New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-04-05
MIDIuL PJTTERSON-BON

M-IOIA l. r. iIIL' 81 " i)D.'-if IN r.
The death Of the Baltimore beauty who
married the brother OF Napoleon l., and who
was the victim of that Emper0rs remorselcss
and harl-hcarted sefshness, will revive many
historical rccOlections, and occasion the
repetition Of romantic story which has often
been told before The venerable lady, whose
numerous troubles are over now, was In many
respects a remarkable character In her
Youth and middle-age she was extremely
beautiful, but her beauty was by no means
her only attraction. She was born to shine
in society, and if its gates had not been
closed against her she would have been
one of the most brilliant ornaments o. the
Imperial Court. She had a shrewd Scotch
tongue, which did no discredit to her anccs-
try, and whoever entered into a combat of
wit with her was pretty sure TO he worsted.
She had really 50 much strength or character
that il is surprising to find her in the great
game Of her lie playing for such heavy
stakes with so small a chance of ultimately
winning. The glamour winch surrounded the
Emperor Napoleon. and which deludcd so
many stronger heads than hers preserved its
attractions for her TO the last Ii her admigl-
ton Tor hcr husband became somewhat qualified,
the fall of her Imperial idol did NOT in the least
mitigate her reverence. 70 her. Napoleon was
still god-likc, if not god and Notwithstanding
The misery and modification which it had
brought her, she still regarded her
short-iiyed and almost accidental con-
necuon with the Bonaparte family as the
crownng glory Of her hfe--as something 70
bo proud oil and glad of, rs cleyatng her
above the most aris,Ocratic OF her country
women and "a giving her il niche, however
small one, III the temple of history. II
must he admitted that it is hers. The
story of great period can hardly be
written without mentioning her iil-stdrred
nuptials. Her pdrt, if not principal, was not an
insignificant one. SIZE had awakened stormy
anger in the breast Of one who for time
controlled or seemed to control, the
destinies Of the world. She had ccca-
stoned an important correspondence be-
tween tho Tuiicries and Che Vatican; and
she had actually driven the conqueror and his
ministers into acts Of mslnHess sufficient TO
sally the most splendid record. BY tho law
OF equity and OF tho Church size WAS
a queen; and that vas an honor which
no DEGREES Of state could take from
her. She could afford to sheer ut those
who did her wrong. She was royal
in spite of them. 1t is true that this was not
precisely the prize for which she played; but
Il weaker woman might have met with fate
altogether ignominI0u3. She was welded
wife, and she might have been a mistress.
She was respectable, aud sue might have
been infamous. Shc Was rich, and she might
have been an outcaSt and i pauper
strange and varied must have been the
memories Of Madame Bouaparte in the some
what squalid seclubiou in which her latest
years were passed. Hers had been a life such
rs falls tO the LOT of very few women. IL was
historic; II was romance it was n com
cdy; and nothing bu, her sterling good
SENSE prevented 1t from being tragedy.
She had been admitted to the highest
European society; she had carried on negotia-
tons with the greatest man of has time; she
had won the approval of Talleyraud, from
whose shrivclled lips she had extortcd nm
usual compliments; she had, above all. been
admired for her own sake, aud had forced
the most fastidiOus 10 confoss, that if she
failed to reach throne no woman would
have better become il. She never lost her
quasi connection with the French Court; her
son and her grandson were at least the de-
scendants OF jerome. IL the Emperor
Napoleon would not recognize her M q
sister. he did not refuse her thepo0r consoa
ton OF pension. She was sufficiently of Lis
family for that.
Wise men long ago ceased to prophesy
concerning tho ultimate fortunes of tho Be-