Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-02-15

his heart full OF bitterness and his mind full
of malicious stories, he refused to meet his
wife, and expressed his determination to Sc
cure a divorce. But her tears and prayers,
and those of her children, Eugene and
Hortense, secured a reconciliation-much to
the disgust of the Bonaparte family, by all
of whom, Josephine-notwithstanding her
sweetness of temper, her ample good nature,
her genial manners-was cordially despised.
It need hardly be stated that Josephine re-
turned this feeling with interest when op-
p~ortunity offered. Their envysand emnity
were always ready to misconstrue her every
motive, and to give breath to every libel and
scandal. Spies were ever on the alert to
gather from any source material to promote
discussion and trouble between Napoleon
and Josephine.
The mean jealousies, low i~ntrigues, the
n and c~onceit, and lack of morality dis
played by his sisters, coupled with the van.
ity and frivolity of his wife and the women
Of society may have been the foundation Of
Napoleon's contempt for women. Men are
prone to judge all women by those whom
they best know. The revolution had broken
up society. ''Tbe circle that surrounded
the Directory" says Madame de Remusat.
twas a corrupt one," and the women whom
Lie 6nSW WcIC " u VuikhIy vain, ab0 INV
lous order. He despised them for their in
ferioiity. and regarded the influence of
women in society as an intolerable usurpa-
ton" and an abuse of the progress OF civili-
cation.
Didn't Nee Women's Help.
Madame de Maintenon ruled France un-
der Louis XIV, and Madame P~ompadour
managed politics and State matters for Louis
Wv h~1 1naIa n . his nfn1 that
no woman should have a finger in his i'm
perial pie. But for all that, Josephine with
her tact and benevolence helped greatly to
make his way smooth. She did much to
ingratiate the nobility and reconcile them
to the court by helping to restore to them
their confiscated estates. She was of great
service in promoting the return to France OF
many who had been driven from the country
by the Reign OF Terror. She has told OF
him, that there were not more than i've or
six days in a year when a woman may OBJ
tain any influence over him because his
opinion of the sex is so unfavorable."
He was afraid of intellectual women, and
never at ease in their presence. He banished
Madam de Stael. The beautiful Madam
Recamier shared the same fate because she
visited her in her exile. His system OF
spies and imperial police did effective work
III bICdhAuS ap 5OSASbys - ASPAScoAA6
openness in correspondence. The best of
friends were reserved, and not only the pa
pers, but ever private letters in the days OF
the Empire are more remarkable for what
they omit than what they relate Of passing
events and politics.
Set Spies Upon Josephine.
So suspicious was the nature Of Bona
parte that in all her life Josephine was
rwotohaI kv spiao h. ordor Af har hnohonH
The ladies in attendance at the palace had
often a sorry time of it. To them, when che
fancy seized him, or things had gone wrong,
he was brutallY rude and insulting. How
far he went is shown by the fact that though
he had no scruples about his expressing his
contempt for all women, he said at one time
of his stepdaughter hat "Hortense
forces me to believe in virtue" In actual
fear the danes of the palace maintained
habitual silence. Under the despotic
power of this man they were ever afraid to
gossip. To them not only the walls had
ears, but even the tables and chairs seemed
to be reporters.
A woman to have lived with such a man
must indeed have been good natured and
patient. In view OF her trials the idea tina,
she cared for her high position more thar
she loved Napoleon certainly has consider
able weight. B~iographers relate that or
one occasion when Napoleon had arranged
for a grand ovation for himself the multi
tude c6eered and hurrahed for the Empress
Napoleon few into q rage. and. az thu
story goes, he spent two hours or more in
scene of such violence and outrage with
Josephine as almost to exceed belief. He
accused her in the most cruel manner Of
having planned to enter the town and cap
ture the honors of the populace TOR herself
that should have been given to him.
How the Divorce Game About.
--
II seems scsreeiy possiDle snas = woman
couio De sorry W pe sepafaseu from sucn =
man, pu' iof ING pisssurs oI oei9g Impres'
was "iiiing 70 enoufe every
humlllatl0n. but MS lmpeflous Will con