young
officer there. The old merchant,
PRACTICAL, plodding man Of business,
ade her put such nonsense out of her
cad. He would not allow his daughter,
1e said, ito run after foreign upstairs"
But Miss Patterson appears to have had
will of her own then, as she certainly
lad in later years, and went out to the
nee course IN spite of her fathers OPP
,Sition. Mr.. Patterson was at that
inc living at his country seat near
Atimore-now embraced within the
Mits of the city--and spent the day at
Is business in town, returning at night.
His daughter took advantage Of this,
Mounted one of the horses on the day
@ for the races, and, accompanied by
Der Younger brother, galloped out to the
melting.
Jerome Bonaparte was already on
he grounds. surrounded by many dis
mgushed Americans and bevy of
autiful women from Washington,
Kew York, and Baltimore. When Miss
gaerson rode up his attention was at
Meattracted to her, and as she dis
n@.ed, he asked one of the gentle-
hen near for an introduction. The
conquest begun by her beauty, was
bon completed by her wit. He seemed
Move with her from the first, and with.
nayery short time asked her hand in
marriage.
Mr., Patterson belonged to that shrewd
Scotch Irish race, which has acted SO
0lSplcuous n part in the commerce of
a3 and other countries. He was not
ii2Ied by the prospect of his daughter
marrying a,frst consui's brother-especi-
by a. the young man was minor, en-
leIy dependent upon the brother who
adrelently shown his displeasure to-
yard LuClen for marrying the widow OF
merchant, when it was desired that he
l00id marry German princess. Mr..
fItDrsg,, IL, l,t IA a !, tar III
nagreatrisk in marrying a Frenchman
Nhout the consent of his mother, and
ln0ut the consent of the government,
nose officer he was. So he opposed
match vigorously from the first.
ut spite OF her fathers entreaties
nd circumstances, Miss Patterson de-
''Mmed to marry. saying she woulo
l0er be the wife OF Jerome Bonaparte
one hour than the wife of any other
I'm for life" Finding all his efforts to
'e'ent the marriage useless, Mr.. Pat
y'on at length gave reluctant con-
ent
Inc marriage was celebrated on
-fS,mas eve, 1903, by the Right Rev.
Ah arroll, Bishop of Baltimore, who
aderward the first Archbishop of
nay see, and Primate of the Catholic
"uIch IN the United States. A gen
sl'an who was present on the occasion
1u. All the clothes worn by the bride
s"l nave been put in my pocket.
az dress was of muslin, richly en-
ouered, of extremely fine texture.
sueath her dress she wore but single
Nment."
mat followed is a matter OF history.
Jung Mr., Robert Patterson, a brother
'e oride, and then in Europe, visited
+. robert Livingstone, American
.a'er to France, and through him
me First Consul and other mem
n ~ Jerome's family, but apparent
r..nout at all reconciling them to the
.,.'"Ee. Nine. Letitia Bonaparte,
..le mother entered a legal pro-
"s"lnst the marriage, and Napoleon
luhicated to NJ. Pichon, Consul
no. - OF France, at New York, an
~, ~ 'nsructlng him to withhold Je-
,m.s supplies, and prohibiting the
.''udefs OF French vessels from re-
s OF board "the young person to
n .. +; i'e has attached himself" Jerome
,r. .'> Wiie, after various attempts to
Is .s passage on other vessels, at last
as ID one Of Mr.. Pattersons own,
~. ~, ~ LOT lisbon. OFF the port they
'"e' by French man.of-war,
m e'4mauder forbade Nine. Bone
~. y and, but put no obstacle in
" jerome's doing so. Jerome
20 ashore, with the hone