The Republican journal., 1886-12-16

mn u JoSfph B0A0pdrte, CoUnt dc M3rcU-
Tiers. King of Naples anl Spaja.
successfully sat OF the thrones of two of the
most art loving countries of modern am med
ieval times. An absolute king has facilities
for acquiring such things. that are not possess
ed by ordinary mortalS Here comes the
weak spot in ,Ioseph'S character. He simply
walked into the art galleries of Naples and
Madrid and confscaed such paintings as pleas
ed his fancy. Being IA cOnnosscur of art it
would hardly he expected that he would select
inferior subjects. He took good care to ship
these treasures away before he was forced to
leave himself. Thus they finally served to be-
guile the weary hours of an exile in Il foreign
land. 1t is said that the Count was often pain
fully embarrassed by some inquiSitivc visitor
asking him where he obtained this or that pic
ture. OF course the people of Borlentown
We're familiar with the facts, and gave him no
such trouble; but such discretion could not be
expected from all the hundreds of persons
who enjoyed his hospitality. A little incident
will show how ignorant some of the visitors
We're regarding the principles of art. On one
II
through the gallery. The Count brought them
into a room containing a magnificent Grecian
statue Of Apollo. 1t was the pride of his
whole collection. Like all classic sculpture. it
was. of course, in state Of nudity. The
Count, who thoroughly appreciated the maXim
Evil TO him who evil thinks" supposed his
visitors would be delighted with seeing such a
m ntrni trpa Of nrt Iu,l,r
of his horror and astoni>hmcn when the ladies
covered their faces with their hands and ran
from the room.
Joseph. who was a thorough gentleman in
both actions and thought, cndcavored to cx-
plain matters but failed and his visitors soon
took their departure firmly believing that they
had been insulted If the truth of the matter
was known they had at that moment obscene
pictures in their pockets which they were in
the habit of exhibiting to each other while gig
Cling behind a door. Many of these paintings
and statues still remain in this vicinity. On
the return of the Count to France everything
was sold at auction except few of the most
valuable and precious works. a scholarly
gentleman of this place told HE that lie was
lately riding through neighhOring town
when his eye clanced to rest on Il beautiful
statue in a front yard. In an instant he knew
that it was a representation Of the Grtcian
goddess Minerva, and had once belonged to
King Joseph. Thinking that he would find
out what the owner knew of its history. he
alighted and asked tht woman of the house in
regard to the matter. She Informed him that
she was not quite certain but thought that it
was none of her folks Shade of great Pal
las One work of art that was highly priced
| by Joseph, was the recumbent marble statue
of his sister Pauline, by Canoya. lie never
tired of praisin@ her beauty. She was Il
man Of extraordinary personal attractions.
deeply devoted to Napolcon but of inlolcnt
nature ard easy virtue. once when exhibiting
the statue to some friends the Count turned
| his head away, with tears in his eyes and
said ".th, She was very beautiful, very heau
| tifu was Pauline; hut too ambitious Nothing
could satisfy her; she always felt aS if my poor
brother was robbinS her of a kinssdome instead
| of bcstoWing one upon hcr but she was 50
| beautiful, so heautiful.' one of the most
precious relies Of the Counts sale is still in
| Bordentown. 1t is mahogany bed>tcad
brought by Joseph from Madrid, and is now
owned by Miss Maria Mutt. Made nearly five
hundred years ago for Spanish monarch ana
| his queen, it was used in the Royal Patace 10y a
| long line of their Successors. Ferdinand and
| Isabella have reposcd upon it while resting
from the cares of State. 1t is beautifully cary
ell. with mirrors set i'll every post. Joseph al
ways slept in it, and now it doe, the same
nightly service for Miss Mutt THAT is Il
treasure which would not part with for all
the money in Bordentown,' exclaimed the Old
lady, as | was curiously examining its con
| struction. Certainly it could have fallen into
no hands that would have appreciated it more
highly than this cultured and amiabie lady. 1t
was, while taking an afternoon nap upon this
same bed that Joseph received the first
| NEWS OF THE DEATH OF NAPOLEON
at st. Helena. His secretary, MaiIliard, brought
the letter into the room and handed it to the
| Count who seemed at once to divine its con-
tents. 1t was from Gen. Bernard who was
| one of Napoleon's aides at the battle of Water
| loo Springing from the bed he handed the
letter back to Mailliard unopened. His face
was deathly pale. The secretary slowly OPEN
ed and read the sad news. For moment it
seemed that Joseph would fall to the floor.
Great beads of perspiration stood upon his
/ forehead. The twitching muscles Of his face
too plainly told of the terrible agony within.
| Then staggering forward until his glaring eyes
seemed to burn into the very soul of Maiard,
with left hand clutched above his heart. and
right arm extended as if pointed at some in
visible foe, he exclaimed in deep and tragica
| tones: 80! my poor brother, my poor broth
er! England, my curses rest forever upon
your brow! There are many black pages upon
your blackened history, but your cruel murder
of my poor brother will be the blacklist of
them ally His arms then dropped by his side,
and with tears gushing from his eyes he re-
quested to be left alone. Malliard silently
withdrew, leaving the heart-stricken exile
alone with his grief. This account of Joseph's
reception of the death of Napoleon was given
me by Mr.. II. p. Arnell, a graduate of Prince
ton college, and one of the editors of the Bor-
dentown Register. He was a warm personal
friend of Mailliard, and had the story from his
own lips. OF its authenticity there can be no
doubt.
MAILLIARD
was the one man who had the entire confidence
of Joseph. Certainly no man ever gave his
master greater proofs Of fidelity and devotion.
After the abdication of Fontainbleau, Napoleon
entrusted Joseph with all his jewels and val