Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-31
NAPOLEON AND THE PRINGEOSE
DE- CHIMAY.

Bonaparte was as keenly alive to the &C
auaintances needful to be shaken off as to
the friendships desirable to seek. 1t cost
him but little to give decided cut when
self.interest and ambitious arms were at
stake. For most people, one of the most
delicate and difficult things In life is to re.
pudiate former friendships, and break with
connections that have been previously
sought, The person who does SO, times
and circumstances alter, is sure to be ac-
cused of pride and ingratitude, although
the painful proceeding may be nothing
more than necessary sacrifice. In periods,
especially of social trouble, sincere attach
ments will often arise, particularly between
persons whose career in life has commenced
from common starting point They hold
together, like llow.countrymen whom
chance has conducted to barbarous coun.
try, and whose first acquaintance is made
In the minds of savage enemies. When
friends like these are obliged to bid each
other adieu, the separation is mostly dis.
PRESSING to both. Bonaparte felt no such
scruples.
The widow of the Marquis de Beauhar-
uais. instead of emigratipg during the Rev.
olution like so many others, remained in
Paris. and she was thrown, by the force of
events, into the heterogeneous society for
which that epoch was notorious. Her per-
sonal conduct is not the question now but
II NAV at least be remarked that, if the
good she did be weighed against the faults
she may have committed, the evil scale Will
he exceedingly light. One thing is GER
tain, namely, that, both before and AFTER
her marriage with General BOnaparte, she
! 18th raooNlo vrh0aa hQhftu al
society was quite unsuitable for the wife of
the head OF the State. While her husband
was only a General, her position obliged
her to receive the ladies who were connect
ed with the existing order of things.
Doubtless, her natural tact and good taste
enabled her to make some selections but
even amongst those selected few were per-
sons whose reputation, rightly or wrongly,
shocked the First Consuls natural rigid
ness.
Amongst Madame Bonaparte's most init
mate friends there was one who was uni
versally celebrated for her Incompatible
beauty, and it was precisely her whom Bo'
naparte, when ne became First Consul,
most severely forbade to frequent his
house. Mademoiselle de Gabarrus, daugh-
ter of a rich Spanish banker, had married
the MARQUIS de Fontenay before the Revo'
luton. and while she was still almost a
child. Divorced from her first husband,
she married the too famous representative
of the people, Tallien. She was accused Of
having shared that persons demagogic
opinions Others acquitted her OF the
charge. asserting that, on the contrary, she
often mnzzled the tiger during the parox.
vsms of rage. But it nay be observed
that contemporary books and journals be.
LONGING to that disastrous epoch add but
yery few extenuating circumstances to the
reprehensible acts of which they accuse
her: whilst her justification did not ap'
near till q long time afterwards, when she
had changed her name of horror for the
well.sounding title of Princesse de Chimay.
Whatever truth or falsehood there may
have been in the popular rumors that were
bruited about respecting the lovely Madame
Tallien two things are certain, namely, the
rasl affection which Madame Bonaparte
felt for her. and the invincible repugnance
With which she inspired the First Consul.
He had long concealed within his own
breast the unqualified annoyance which he
felt at such an intimacy I; he did not allow
tbe SLIGHTEST symptom of diaapprobation &c
escane during his marvellous italian and
egyptian campaigns but the day after hiE
establishment in the Luxembourg Palace
after the eighteenth of Brumaire, he sig
n;fed 10 his wife, positively, that she must
give up Madame Tallien's acquaintance
The names of other pretty ladies were also
added to the Index Expurgatorius but
the loss of all the rest put together gave
comparatively little pain to Madame Bona
parte. She tried every means to carry hel
point soft persuasion, sulking, entreaties
tears. None answered the purpose sh'
was obliged to submit.
After the fall of the Directory, the crowt
of courtiers-for every Government md
courtiers to follow it-continued to dlree
their steps to the Luxembourg, where, BY
a singular chance, Bonaparte resided pre-
cisely one hundred days, the duration o
his reign in 1915. As Madame Tallien ant
Madame Bonaparte had been in the habl
of exchanging visits. and of sending u
each other those little morning notes