River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-09-11
The Life and Letters of Elizabeth
Patterson BOnaparte.

Patterson BOnaparte.
These letters, with their slight thread
of biographical story, have already made
a good deal of noise in the world. They
present to the reader picture of most
unloveiy character through chequered
career 1t is impossible to imagine any
thing more repuisive than the conduct OF
the BonaLarte family toward this unfor-
tunate American woman, unless 1t be hen
snobbish and silly adherence, in spite OF
it all, to them and their congeners on the
other side of the Atlantic. The reader
laughs alternately at the wit, the worldly
wisdom, the deceit, and the folly Of the
heroine of this short tale of long life.
Elizabeth Patterson was born in 1885
and lived until 1879, more than ninety
four v airs. Her father seems to have
been wise and good man, Il worthy ia
Their of other children who were comfort
to him, which such daughter as Eliza
beth never could be. He partially disin-
herited her IN his Will, with some severe
rcmarks on har unduutul behaviour. He
died IN 1885. ale was the last gentle
man in Baltimore who wore small clothes
ana a cue" Elizabeth at 10 years old
could repeat by heart her favorite books,
Young's might Thoughts and Roche
toucauld's ''maxims." At Is she was the
most beautiful woman in Baltimore, Il
city ALWAYS famous FORTS beautiful WOm-
en-. In 1903 Jerome Bonaparte-yOung
est brother of Napoleon, then First Con-
sul-came, saw, and conquered, and,
against her father wishes, married the
ambitious young belle Under the COM
mands and threats of Napoleon, the poor
sneak left her in the spring OF 1905. ''As
a reward for his pusiIanimity, jerome
= as created Prince Of the Empire, and
raised to the rank of Admiral Of the
Frence navy How disgusting is RANK
gained at such a price, and aristocracy
recruited from such materials
Her first and only child was born in
England, July Z, 1905, after her hus-
1and had left her and she had been for
ciblv driven away from France. This son
possessed all hs life a fine and strong
character,-a refreshing contrast to- that
of his brilliant but silly mother, He
studied for knowledge, married for love,
and worked for money. He was never
foolish enough, even under the greatest
temptations, to prefer the tarnish gliding
Of court life 10 the solid gold Of repubI-
can liberty.
If ANYBODY cares to know whether
Madame Bonaparte's descendants ale le-
because, if they are, they are
now next in succession to the shadowy
imperial throne Of France, his mind
NAV be assured of that fact from the fol-
lowing extract:
When Napoleon declared that Jerome's
marriage was ''null, both in IA religious
and legal point of view, he was express
ing his own wishes rather than stating
the facts. At the time of Jeromes mar
riage to Miss Patterson, Napoleon was
only first Consul of France, and could
have no control over the members Of his
family. Jorome's mother and eldest
brother, Joseph, were the only persons
whose consent were Necessary, and they
concurred in approving the marriage.
The marriage had been celebrated accord
ing to the prescribed rites Of the Catho-
lie Church, Of which Jerome professed to
be member, and the ceremony hac been
performed by the highest dignitary Of
that church in America
Pope Plus VII, also passed upon this
question when he wrote tie letter opp. "a
and 30 refusing NapOleon's request that
the marriage might he declared null.
He SAYS. 1T has not been possible to
lind one impeachment which, in the pres
ent cosp, and according to the principles
Of the Church, can authorize us to declare
the nullity Of the marriage contracted
and already contaminated. In 1907
Jerome married daughter Of the King
of Wurtembiirg: their son is now known
as "Plon-PIon,' and his son it IS who is
SAID to have been named by poor young
Louis as his successor. The American has
the better title by descent.
In 1815Madame Bonaparte went abroad.
Here strange and wonderful series Of
her letters 10 her father begins. They
are unique in their dreadful disclosure 81
a bad heart and false perverted mind.
She ticks the hands that have smitten
her, and houts that which has nourished
hcf.
In Europe handsome woman v no is
likely to have fortune may marry well
but if it gets about that her parents are
dissatisfied with her, they WI ! think she
will get nothing by them, AMI, If she had
the beauty of Venus the tale rs of Miner
va, no one will marry her. People here
are not such fools as to marry poor beau
ties. however much they may admire
them. The reputation OF your fortune
would be a great advantage, and | am
sure YOU cannot object to me having the
honor of it, provided YOU keep the sub
stance. / beg that whatever you may
think, you v ill sag nothing and especially
lorste nothing about me, unless 1t be
something likely to advance nae. II
was nv misfortune, not my fault, that
vas born in country not congenial to
nv desires Here am compile ely in my
sphere -. / am surprised you do
not see the advantages of my position
compared with that of the daughters OF
of the other people OF Baltimore
and that YOU permit the chatterine
of envious people to influence you
Who ever had better nffers2 | never
would marry without rank, or God knows
might havo got money enough by mar
rage. - Alden my dear sir an
gong to dress for ball at Lady Con
dapue's and | am then obliged to go L
one at Gen. Trivins | expect the Anieri
/ cans in Europe who cannot go out write
| lies about those who can. | beg this let
/ ter may not he shown to Robert, as ht
never keeps anything to himself, and thai
Won will consider the Improperly o
writing anything except what will pro
dnce a good effect ID this country
Poor thingl The deserted wife Of
low-born adventurer talking about thi
advantages of her posiiionl Her sub
| seauent let ers to her father. scol,Iing
lnsolent harangues. Haunt !, lis ayerte,
lace the rank and title OF Fer acguaint
anees: 50 that now. locked at from thi
distance OF time and space, when all ron
eerned are dead and buried and forgot
ten, il reminds one Of nothing so mucl
as the yagaTies Of d wretehed lunatic j
her conner of a mad-house, waving aE,ou
her few gaudy rags, ana CRYING, sSee if
am rot the Queen OF Sheba.
Her father writes +, reassnre her n
gardlng the secrecy Of her lesiers, an
adds
80 be candid with yon, would hay
been ashamed to expose them 10 any On
else What viii the world thin
of . woman who had recently followe