, 1879-08-07
Madame Jerome Bonaparte.

Bonaparte maze 2Ssotnef Vlslt 10 Europe
and then returny to America, where
the last eighteen} Gears of her life was
passed in a quitr boarding house in
Baltimore. Her time was employed in
recalling the brilliant events of her Eu-
ropean career and in obtaining safe in
vestments for the savings of her large
income Her fortune amounted to
Sl,5OO,000, which yielded her an in
come Of nearly 100000 per annum, out
of which she spent something like $4,000
year.
The greater part of her money was
accumulated during the last thirty years
of her life by saving In her old age
she often said: "Once had everything
but money; now | have nothing but
money" '' ''
"Even when she had reached the adj
vanced age of ninety years." says Mis-.
Didier, "Mme. Bonaparte was in the
habit of visiting the business portions of
the city, collecting her dividends, max
ing close bargains with brokers, and
managing all her affairs with great
shrewdness. She invested her money in
various ways, because as she said, "It
was not wise to put all your eggs in one
basket" Her biographer continues.
Parsimonious to all Others She was
very liberal to her grandsons During
the time that her grandson Jerome was
in the French army she gave him very
large sums, saying, "she wished him to
appear in o manner BETTING his birth,
as the grandson of king" On. the 18th
Of June, 1870, her son died, leaving his
country seat to his two sons, jointly.
She bought out Jerome's share I'd pre-
sented it to his younger brother In
the last few years of her life she was ac-
customed to give at Christmas present
Of 500 each to two or three favored
relatives. '"'E "' v0.'.i ... o
She was very regular in her habits of
life, retiring at ten and rising promptly
at six, during her residence in Balti-
more. OF course, while living in Eu-
rope, attending nightly balls and parties,
she was compelled to keep late hours,
but she never lost sleep at night without
making it up during the day.
Contemporary testimony to her beauty
was unanimous. AS some one said of
her: "She charms by her eyes and
slays with her tongue" But if her
witticisms inspired fear, her gay man.
ner and chiIdlike laughter took away
their sting. She was very vain of her
personal charms; and once asked lady
who had recently returned from Europe,
if she had not heard of her beauty on
the continent. She was in the habit of
standing before her portrait and viewing
with complacenCy the wondrous beauty
I which had led captive the heart of Je.
rome Bonaparte. ..,
Mme Bonaparte was morbidly sensi-
tive about her age. One Summer at the
White Sulphur Springs she enjoyed the
society of a Baltimore gentleman, very
much complimenting his manners, con-
versatiop, ETC., until one day he com.
mitted the fatal mistake of asking the
Madame's age. She never spoke to him
again Another Summer at York
Springs, Pa, she was annoyed by the
familiarity of q Mrs. - of Baltimore.
One day, while seated at dinner next to
Nine. Bonaparte, she remarked : "Mad-
anne, | am very glad to meet you. |
hear you were once very beautiful
How old are you now y To which
Nine. Bonaparte curtly replied; "Nine
hundred and nineJy-nine years, ninety
nine days and nine minutes" y.t z
Notwithstanding the quiet life she
led in Baltimore, Nine, Bonaparte con-
tinued to enjoy the visits of her friends
up. to the very last. She conversed
freely, often with vivacity, and fire.
quently with bitterness. She had very
little confidence in men, but did not
withhold her admiration from her own
sex, if she met one who came up to her
standard, which was very seldom.
In conversation on the subject of
religion with the late Mrs. John Eager
Howard, of Baltimore Mme Bonaparte
said if she adopted any eligion it would
be the Catholic, because at least "that
was Il religion of Kings-a royal reli-
goh." Her niece who was present, ex-
claimed "Oh, aunt how can you say
such thingl You would not give up
Presbyterianism ?" To which Nine.
Bonaparte responded: "The only rea