The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1882-03-15

1t is wonderful how the "Verdict of
History" changes with the lapse of time,
and the subsistence of those political and
personal predictions which inevitably
color and prejudice contemporaneous
views. Twenty years ago, the majority
of the world, We the English
speaking and Saxon world,-regarded
Napoleon's divorce of Josephine as an
unparalleled crime,-an atrocity so afro
cious that Heaven, itself, took mp the
cause of the injured Queen. Thous-
ands Of people believe to this day that
"the Emperor's star began to fade from
the hour that he trampled on the affec-
tons of his peerless BRIDE" In Amer
lea, in particular, J.. T. Headleys his
tory of-'Napozean and has MarshaA."
and "1he Life Of Jossphane, gave pub
lie opinion great bias against the bold
usurper," and In favor Of the heroic
Queen" the loving martyr who crushed
her heart, and went forth into exile,
etc., ETC., etc., etc.
We confess that this view was until
late years a favorite one with US, and
We have attempted more than n glow
ing essay on the SORROWS and wrongs OF
the gentle Josephine.
Alas! for the disillusions of experience
and knowledge Year after year, fresh
facts come to light, as the actors of
$4,000 go to their graves, and release
the bar of secresy from their letters, and
Journals, until at length the world is
forced to admit hat if Napoleon acted
the scallawag in respect to his wife, she
gave him numerous excuses for so doing
and no doubt satisfied him (for be was
very sharp of eye) that her love would
bear watching when other fellows
we're about. She understood flirting
both as widow, wife, and ex-wife.
A recent author says:
A WOMAN S WHIAS.
The EN- press Josephine had six hun
bred thousand for her personal expenses
but this sum was not sufficient and her
debts increased t o an appalling extent.
Notwithstanding the position Of her
husband, she could never submit to
either order or etiquette in her private
life. She rose 1t one O'Clock. Her
toilet consumed much time, and she
lavished unwearied efforts on the pre-
s~ervation and establishment Of her
person. She changed her linen three
GliACo o0y ohu wv my r'~N
ings hat were not new. Huge bas>
kets were brought to her containing
different dresses shawls and hats.
From these she selected her costume
for the day. She possessed between
three and four hundred shawls, and
always wore one in the morning, which
she draped about her shoulders with
u%nequaIed grace. She purchased all
|, hat were brought to her. no matter at
what price. The evening toilet was as
careful as that of the morning then
she appeared with flowers, pearls or
precious stones in her hair. The
smallest assembly was always an occa-
sion for her to order a new costume, in
spite of the boards of dresses in the
various places. Bonaparte was irrita
led by these expenditures; he would
fly into a passion, and his wife would
weep and promise to be more prudent
after which which she would go on in
the same way. It is incredible that
this passion for dress should never have
exhausted itself. After the divorce she
arrayed herself with the same care
even when she saw no one. She died
covered with ribbons and pale rose col
ored satin.