Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-05-19
M'me BOnaparte's Letter
Baltimore sun

~ AhN DOAAa PfAA " AAGlANA
Baltimore Sun
An installment of letters written
BY the late Vine Patterson Bona9arte
will be published in the June Serb
ner, from the advance sheets of which
the following extracts are taken. The
letters were written in 1921, while she
was in EuroDe trying to obtain royal
recognition tor her son. The follow
ing was written a.om ENGLAND
My fervent desire Of European
pleasures was not the vision of a dis
tempered fancy; it was only a pro.
phetic spirit of the destinations which
here surround existence. The pur-
poses of life are all fulflled-actlyity
and repOse without monotony. Beauty
commands homage, talents secure
admiration, misfortune meets with
respect. In this country the term
old, which is so often repeated in
America, is completely banished from
TIC polite vocabulary. Women of
forty, even fifty, are more cherished
and as advaRtageously married as chits
of sixteen. They are not here cheated
out Of their youth, as with us. but
retain the glorious privilege of charm
ing until at least sixty. Another
advantage, too, they possess. of gener-
ally marrying men as young or younger
than themselves. Since | am so happy
as to be in the best society, | much
deplore the absence Of American
friends TO witness the estimation in
which | am held. | have taken a
house for myself, as the customs Of
this country do not authorize any
person of fashion in remaining in a
clearinghouse. Lady Falkener has
been kind enough to %chaperone me.
and my house communicates with
hers. There is no danger of my com
uniting a single imprudent action
circumspect conduct can alone pre-
serve those distinctions for which /
sighed during ten years"
This, to her father, gives her opin-
ion Of her European relatives:
GENEVA, September 10. 1921
Dear Sir: = + | am fully aware
of the little reliance to be placed on
either promises or expectations from
the B family. They are prodi.
gal Of professions in proportion ?,
they are sparing in actions of pener.
Osity. Their habits of expense make
it impossible for them to provide 70,
the wants Of others, but as they sa,
kind things, it is but fair they should
be answered in the same way. w,
reciprocate by all opportunities kline
wishes on their part and grateful ex
pressions Of mine-there can be moth.
ing lost by this mutual expenditure 0
words, because | am too clear-sighte,
to be the dupe of ll-founded homes
| have not changed in a single instane
my plans. The offer of the house wa
something like reality of kindnes,
The count passes in the estimation 0
the world for being possessed of create
wealth, consistency of character an
Y prudence than the others. The Of
lady, to do her justice, promises moth
ing more than she gives. She is sal
d TO be ayaricious which, | suppos,
. means that she ooes not spend NOR
than her income. Whatever NAV i
!. her means, she has ~immediatel
d around her a number Of helpless. g,
%trayagant relations to consume h
u fortune whenever she l@eayesit \ =
Ii am, dear sir, yours truly, Il. Pr.
:. She next portrays the reception 81
met with at the hands of her bn
bands relatives. The Princess r
d is Pauline Bonaparte, Princess Bo
Ie ghese, and "Bo' is the writer so
2 Jerome Napoleon BOnaparte:
e ROME, November rs, l82l.-De
D.. Sir: = The Princess b. h
t heard from Florence that | was
my way to Rome. She wrote Inc
e. note, expressing her desire to see /
Immediately on my arrival, sent it
re all the hotels in Rome, where | "
~ not to be found, having taken roo
in a private house until, an Americ
| paying her a morning visit, she d
ut covered my address. / answered |
e. note by asking the hour her highn,
would be pleased to receive me. S
Immediately sent her lady Of honor
r. her carriage to convey me to the p
L. ace, since which | have been tn,
ny every day. | have waited on mazda.
as Mere after her expressed Gesire Il
e. | should They have all been v,
kind. The princess has present
l me with an elegant ball dress, a pi