The New York herald., 1879-07-06

received nothing but unkindness from her. and who
her for the first time. declared her to be
the most lovely creature she had ever behed.
Again visiting Europe she returned to America in
1s4o Nine Bonaparte was in the habit of spending
her summers at Rockaway Beach. and sometimes.
but rarely the Virginia Springs. Although she did
not participate in the gayety of the ball room. she
always gathered a crowd around her by her sharp
wit and clever satire. 1t is universally admitted
that her conversational powers of the highest
order. that her great huency of language and her
large fund of anecdotes made her most entertain
ing companion.
After she was sixty years old Nine. Bonaparte
made another visit to Europe. and then returned to
America where the last eighteen years of her life
were passed in a quiet boarding house In Baltimore.
Her time was employed in recalling the brilliant
events Of her European and in obtaining safe
investments for tho savings of her large income
Her fortune amounted to Sl.50O.OOO. which yielded
her an income of nearly 100000 per anAur. out Of
which she spent something like $4,000 year.
The greater part of her money she accumulated
during the last thirty years of her life by saving
In her old age she often said d:-"Once had every
thing but money; now have nothing but money"
Even when she had reached the advanced age Of
ninety years." says Mr. Dider NINE. Bonaparte
was in the habit Of visiting the parts OF the
with brokers and managing all her affairs with great
shrewdness. She invested her money In various
ways, because. she said. 1t was not wise to put all
your eggs in one basket" Her biographer con-
tinues:-
Parsimonious to all others she was very liberal to
her grandsons. During the time that her grandson
Jerome in the French army she gave him very
large sums, saying 'she wished him to appear in
manner beftting his birth, the grandson of
king" On the 18th of June 1870 her son died
10 ie tyyos oirflv She
bought out Jerome's share and presented it to his
younger brother. In the last few years OF her life
she was accustomed to give ut Christmas present
of 500 each to two or three fayorite relatives.
She was very regular in her habits of life, retiring
dence i'll Baltimore. OF course, while living in
Europe. attending nightly balls and parties. she
compelled to keep late hours, but she never lost
sleep at night without making it up during the day.
Contemporary testimony to her beauty Is unani-
nous AS some one said Of her:-"she charms by
her eyes and Stays with her tongue" But If her
wittcisms inspired fear, her gay and child
like laughter took away their sting. She was very
vain OF her personal charms and once asked q lady
who had recently returned from Europe If .she had
not heard of her beauty on the Continent" She
in the habit of standing before portrait and
viewing with complacency the woundrous beauty
which had led captive the heart of Jerome Bona
parte.
Mme Ronaparte was morbidly sensitive about her
age. One summer ut the White Sulphur Springs she
enjoyed the society Of a Baltimore gentleman very
&C., until day he committed the fatal mistake of
asking the Madame's age. She never spoke to him
was annoyed by the familiarity of Mrs. -, of
Baltimore. One day, while seated ut dinner next to
very glad to meet you hear you very
beautiful. How old are You now?" To which Nine.
Bonaparte curtly repled:-"Nine hundred and
ninety years, ninety mine day. and nine minutes"
Notwithstanding the quiet life she led in Balti-
more Nine. Bonaparte continued to enjoy the visits
OF her friends up to the very last. She conversed
freely often with vivacity and frequently with bit
terness She had very little confidence in men, but
did not withhold her admiration from her own sex,
N lar ard Vxh ich
very seldom.
In conversation on the subject Of religion
with the late Mrs. John Eager Howard. of Balt-
more, Nine. Bonaparte said If she adopted
any religion it would be the Catholic. because
royal religion" Her niece, s who was present
exclaimed :-"Oh! aunt. how can you say such a
s sye
reason would not is that should not like to give
up the stool my ancestors had sat upon"
carpet bag containing valuables Nine. Bona
parties constant companion. II she was called to the
paror to visitor she took it with her and hung
this carpet bag was taken. and more occasions
than one young gentlemen who wished
been annoyed and embarrassed by being
obliged to carry this thoroughly old.fashioned
companion. In one of her earlier trips to Europe
she carried in her own hands a small trunk contain
ing her jewels. During the journey to Philadelphia
she was introduced to young gentleman of Balt-
handed HIM the trunk. saying. Young man. take
this; 1t contains my jewels" and. taking his
arlns suc Saiu, II Will nolu on 10 you, winch she
dd until safely settled in carriage with her
treasures. Her room was piled with trunks, and up
to the time of her last illness she in tho habit
of looking over her ancient pery Each article had
its history; this was her husbands wedding coat;
this dress was given her by the Princess Borghese;
this one had been Mt the court Of Tuscany;
this she wore at the Pitt Palace the day she
met her husband; this she wore when presented to
Mme Mere, &c.
During the last two years of Mme Bonaparte's
life her digestive powers failed and she lived almost
exclusively upon brandy and milk. She went down
stairs for the last time on Christmas Day, 1885, but
taken i'll five days afterward. Her ply yscian
knew this would be her last illness. for she did not
manifest any desire TO leave her bed, she had al
ways done in previous ndispostions. She said that
she had disease which medicine could not cure
old age; and on some ones remarking in her pres
ence that nothing certain DEATH she lacon
ically replied. Except taxes"
And thus ends the story OF one of the most beau
tifu of the ceverest. one Of the ambitious
and certainly one of the most unfortunate women
OF modern times. The life Of Nine. Bonaparte be-
longs to history well as to romance and must be
told along with that of the great Napoleon.
CANON O'HAGAN'S TECTTrpE