Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-09
ROYAITY M Exile.
The Bonapartes of WashfngtOn-AAne'
Bonaparte's Will.

bOnAphrL0fB VIII
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 4.-W ashing-
ton has not only the republican court but
il not royalties itself ex-royalties and
semi-royalties. Among the former are the
Bonapartes. Col. Jerome Bonaparte, son
Of the jerome whose mother was Betsy
Patterson, of Baltimore, and grandson OF
the King OF Westphala, is now resident
OF Washington. He has built himself
snlendId new house here on Is street,
where he spends six months OF his time,
the other six months being divided De-
tween Newport and Paris. Col. Bonaparte
isa handsome man of "a or 50, and strange
liz like his great-uEcle, the first Napoleon.
Ii is not a little singular that the only
laciaI resemblance to the Immortal
Emperor in the whole B0naparte
family exists in the American
branch. This was not lofgotteh
when the third Napoleon offered the
present Col. Bonaparte a marshaPs
baton, a princely title, and a great lOr-
tune il he would renOunce all bis pros
pective rights to the imperial throne;
These Col. BOnaparte declined. AS az
the power of the first Napoleon had talleo
10 inValidate the marriage OF Jerome 10
Betsy Patterson. the third Napoleon
realized that, IN the event OF his DEATH II
the American BOnaparte inherited Ine
family ambition they might be induced to
assert theiy rights as members OF the
elder branch than the children OF the
King of Holland-and he made shrewd
. move in trying to avoid these cOmpllca-
Stjons. He did not, therefore, forget that
the Baltimore BOnapartes looked NapO-
leonic. although but one of the lot has
ever shown any except the most
ordinary capacity. This exception
to the average mediocre lntelli-
gence is the younger brother of Col. Bona
parte. Between the two brothers is an
interval of q years, The younger, Charles
BOnaparte, is lawyer in Baltimore and
man Of fine natural powers, although
eccentric to the last degree. Col. jerome,
however, is the perfect model of the aver
age man of the world-elegant in his hao-
its, exact in his equipments. and deadly
commonplace in mind and conversation.
. He got through at West Point thirty years
ago when the course was not so difficult
as it is now, and served his regulation
two years IN the army. Then he resigned
aud began the agreeable, If tame, exist
cnce he has led ever since-a club lOunger,
a man about town, an authority on horses,
carriages, dress. and department.
His grandmother, who might be de-
scribed as Napoleon did the Duchese
d'Anguleme, as the only man in the fam
lily, had not transmitted her lndomItable
ambition to any of her descendants, nor
could she ever inspire them with it. She
was always haunted by the vast pOssibili-
ties Of the future, which made her sons
marriage with Miss Williams so distaSte-
ful to her, and when Col. jerome, after he
svas 40 years old, turned around and mar
FNied handsome widow, the granddaugh-
;. er of Daniel Webster, the old madame's
wrath was bOundless. Her theory had
always been tbaGlt would be better for
the American BOnapartes not to marry at
all, because if by one Of those miracles Of
fortunes she was always expecting they
should be called to ENJOY royal honOrs
they would be much better II un.
hampered with republican relations. The
old madame showed nor displeasure in a
very practical way by making new will
she had passion for Williamsburg
giving the whole of her enormous fortune
& the younger brother, Charles, to the
exclusion Of Col. jerome. But when in a
fewyears Charles offended her flIriously by
making a.matcn equally undistinguished
with Jerome's she turned about and made
another will for JerOme's benefit, who. by
that time, was in favor again. After that
the old lady made numerous and capri
ciOus wills, but always giving her money
. to one or the other Of the brothers. Mean
while they had entered quietly into an
aAIttuiEub budb III iEdUlGI WulCu Out
might be declared the heir by the last
will and testament of mime. Bcnaparte
they would equally divide the property
between them--which brOtherly agree
Iaent was faithfully carried out.
NVben Col. BOnaparte became master OF
his own fortune he came Ito Washington
10 live. He had one child-little LOuisette
and three step-children. The present
AIRS. Bonaparte is not popular. Gossip
has been busy with her name in regard to
her behavior at certain entertainments.
and it has been too openly discussed to
make an attempt at cOneealment. Her
friends say she 10 subject to epileptie Its,
and she had terrible attack at the last
State dinner given at the White House BY
PRESIDENT Arthur. Her daughter by her
frst marriage, Miss Constance Edgar. al
though gifted extraordinarily with money
and social position, and a very charming
young ladyln her own right, has notfOund
the world so easy and attractive that she
desires to remain in IL, and year ago,
went to the Visitation convent in Balti-
more TO prepare for a religious life. She
returned to ashiDgtOnFkl a visit to her
parents on Christmas pbut she has not
a5sad0ned her. original idea OF becomiug
d nuns The eldest son, Webster Edgar,
is, "A young lawyer IN New York. The
Youngest son is a cadet at the naval
academy at Annapolis.
Col. BOnaparte drives tho haudsomest
turnout in Washington AID gives very
elegant gentlemen's dinners. Ladies are
rarely entertained at the Bonaparte house.
The HOUSE, has one unique feature. Al
though large and very luxurious it fssss
not single guest-chamber. Col. and Mrs.
honapaIte thinking the hotels the proper
lodging-placss for their friends and rela-
lives visiting Waghin ptOu