Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-08-04
NO. 1856.
miscellaneous.
GOOD MOTHERS.

capped from prison in the interior Of
France, had succeeded In reaching the
coast near Boulogne Here he made a
little skiff. miserably frail, of the branches
and bark of trees. This bark he intended
to cross the channel in.
"Did you intend" Napoleon I. said.
"to brave the terrors of the sea in so frail
a skiffPr
YES" said the young man, with your
permission ] will embark Immediately"
"Have you sweetheart at home, asked
Napoleon, THAT you are so desirous to go
to your country again ?''
NO." replied the lad, "but wish to
see my mother, who is aged, poor and in
firm
Napoleon's heart was touched.
You shall see her. )" he answered, land
give her this purse of gold from me. She
can be no common woman to have
brought up such son.
Napoleon had but little tenderness Of
feeling and was insensible to the delicate
emotions that agitatc the human heart.
He had been accustomed to deal so ruth
lessly with men, and to look upon them
only as instruments of his ambition, and
he had seen so much of the baseness of
humanity that he had lost all regard for
the better elements of character. OF
women, generally. he had mean opinion;
thoughin Madame De Stael he was obliged
to acknowledge their intellectual and
political power when refined by culture.
He had a morbid antipathy to all blue
stockings, but he had high esteem for
women who fulfilled their social duties.
Madame DE Stael once said to him:
at is reported that you are not very
partial to the ladies'
81 am very fond of my wife, madame"
was the laconic reply.
A lady of rank once said to him. ''What
is life worth if one cannot be General Bon
aparte p''
Napoleon answered her wisely,
Madame, one may be dutiful wife, and
the good mother of a family"
Of the social influences of captivating
woman, he expressed himself when he
said: II capture provinces, but Josephine
wins hearts"
OF the moral power of women in mold
ing the rising generations, Napoleon gave
his opinion in the following memorable dec
laration to French Senator:
France needs nothing so much to
promote her regeneration as good moth
ers.''
He had profound respect for virtuous
and exemplary mothers. His own moth
er, Letitia Ramolini, married in her seven
teenth year to Charles Bonaparte, an advo-
cate of Ajaccio, was a woman of rare virtues
and qualities, though her education was
imperfect From her sprang a race of
kings and queens who have changed the
face of Europe, overturned the oldest dy-
nasties, and inaugnrated the modern era.
Estranged as her children were sometimes
from each other. they all united in ac-
knowledging their Indebtedness to their
mother. Her mental characteristics, her
personal qualities, her elevated views of
life, and her moral courage and energy in
a greater or less degree shaped the destiny
of her descendants.
The intellect, Psychologists say, is inher-
liable on the mothers side. Certain tbs,
that her character has an immense and
abiding influence on her offspring A
good mother is an angel of benefcence
and OF incalcuable blessedness to family.
She makes her household scene of con-
tinual happiness. AS one by one she sends
her children into the world, she does it
with the assurance that they are fully pro-
vded with all that is necessary to fight
the battle of life, and she lays down to her
last sleep with the consciousness that she
has done her duty, and her name will live
in the grateful memories OF sons and
daughters, themselves to become honored
wives and husbands, and to transmit in
turn to their offspring the virtue she i'm
parted to their parents. Napoleon. as a
man, a statesman, and a ruler, could not
fail to recognize the sublime excellences
and the never ending influence of good
mothers, and the homage that is due to
them in every sphere Of life Philadeiphia
PaesS.