New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-15
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
JOSEPHINE l,ONAPARTE.

Sons.
NJ de Saint Amand's sketch Of the early mar
red life Of Josephine is of necessity largely occu-
pied with the overshadowing personality of her
husband, and there can he question that this
adds to the interest Of the book. for everything
that relates to Napoleon must always he worth
reading, while during the period concerned II
not always, the life Of Josephine presents little
that Is specially absorbing. This was the larvai
stage for Napoleon. and there is evidence enough
that his character had not yet ripened and hard
ened into what it became afterward Probably it
will always 1emain undetermined whether his
attitude toward the Revolution during the d.
reetory was the effect 81 studied discrimination, or
whether for time at least. he was sincere In MS
expressions of loyalty to the Republic IL Is not
so difficult 20 form judgment as TO MS feelings
for Josephine at tive time OF ana during some
years succeeding his marriage. His letters 10 hef
couclusively prove that he loved her passonateiy,
and It is strange indication OF his in'eiiectu"'
force and energy that he was able al tle S"iAo
time to carry on most difficult campaign againS'
desperate odds, and to conduct an amorous ooi
rexpondence marked by the deepest feeling III
the middle of his military plannings he could SiV
down and write the most fcrvent epistles 10 Ms
bride. apparently forgetting everything nut MS
passion, and referring incidentally I" 'iic """e>''
surrounding him mere tribes
Josenhine may as NJ. de Saint-Amand suggests
have stimulated his affections by her cooheSS
That she was almost eXasperatingly cool Napoie'"
reproaches sufficiently show, though uh'oi."
nately, her replies to him are not preserved i"'
ardor OF the fiery young Corsican seems TO nave
surprised and not exactly pleased the ln"o'"'
Creole She did not then love Bonapar'e' an" e'o
appears to have been somewhat bored by MS
flames anu raptures. At all events. she sho"c"
no eagerness in responding to his urgent Teq"ts'"
that She oin him in Italy, and it is even possible
that she did not rs vet believe in his star she
WAS however, at no time ambitious, and th"ugh
r.tn,a,lv ex+roya can't and fond of luxury, She had
a wholesome dislike to the pomp and ceremony
Of a court. and would have preferred to remain
IN a nrfvate station At what moment Bonaparfe
r.so,ved to try issues with the Directory II Is
imnossiblc to say with certainty He was such
an adept In discrimination that his words ana N'-
ters and proclamatOns can never oe depenoe" OH
only his actions can he trusted TO snow MS rea'
intent. II was only at st. Helena. when no'hih2
could be gained by Misrepresentation. that lie
spoke frankly at times. If it were true as ne
said in after years. that he married Josephine WIN
an eve to the future usefulness OF her arS'ocra"o
connections the date Of his first plottings against
the Republic would have to be fixed almost CO.
incidentally with his assumption OF the comman"
Of the Army Of Italy. 1t may we'll ne never
theless. that bis marriage was purely one OF love-
and that politic considerations only came a''er-
ward.
Josephine did not love him at first. Vnhappily
ror herself. she learned to love him only when
he had ceased to love her-whcn ambition han
taken full possession Of him. and he was already
mcditating q royal alliance. In those Italian
DAYS. however it is pleasant to think that the
Young GENERA! loved his beautiful bride rnderiE.
and one of the most romantic episodes IN MS
career is connected with flat time "nrms'r'
the Austrian commander, was very oos.iha''
hgl,te, and one Of the men who refuse 10 STAY
beaten. Bonaparte had no sooner scattered one
Austrian army than another was organized an"
az the Directory sent no sufficient rclnforcement'
the French army was dwindllng all the hne
through it's very successes. Wurmser pushed
forward his new divisions so quickly that ne
nearly caught Napoleon mapping. But 1or jose
mines presentiments in fact. Bonapartc would
have fallen into a trap and been made prisoner
Even after his escape by hairs breadth, poor
Josenbine was so chased by parties of the enemy
that she became very much afraid and cried
creot deal. "Those tears shall cost Wurmscr
dear" remarked Napoleon and he kept his word'
for he tbrashed the Austrian out of Italy with
electric swiftness
nv this time he had made up his mind TO work
for his own hand, and Ia obey or dlsohcy the
Directory as his own interest might prompt him
He kept regal state III Italy, and he planned all"
carried out q policy which WAS flatly against '"c
wishes OF the Directory The treaty OF 'ampo
Formio might be regarded as his ilrst e\piicH
declaration Of war against the Republic ana there
can be no doubt that Barriae at least 80 regarded
il. though he dared not act upon his brllei.
Already Napoleon had ovcmwed his Official
superiors. His native masterfulness swept away
ali artificial distinctions of rank. Veteran
diplomstis ambassadors who had been at every
court became confused under his piercing glance
and stammcrcd, and compromised themselves
Though he had made peace TO suit himself, how
aver Bonaparte could not endure the situation hc
had crcated He found Paris intDlerab!c, ana
though he was the hero Of the hour. he knew his
Parisians too we'll to imagine that They would
continue to think Of him after the novelty hao
worn of unless he could do something to re-
arouse their curiosity and enthusiasm For INN
ouiet meant oblivion, and that was RUIN 10 his
ambition Hence the expedition to Egypt. which,
though the rashcst and least successful Of uhd' r.
takings, served his purpose by providing dis
tant stage upon which he could set the scr's
10 please himself, and doctor the bulletins 80 as 10
create the precise effects he desired. Josephine
he left behind when he went TO Egypt, hn' h"
took hcr son, Eugene Bcauharnais, as an aide
de-camp.
Both the going to and the coming from Egypt
involved great risks, for the English cruisers
swarmed Nelson held the and capture was
more than possible. Napoleon trusted in his star
and his escape of course confirmed his supersu-
ton When he reached Paris, where he did not
find his wife, who had gone TO meet HIM Oh inc
wrong road, he was furious with her. HIS
brothers had done their utmost to embltter his
mind against her, and he was jealous. Shutting
himself in his room he refused for hours to admit
poor Josephine, who remained outside entrea'ing
him with tears Finally he relentcd, and a recon-
ciliation followed explanations. His JEALOUSY at
this time seems to show that lie continued I" love
his wife but events were approaching IN which
her aid would be necessary to his plans, ana nc