Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-06-26
NApoLEon.s PUTATIvE SON.
A San Francisco MATCHMAKER VINO
Looked Like the Emperor.

A O., Prancfsco matchmaker Who
Look ed Like the Emperor.
"a SON of Napoleon born in St. Hell
ena island and buried in Lone Noun
tain cemetry." is the heading of an ar
ticle published in The San Francisco
World that will cause many New
Londoner to open his eyes and wonder
he did not guess it before. The article.
SAYS The New London Comm Day,
accredits Napoleon Bonaparte with be-
ing the father of the late John Gordon.
the matchmaker. who formerly resided
in New London and whose death occur
red in San Francisco some weeks since.
The resemblance Mr.. Gordon bore TO MS
putative father, the emperor. was olten
the subject of comment. but regarded
only as a coincilent. The story, how
ever. is best told by The World, as fol-
lows:
1.-The matron of Napoleon's prison
or perhaps it would be more correct to
speak of her Us the houSekeeper -ap-
pointed by the British government to
attend TO the comforts of the exiled
monarch. was n comely woman IN ear
ly middle life. and doubtless she, In
common with the rest of his attendants,
could never quite forget that her charge
had once worn an imperial crown. Ma
poleon. like Jove in Dryden's immortal
poem. stamped an image Of himself
on the nearest approach to fair
Olymphia" that the somewhat straiten-
ed resources of St. Helena's isle could
furnish. The result was the birth OF a
bow, who, albeit with the bar sinister of
the Bonapartes on his escutcheon, could
vet, it is believed, claim more kindred,
as he certainly bore a much closer re-
semblance of feature and figure to the
race, than Napoleon I'LL ever could.
AFTER the death of the exiled en-
peror the housekeeper went tn London.
taking her boy with her. There she
married a matchmaker Of the name of
Gordon, who adopted the boy and be-
slowed on him his own name. BY and
by the young fellow grew to manhood,
learned his adopted fathers trade. and
in the course of years wandered to
New London, Conn, when he soon es-
tablished himself in large and thriv-
| ing business rs a matchmaker and jew
eler. He became a man of influence
in that part of the country, mixing
| much i'm politics. He even took quite q
prominent part in journalism, especially
during the contest which preceded the
selection of League island as the site
of a navy-yard. New London was the
rival of that point for the possession of
the yard, and long and animated dis
cussion on the relative claims of the
two points was carried on between Cor
don and Gideon Welles, then secretary
of the navy. The literary contribu-
| tons of the former to this controversy,
though unsuccessful in attaining their
| end, were marked with great ability
and earned for him the respect and
gratitude of the people of New Lon
don.
"Soon afterward he came to this city.
having been probably seized with tho
California fever, then epidemic in the
east. He entered into business with
Mr.. Tucker, on the corner of Geary
and Kearny streets. and was engaged
with him for about sixteen years. At
| terward he was for q time with Mr..
Durkin and later set up in small way
for himself at 23l Kearny street. where
he remained until he died. He was q
man of very considerable business abil-
ity, but somewhat reserved, and only
sociable with a select circle of friends.
.'Gordon's face and figure bore a re-
markably striking resemblance to those
| of his imperial father. and strangers
who knew nothing of the romantic
story of his birth frequently noticed it.
He was very reticent on the subject
himself, but when mellowed by the so
cial cup he would open his mind very
freely, and was by no means unwilling
to admit his relationship to the Corsi-
can conqueror. At such moments he,
apparently unconsciously. assumed the
attitude and expression of the picture
| of his ancestor.
Born at st. Helena. he lies buried in
Lone Mountain proof that, notwith.
standing philosophic aphorisms to the
contrary, there is often a good deal
more than span between the cradle
and the grave"