St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-29
JOSEPH BONAPARTE.
"Reminiscences of the Exile by an
Aged Paper-Hanger.
Secret Doors in the Mansion at Bor-
dentown.
Philadelphia Times

0iPuiu Times,
=, an announcement Of the public sale of
.no nonaparte estate at Bordentown has
raised some interesting memories in +bo
Sui vigorous mind of LemueI uazzara +ha
oiuo'' iiflig paper-hanger in Philadalnbi.
whose birth dates back to 1903 an6 n,ho
enjoys In hale old age the inst ra,,,o.s y.
life of honest industry. 'e"aru Oh
MY 1rst recollection Of the co,,,.
everybody called Joseph Bonanapten as
Wneh was quite small. He then Iivea was ;s
large mansion, that was situated IA
Union street. on the north side aboTro
'FRONT.'. The house had afterwards seue,.o1
IenaAIs' among whom L remember. with q
sue sI Yaiu ana carriage house in the rear
Mlchael Nesbet, the auctoneer. and Loo
per Harding, of the PENNSYLVANIA Jnonirer
who was, L think, the last tenant. The
property was eventually purchased hv
Michael Bouyier who tore the mansion
down and QUILT on its site court of houses
now known as Louisa avenue.
FROM Union street the Count de Sur
Vllliers, by which name Joseph Bonaparfs
chose to have himself addressed during his
residence in America, removed think. to
the southeast corner of Twelfth and Market
the whole block now occupied by the
Girard estate, being then all inclosed park.
WIN me residence at the corner, the
name OF the owner Of which l have for
| gotten.
an INTERVIEW WITH THE COUNT.
MY hrst personal interview with the
count was when he lived on the west side
OF Ninth street, above Spruce, In a rough
cast mousse still standing at the southwest
corner OF a small alley. The entrance to
| the mouse faces upon the alley. The
mouse is now on the outside very shabby,
out II was when first knew it very hand
some so INSIDE. vas at this time about
IL years old and an apprentice. Nv master
papered the house and | and other annren-
tees and journeymen did the WORK
afterwards, just before 1 vast free. heIped
paper the counts mansion at Bordentown
ana after was free l papered the house
| myselI several tImes-that is. as much az
was allowed to paper-and hence a singular
story.
Inc rooms on the lower fioor, ana tney
were many--grand saloons, library. a
great dining-room, with kitchens. pantries
and offices---I knew thoroughly, but could
never lind stairway leading to the floor
above. Naturally, boylike. l was very
curious and wondered at this, nor was /
ever on the second floor but once
IN THE COUNTS BEDROOM,
Il was then admitted with my paper and
paste and journeyman to the counts bed
DOM by way of a ladder placed against A
window from the outside, and by which I
| and my man descended and assembled until
our work was done. The bedroom was
large one and magnifcently furnished.
Opening into it were two alcoves, in which
were beds, and on one side a large archiDg
gave entrance to small room lined with
oh lN-nc on yThIn oh
English, In account with Stephen Girard.'
could find no door in these rooms that
led anywhere. There were several parallel
doors opening into closets, and there were
two doors in the bedroom set in flush with
the wall, without keyhole or doorknob,
over which papered, and then, by direc-
ton OF the count, secretly divided the pa
per along the edge of the doors with
knife. No one, after the room was pa
pered, could without the closest examina-
ton ever suspect that there were doors
where these two existed.
AFRAID OF ASSASSINATION.
81 have no doubt but that they led down
stairs somewhere and that there was soma
way of opening them known only to the
count and his conidants. That he was
afraid OF assassination has always ap-
peared to me to be the reason for all this.
Il remember his surprise at my refusing
to work for him on Sunday when he was
anxious to have certain rooms papered in
hurry and his equal surprise at my refusal
to drink wine with him.
''Of what religious profession are you.
Mr.. Hazzard?" he asked, that you are so
particular
g I am Presbyterian L answered.
We'll. he said, the Presbyterians are
Uary good and very rt
HE had large household. His park
was very large and beautifully laid out and
stocked with deer, which he occasionally
shot.
THE PRINCE AS A FARMER.
'He was generally accompanied by his
secretary, whose name l have forgotten,
and would in good weather go about, as a
rule, in short velvet roundabout and gray
trousers, carrying in his hand Ratchet and
in his pockets strings and nails with which
he repaired his fences and tied up his vines
and young plants.
The count was short, thiekset man
of swarthy complexion and with the hand
soonest, kindliest face | ever saw on any
man. He was exceedingly courteous to
all with whom he came in contact, no
matter of what station. can see him now
in my minds eye as plainly as if he stood
before me, and I'll tell you who always re-
minds me of him---Mr. Henry B. latham"
Rnenr Ord fn nrxrra