The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-10
LOUIS NApSnEoS,s SECRET LIFE.
He Was Married During His Career i'm Lon
don-Eugenie's Doubtful Place.


Edgar Mels. in New York star.
After the death of his mother. the. ex-
Queen Hortense. in 1857, Louis Napoleon
went TO England, and for the next three
years. and until he made his tremendous
failure IN 1910 TO take France by. storm
by way of BoulOgne, he lived prin-
cipally in London. He had mag
nifcent establishment III Carlton
terrace, an establishment inferior TO none
Ia the city in point of splendor. Although
he was regarded by many as silent and
rather dull man, his drawlng-rooms formed
one of the recognized social centers. III
was here that he met and knew the brill
liant woman who gained an influence; great
er or less, over him, AMI where the hres OF
more than one bit of untold romance were
lighted.
Many of the people who fl0cked to Louis's
mansion were. like himself. expatriated
and We're living under the only flag, save
that of America which afforded them abso-
lutte protection from persecution, and
opened TO them, at the same time, faclllties
for travel. America was far distant:
and In those days was considered
q standardization territory, and England
was naturally. their harbor of refuge. In
the circle of the young Napoleon's associ-
ates was the beautiful Countess Walewska,
whose mother had been an intimate of his
imperial uncle Strange freak of romance
1T was that afterward made the Count
Bentivoglio, brother OF the Countess, intro
duce Louis to Eugene Marie de MoDtiJO.
The Countess was brilliant, Ease hating
woman, and she occupied high social pO-
sition. Louis fell victim to her harms,
and she bore him two children, both
daughters. The youngest died in infancy,
but the eldest grew TO wOmanhoOd, mar
ried, and bore son, who was christened
Paul. These facts are matters of history
and are well substantiated. Were this
all of the story the romance would not
differ materially from Othersin which Louis
was the hero. But the Countess Waiew-
ska held the future Emperor in closer fas-
cInatiOn than did others of that talented
half-scOre of women. There came mo-
ment, before the birth of her first baby girl,
when the title of wife, even though 1T be
secretly held, appeared TO be worth more
than any other, and Louis, cold and heart
less though he was. man of destiny though
he considered himself 10 be, bestowed 1T
upon her. They were secretly married In
London, and the fact was known at least to
Charles Thelin, foster-brother and valet de
ehambre.
Time passed and the second daughter
was born. Years rolled by-years in which
history was made at terrific pace. Louis
Napoleon's failure at Boulogne landed him
III the Fortress of Ham, and it was FIVE
years before he escaped. Then came the
prisoner, condemned to perpetual con-
finement, became first Deputy in
the Constituent Assembly, the President of
the Republic and then Emperor of France.
And IN all these years the Countess Wal
ewska, the secret wife, made no signs. Her
secret and her husbands was faithfully
kept, and not suspicion of that marriage
ever arose during Louis's scramble for his
throne.
Once the third empire was firmly estab-
Gshed, Louis began to think of a social head
and also of the succession. The faithful
Countess Walewska was out of the ques-
tiOn. Eugene, Countess of Montijo, was
fttest in every way 20 be his Empress.
Then it was that the Coun-
tess Walewska rose rose to supreme height
shadow over the Emperor's glory. She re-
nounced all claim upon him, destroyed all
evidence of marriage and was content to
taks her place among Others who had fui
the moment. Louis was not migrate
sui He loaded her with riches and
did everything powerful Emperor could
do to recompense her for the loss of her
title, lot of Empress, but of wife. The
Countess continued to reside in England,
and was regarded in a measure as being in
some sense under the protection of Queen
Victoria. She was even known at the
Court of st. James under an assumed name.
Such Is the story limited at by Charles
Thelin-the story sometimes told by others
of Napoleon's early associates:
LII IL be true, 1t may be difficult to sub
stantiate. The marriage was doubtless
recorded somewhere in London, but the
record itself may have been destroyed.
Names may have been assumed for the oc-
casiOn, or for purposes of record. But if it
be true, and can be proved, the young
man Paul, grandson of Louis Napoleon
and of the Countess Walewska, is to-day
The heir apparent TO the imperial throne
of France. The code Napoleon provided
that the succession, in default of direct
male issue. should pass through daughter
TO her son, instead of TO a sOvereigu's
brother or to other lateral male heir.
Whatever of legal right Louis Napoleon
had TO his French throne he inherited from
bis uncle. the First Emperor This
restoration and tive Republic He was
simply prevented Ivy circumstances from
exercising it. A child born in wedlOck did
not furnish the inheritance, even though
born during the exile of the parents. In so
far as the house of Bonaparte has any title
TO the French throne, the young man Paul
is heir apparent, if the fact of that secret
marriage half century ago can be proved.
But, If the story be true, it is strange
that DIR. Conneau, physician to the En-
,peror and most intimate friend
well, should not have known it, say some
of those who question this romance.
Perhaps the Doctor did know il. His very
intimacy with the Emperor would doubt
less have closed his lips. His profession
itself would naturally have made him more
reticent than the valet, Charles Thelin. 1t
is no discredit to the story that DIR. Conneau
never told IL. The fact that he would never
discuss it or allow it to be mentioned in his
presence might possibly be construed as
evidence, of negative sort, of it's truth.
Pauls whereabouts is unknown. His
name, even, is a secret, known to but
few. But he doubtless is familiar with the
story of his parentage. If the Bonapartes
ever rise TO the top In the etfervescence of
French politics he may come forward to
assert his rights.
The life of Napoleon III was full of
strange romance. He was almost continu-
ally involved in intrigue. The notorious
Mrs. Howard. once a North of England giri,
and Louis's first known intimate exercised
some fascination over him almost to the
last, and lived in luxury on princely pen
sion. The children she bore him received
liberal fortunes Others Of the Emperor's
intrigues are matter of history. For
the moment, the Countess w alewska exer-
cised more complete fascination over the
man of destiny than did any Others oman
Is ii not possible, even probable, mat she
was able at the time TO secure the one favor
she desired, the title of wife, even though
bestowed in secreta
JOHN MLEAN,S HOUSE.