The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-24
The Bonaparte Women.

MrssC. Z. Hunt, Cor. Secy
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The Bonaparte Women.
Were it not for the Salique Law of France
which debars females Of the blood royal
from the succession, that country in the
event of the continuity of the Bonaparte
DYNASTY, would have had some remarkable
empresses. The weaker half of the Bona
parte family is by no means such in fact.
Their ability and strength of character
none the less remarkable when viewed sep
arately, has been overshadowed by the gilt
terng genius of the great general Raised
up to the dazzling heights of imperial luxu-
ry, the sisters of the Corsican Lieutenant
played well their part during their ephemeral
career Nor did their star dim after the alb
dication, but a wholesome and lasting i'm
preston was made by them on the affections
of the European world that remained long
after they had ceased to be factor in CONT
mental politics. The mother OF the family,
Maria Letizia Ramolino, was noted woman
Born on the little island now celebrated in
history, August oath, 1850, she married Car
10 Maria Bonaparte when but seventeen
and during the English occupation of her
island home in 1893 fled to Marseilles with
her family. On the elevation OF her son as
First Consul six years later she went to
Paris, but not until the imperial purple
graced his shoulders did she become distin-
guished as Madame Mere. Napoleon ap-
pointed her general protectress OF charitable
institutions and there, surrounded by the
homage and affection of friends, she MAIN
tanned a simplicity of style that demonstrated
her sound sense. She was not elated by the
flush of success that attended her family,
but rather doubted its permanence, and Sc
cretly longed for the quiet of her early asso-
Citations.
The eldest sister Of the Emperor, Maria
Anna Elisa, was born January Sd, 1773, and
received her education at the Convent of st.
Cyr. She married at Paris in 1897 Prince
Felice Pascale Baccioch, Corsican noble
man. bv whom she had two sons, Jerome
Charles and Napoleon Frederic. She was
created Princess of Lucca and Piombino and
finally made Grand Duchess of Tuscany by
her ambitious brother The vigor and de-
cision of her executive powers gained for her
the title of the ''Samiramis of Lucca." She
was strong friend and patron of Chateau
BRAND and an Intelligent protectress of
literature, science End the industrial arts.
Carlot.a Maria Paulina, the second sis
ter, was born October 20, 1850, and after
several youthful affairs of the heart, she
was induced by the designing Emperor to
marry his friend and companion in arms,
General Leclerc When the star of the first
consul began to shine she went to Paris, and
thence, much against her will, and only by
command of her brother, to San Domingo,
where her husband was sent as Captain
General. During the trouble on the island
she displayed the courage OF heroine in
defending her residence at Cape Francois on
the occasion of an attack by insurgent sne-
groes Her husband dying in about a year,
she married after her return to Europe,
Prince Camille Borghese of a patrican FAM
lily of Sienna, Italy, but their domestic life
was not a happy one. Paulina was the
most accomplished of Napoleon's sisters, and
like them was an earnest patron of the arts
and sciences. This trait in the family is
noted one, and while marking an indelible
career in politics, they have made a name no
less renowned in the history of literature.
Napoleon was much attached to her, and
yec she was the least slavish to the imperial
will of all the family. He could overlook
her independence when it clashed with his
ideas, but when she showed publicly her
well known hatred of the Empress, the re-
fractory sister was firmly but politely in
vited to leave the Court. This exile was
never removed, but retaining her deep affec-
ton for the distinguished prisoner in his
misfortunes, she was about to join him at
St. Helena when the news of his death
reached Europe. She was remarkable
beauty, and the duchess d d'Abrantes calls her
the ''eXqusitely handsome Paulette," and
says of her husband, she wes exceedingly
handsome with plentiful lack of brains"
Maria Annunciada Carolina, the youngest
sister, was born 26 March 1882, married at
eighteen MarGchal joachim Murat and be-
came Grand Duchess of Berg and Queen of
Naples. Her popularity was universal and
she left evidences of her intelligent apprecia-
ton of literature and benevolence. She re-
stored the Neapolitan Museum of Antiqui-
ties, organized the excavations of Pompeii,
and established various charitable institu-
tions She became widow about the time
of the Treaty of Paris in 1915 and retired to
private life and exile under the title of tie
Countess of Lipona, the anagram Of Napoli
(Naples) Whatever may be said of the for
tunes that elevated these peasant girls to
their exalted positions, it is certain that they
made more Of their opportunities than their
brothers. If Joseph or Jerome had pos
sessed the executive abilities of either one of
the sisters, they might have left descendants
on the thrones of Europe to this year of
grace. One final comment may be passed
OH the sisters of the great General, they re-
manned free from all suspicion of the i'm
morality that characterized the courts of
France, and indeed their illustrious brothers
influence in behalf of this social purity was
universally acknowledged.
The death Of the Rev. Joseph p. Thomp-
son, d. D., formerly of New York, is largel
attributable to the publication of story by a
Western paper to the effect that since his
residence abroad he had been guilty of Sc
ducton.. There was not word of truth in
the story, but it inflicted wound which