Milford chronicle., 1891-05-01

eraburg as 70 Jhe mum
frontier fortresses TONG BROTHER.
and, as it wac
I, To- -, tic General and Emperor Became
Connected with American Relatives.
Betsy patterson's peculiar Position An
French history.
The late Prince Napoleon was the son Of
Jerome, tie youngest brother Of Napoleon
the Great This fact brings nearer TO us
that great series Of events beginning with
"a Whit OF grapeshotn and ending with
Waterloo His death, moreover, has a
peculiar vivid interest for Americans, be-
cause Sc recalls the story of the first love Of
his father, Jerome, for young American
girl. Betsy Patterson, Of Baltimore
it IS a sad tale of romance imperial am
bilion and diplomacy Napoleon had al
ready won undying fame in Italy when
his Young brother, jerome, was but twelve
rears of age. He soon entered the French
navy, for was his great brothers ambi-
ton TO make Of him fighter on the seas
fit to cope with Nelson. Il was an English
frieate that destroyed this plan by driving
tie French fligate bearing jerome into
American waters At Baltimore Jerome
fell madly fin love with and married Eliza
beth. the beautiful daughter Of William
Patterson, rich merchant, and an Irish
man by BIRTH Elizabeth, or Betsy, as she
was called, had consuming ambition, and
when friends opposed the marriage she
said, 81 would rather be the wife Of a
brother Of Napoleon for one hour than the
wife Of any other man for life"
Napoleon was highly displeased with this
match, because he already saw himself on
the throne and wished his brothers to
marry only "blue bloods." Jerome and his
wife only learned Of the establishment Of
the empire when about to sail from New
York to beg the forgiveness Of the first
consul. They learned at the same time
that both Jerome and his brother, Lucien,
were debarred from the line of succession
for. marrying against NapoleOn's wishes.
n.heless the young couple, still hoping
efveness and advancement, sailed for
lisbon in 1905,
HISTORY OF "Bo."
There Jerome was arrested and taken TO
France, after fearful adieu and protesta-
tions Of everlasting fidelity to his wife, who
was not allowed to land. She sent a mes
sage 70 the emperor which tickled him inn
mensely.
''Tell the emperor, - she said, that Nine
Bonaparte demands her rights as a mem
Der of the imperial family" -
She proceeded to England, when boy
was soon born to her and I, istened
Jerome Napoleon Bonaparte >fuilIome, the
father, proceeded to Parimedie thinking
that he would eyegFays ot isy again i ~ save
his arm. sah3
Napoleon Is VIII siy refused to recognize
the Inarrtr, 0nt promised Betsy an an
nual r-asion Of $4,000, providing she
n nd return to America and renounce I
asst nome Of Bonaparte, which conditions /
= IL ls2se l,eessssssa. - 4
Her husband, Jerome, thus separated
from her, was compelled by his brother to
marry Catharine, the daughter of the king
Of Wultemburg. Soon after he was made
king of Westphalia He then sent to
America for Betsy's child, ''Bo"-an alb
breviation Of Bonaparte She refused to
give him up, and in reply to the offer from
her husband Of q ducal crown, with an in
come of 100000 year she sent back the
message; "Westphalia is too
small for two queens; besides, already
receive $4,000 a year from the emperor,
and I would rather be protected by the
wings Of the eagle than be dependent on
the bill Of a goose"
She ever afterward spoke with contempt
of her husband, although "Bon frequently
visited his fathers family in Europe, where
he was treated as a son and brother, his
20 sister, Princess AIathilde, being es-
fond of him. AfterWard "Bo"
married a Baltimore lady, causing his
mother, Madame Betsy, great anger by
doing so. His cousin, Emperor Napoleon
III, invited him to France, where he was
ledtimized and received as member Of
the family. His half brother, the son Of
jerome by Catharine, quarreled with the
emperor, and there was at one time a
strong intention to make 'Bo" the heir
presumptive but ultimately 'Bo' was de-
clared ineligible
BETsY's POSITION.
He declined a duehy, refusing the condi-
ton attached Of surrendering the name Of
Bonaparte. On the death of King Jerome
IN 1860 his American wife, Betsy Patter-
son, contested his viii. She was, however,
refused share of his property.
The letters show great contempt for |
her native land. She wrote to her father |
from Florence in 1893 as follows;
"a parent cannot make a silk purse Of a |
sow's ear, and you found that you could /
not make sow's ear of a silk purse. It |
was impossible to bend my talents and |
my ambition TO the obscure destiny of a
Baltimore housekeeper, and it was absurd |
to attempt it after / had married the 4
brother of an emperor. had not the /
meauness Of spirit to descend from such 1
elevation to the deplorable condition of |
being the wife of an American.
81 often tried to reason myself into the I
courage necessary to commit suicide when /
% HHNls H.
q trading town, where everything was dis
gushing to my tastes, and where every
thing contrasted so strongly with my
wishes.
81 never could have degraded myself by
with people who, after / had
married a prince, became my Interiors
"phe Americans themselves had sense
md good taste enough TO feel that had
risen above them, and have always treated /
me with the respect and Difference due 60 a
superior.
tWhen first heard that my son could
'ondescend TO marry any one in Baltimore
nearly Went nad
% sapeat that | would have starved,
lied rather than marry any one in Balti-
more.
I'm her Old age Betsy's constant cOmpan-
ons were carpet bug and q red umbrella,
he colorof the NapoleOnic dynasty. Boz
lied ia 1910 His mother survived till 1873,
lyinga the age Of ninety-four years, aud
eaving fortune Of S1,500,000 to Bo's two
ons. Jerome and Charles j. Bonaparte.
Charles ] married Miss Nellie Day, Of
BOSTON, who is a granddaughter of Mr..
James G. Dunn, a merchant of Boston,
Press.
Postponed the Funeral.
THE funeral of Charles Stahl. which WIS
dyeltised TO take place in Milwaukee the
ther day. has been Indefinitely postponed
az llahl WIS an inmate OF the Soldiers
iome and his wife received telegram
rom & e governor Of the home Informing
er bat her husband had died. Death
Offices were inserted IN the papers and
leatings qt Two lodges and union to
ihich Af stahl belonged were called to
lake arrangements for attending his fun