Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-04-22

Jerome, the Youngest brother OF Napoleon
the Great This fact brings nearer to us
that great series ut events beginning with
"a whifi Of Erupeshst" aud ending with
Waterloo His death, moreover. ls a
peculiar vivid interest for Americans. be.
cause II recalls the story of the first love OF
his father, jernnIr, for Young American
girl, Betsy Patterson. of baltimore.
II Is sad tale or romance, imperial am
bttion aud diplomacy. Napoleon had nj.
ready Won undyiug fame IN Italy when
his young brother, jerome, was Tut twelve
/ years OF age. He soon entered the French
/ navy, for il was his great brothers amb.
tfon 10 make ~ him "a Fighter on the seas
7 III 20 cope with Nelson ltwas an English
/ frigate that destroyed this plan by driving
the French frieate bearing jerome into
I American waters. At Baltimore Jerome
Y fell madly Ia love with and married Eliza
Z beth. the beautiful daughter of William
Y Patterson, q rich merchant, and an Irish
man by birth. Elizabeth. or Betsy, as she
was caltesl, bal a consuming ambition, and
when friends opposed the marriage she
said u would rather I've the wife OF a
brother of Napoleon for one hour than the
wife ~ any other man for life "
Napoleon was highly disprased with this
match because hc aireasly saw himself on
the throne and wished his brothers to
marry only "bluc hiuous Jerome and his
wife oniy learned Of The establishment Of
the empire when about 10 sail from New
York to beg the forgiveness of the first
consul They learned at the same time
that both Jerome aud his brother. Lucien,
were deharrcd from the line of succession
for marrying against Aapolcou's wishes.
Nevertheless the young couple, still hoping
forgiveness and advancement, sailed for
Lisbon IN 1895
HISTORY or no.
There jerome was arrested and taken to
France, after "A fearful adieu and protesta.
tions Of everlasting fidelity to his wife, who
was not allowed % land. She sent mes.
sage to the emperor which tick led him i'm
mensely.
Tell he emperor, she said, that Mime
Bonaparte demands her rights as n mem
Der Of the imperial family"
She proceeded 20 England, where a boy
was soon born 20 her and christened
Jerome Napoleon Bonapartc Jerome, the
father, proceeded to Paris little thinking
that be would never see Betsy again save
a. stranger and with another wife upon
his arm
Napoleon positively refused 20 recognize
the marriage, hut promised Betsy an an.
nual pension OF $1,000, providing she
would return to America and rcnounce
the name Of lIonapartc. which conditions
she accepted
Her husband Jerome. thus separated
from her, was compelled hy his brother 10
marry Cathsrine, thcdaughtcr Of the king
Of Wurtemburg Soon after lac WIS made
king Of Westphalin. lie thea sent To
America for letsy's child, "Bo''-an alb
breyiaiion II Bpnapartc She refused to
give him up, aud ia reply 10 the offer from
her husband ui duedl crown, with an in.
come of $1,000 year, she sent back the
scornful message. 'Nestphalia is too
small for two queens. besides, ! already
receive Si2O0l a year from the emperor,
and ! would rather be protected by the
wings Of the eagle than he dependent on
the bin Of goose
She ever afterward spoke with contempt
Of her husband a though "Bo" frequently
visited his father family in Europe where
he was treated as a son aud u brother, his
half sister, Princess Mathildc, being es.
pecially fond of him Aflerward DO"
married Baltimore lady, causing his
mother, Madame Betsy, great anger by
doing 50. His cousin. Emperor Napoleon
III, Invited him 10 France, where he was
legitimized and received rs member OF
the family. His half brother, the son Of
Jerome By Catharine. quurreled with the
emperor. and there WAS at one time a
strong intention TO make "Bo" the heir
presumptiye, but ultimately "I3on WAS de
clared ineligible
BETsYis POSITION
He declined duchy. refusing the condi.
tion attached 0f surrendtrng the name OF
Bonaparte. On the death Of King jerome
in 1850 his American wife, Betsy Patter
son, contested his will She was. however
refused "A share Of his property.
The letters show a great contempt for
her native land. She wrote TO her father
from Florence ia ls-g Al follows:
IN parent cannot make silk purse Of a
SOW ear, aud you found that you could
not make a sow's ear OF silk purse. 1t
was impossible 10 bend my talents and
my ambition 60 the obscure destiny Of a
Baltimore housektppcr. aud Il wns absurd
to attempt it after | had married the
brother 81 an emperor. had not the
meanness Of spirit To descend from such
elevation to the dcpturable condition Of
being the wifi ~ an American
II often ri. To reason myself into the
courage necessary To commit suicide v hen
contemplated a long life To be passed in
"A trading town, where everything was dis
gusting 10 nay tastes. and where every,
thing cpntraalcd 50 strongly with my
wishes
~ never could have degraded myself by
marriage with people who, after had
married a prince, Became my interiors
"The Americans themselves had sense
and good taste enough To feel that | had
risen above them, aud have always treated
me with the respect aud Difference due TO
superior.
when | first heard that my son could |
cundeseena tp marry any one Ia Baltimore
nearly went.mal.
II repeat that | would have starved,
died, rather than marry amy one in Balti.
more
In her old aso Betsy's constant compan.
ions were a carpet bag aud red umbrella, |
the color Of the Nalnleoaic dynasty "B0"
died in lsiO His mot her survived till ls1g, |
dying at the ngc uf ninety four years, aud |
leaving fortune Of al 200 90 10 Dos two 1
sons, Jerome and Charles J Bouaparte
Charles j "a tlgiad Miss Nellie Day, Of I
Boston, who J, 8 granddaughter Of Mr..
James {. Duia, merchant OF boston,
philadelphia Press
In Doubt.
One man has been discovered who thinks |