The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-22

TO pay for II on the spot But both were kind,
gentle, and devoted to their husband" AS re-
cards the comparison hero drawn II Will be
suggestive to point out that Napoleons first
wife was twenty-eiRht years older than tho
second. and that whereas tho former, tetora
she married BonGparte and for some years
afteryard, had an experience certain to de-
teriorate the character. the latter's pre-nuptial
training was as careful as II she had been
brought I'm in convent. Neither do the facts
| sustain tho assertion that both we're devoted
| to their husband. Their devotion. at all events,
| did not bear the strain OF absence or mis-
| fortune. How faithful Josephine was to Bona
| parte. during his absence in ERvrt, was well
| known to his brothers, and they did not hesi-
tate TO diyulge tho truth on Bonaparte's return
| to Paris. AS to Marie Louise, at the very tlmo
when Napoleon was paying the above-quote
tribute to hor character. she was living In
quasi connublal relations with Count Neip-
pcrE. whom she married rs soon as she heard
OF the death OF tho great exile at st. Helena.
1t seems that in the first year OF her marriage
Marie Louise was jealous Of the divorced
Josephine and that one day, when she heard
that Napoleon had mado visit to his tirst Wiie'
che was seen to slIsd tears for the first time
since her arrival in France. But after the birth
OF her son her jealousy vanished. 1t is said
that she would often take the child and his
nurse to tho Emperor. and that, while the
nurse would stop at the door, Mario Louise
would enter, carrying the child In her arms
but always afraid that she might drop
him. The account OF Nspoleon's behavior
with his son, given by NJ. dc M6neval.
exhibits tho Emperor In an amiable light. We
are told that when Napoleon wanted to try
some new combinations OF troops. he used to
set out on tho floor little mahogany blocks OF
different lengths. representing regiments and
divisions Sometimes" says De. M6neval,
we used to find him seriously occupied In
arranging these blocks, rehearstng one OF the
manruvres with which he was to triumph on
the battlefield. The boy. seated at his side, de.
lighted with the shape and color OF tho blocks
which reminded him OF his toys. would stretch
out his hand every minute and disturb the
order OF battle, often at the decisive mo-
ment, when the enemy was aboutto be beaten,
but the Emperor was so cool and so considerate
OF his son that he was not disturbed by the
confusion introduced into his mannuvres. but
he would begin again. without annoyance. to !
arrange the blocks. His patience and his kind
moss to the boy were inexhaustible."
On Jan. %. 1914. Napoleon saw Marie Louise |
and his son for the last time. She could not |
have Joined him at Elba had she wished to do |
30. and that she wished may be doubted. when |
we remember that in 1914 she had already |
seen the man. Count NelprerG, who was to |
make her forget her duty to her husband. Her |
second marriage was shock to France, or at |
least that part of 1t which recognized the |
greatness OF Napoleon, but still more odium
was excited by her third marriage to a NJ. de
Bombelles. a self-expatriated Frenchman In
the Austrian service She could not moro
clearly demonstrate that she failed to ap-
probate the honor Of having been the wife OF
the foremost man OF modern times.
These books are we'll translatedI,so, well
that II seems pity the translators skill should
not be applied to a work OF more substantial
which NJ. Tane Is engaged. NJ. de Saint
Armand has given US pretty piece OF literary
which will serve we'll enough to
while away q leisure hour. 1t Is, however. TO
I he searching aud merciessly impartial inves-
LEGATIONS OF NJ. Taine that we must look for an
accurate conception OF Napoleon Bonaparte
as we'll In his domestic relations as on the mill
tary and political side OF his unparalleled
career. NJ. W. h.