The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-07-14

Writing of Springfield, it were well to
contrast the lives of the two fair women
each at one time only daughter of that
housewife, i'll maiden meditation, viewed
its far-reaching domain and dreamed of
what the future might bring.
A child in years, woman in ambition,
Elizabeth Patterson turned disdainfully
from every rural charm before her. Jo-
sephine Beauharnais had risen from OBJ
scurity to throne, and Napoleon made
dazzling figure on the worlds stage when
"Betsy Patterson's" ambition took shape
In visions of honors to come there appeared
to the girl of seventeen no portent of an
uncrowned Empress" at Malmaison, or a
peevish, ,'pining prisoner at st. Helena.
The daughter of the Baltimore merchant
had no love for her home or family. She
despised her native city, calling it "dirty
little commercial hole, and her fathers
associates Ignorant shopkeepers," ignoble
pride which did not scruple to pay humble
court to paruenue princesses, who scorned
to acknowledge her their equal by birth or
marriage Madame Bonaparte- Patterson
spent the force of her strong intellect in
vain pursuit of petty crown. Brilliantly
attractive at European courts, the discarded
first wife of Jerome Bonaparte refused any
alliance below that Of a crown prince, and
deemed herself queen (by right to the
end of lifes checkered scene. Her life be-
came an epic, yet, richly lowered as it was
by wit and beauty, old age found her with
no solace for disappointed hopes save gold,
to which she chung with miserly greed, and
did not hesitate to say that Glove she had
never known; ambition was ended, and
avarice had become the ruling passion of
her life" An agnostic without hope
beyond the grave she crossed to the invisi-
BILE shores.
Her body lies in an isolated, triangular
lot at Greenmount Cemetery, barely large
enough to contain single grave and chosen
by herself, that no plebeian dust mingle
with hers. The edge of the marble sarco-
phagus bears this incription "After life's
fitful fever, she sleeps well, fitting line,
since Shakspeare's text was more valued
by her than Holy Writ. The written
memoirs left by Madame Bonaparte- Patter
son will probably never be published by
her grandsons, though they cover period
of half a century, and contain reflections
on Bonaparte and his times as sage as those
of Madame de Remusat, and still more
scathing criticisms of court celebrities.
Florence, heiress of Geo. Patterson, had
not the brilliant beauty and wit of her
aunt, but far more loving and lovable dis
position She, too, was petite in figure,
with clear blue eyes and lovely complexion.
Her hands and arms were as perfectly
moulded as those of Madame Bonaparte,
and her laugh was sweetly musical. No
unwise ambition or struggle after the unat-
tainable marred her life, for Florence Pat
terson loved her home, her kindred and her
country as heartily as the imperious elder
woman despised them. She was married
September, 1877, to Mr.. James Carroll, OF
Baltimore There was gay and festive
scene at the old manor-house to celebrate
their union, but in a few feeting months
the friends who met at the bridal gathered
around her bier
Strangers pause beside the tomb Of
Madame Bonaparte- Patterson to point a
moral; tears of affection bedew the sod
above her niece.
Twoyears ago the entire estate offspring
field became by purchase the property of
Mr.. Frank Brown, nephew of the late
Mrs. George Patterson; its high repute as
landed estate will no doubt be maintain
ed under new regime, and sons and daugh-
tiers of another line and name rejoice in
the possession of its broad acres now, when
the last of the Pattersons have been gath
cred by the "Silent Reaper" to narrow beds
in the kirkyard Peace to the names of
those whose good deeds shall be their most
enduring monument