New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-11-04
NAPOLEON.
HIS TREATMENT OF THE WOMEN WHOM
HE NET.
NAPOLEON. LOVER AND HUSBAND. BY Fred
eric Mason. Translated from the French by j.
NJ Howell. PIP. 322 The Merriam Company.


eric Mason. Translated from the french ny j..
NJ. Howell. PIP. 322. The Merriam Company
This book Is deeply interesting but 1t Is hard
10 avoid the suspicion in perusing 1t that its
argument is msdirected The author maintains
that Napolcons intimaces with women put his
case before the world in different light than could
be thrown upon it without them. But so far as
Europe outside Of France IS concerned, the Ma
poleonc question: at least morally. Is simple
enough Were the endless slaughter. the In
calculabc suffering OF years necessary to civil
izaton? If they were. then Napoleon would
have been justified though he had been another
Narses. If they were not if the word could
have come without go much misery. to all the
benefits that can be computed from his con-
quests then he cannot be relieved from the sub
dued hatred and dread Of mankind by n catalogue
Of the women who submitted TO him. The book
is satire on woman. 1t might well have been
satire on Napoleon. The discussion has no value
in settling controversies as to NapOeOn's genius.
It would be as unreasonable To give II i'm
por;ance on that account as 1t would be TO test
the Gallo campaigns Of Caesar by a tradition
that he was overrun with proposals Of affection
from Roman ladies during his sojourns in the
capital. Nevertheless. they do show the domi-
nance Of fixed idea the determination II be
defeat Of which left Napoleon the sombre. de-
jected creature whom Chancellor Pasquier saw
on the of the exile at 81. Helena. They show
also the natural contradictions which occurred
when at rare intervals the man ceased for an In
slant to feel the one motive of his life and was
swaycd by an impulse. NJ. Mason credits Ma
poleon with sentiment. Those who read this
book will hardly he convinced They will FIN!
brutality-;he author calls II hmsef-mis
ogyny a disbelief in virtue and an overpower.ng
frankness: they will find lavish kindness. a per
scouting eagerness; but n reverence no tender
ness. no sympa thy. no compassion. II Is hard To
think Of sentiment IL man for woman unless II
has some Of these traits He was indulgent-
toward Josephine. for insance-but II was the
same indulgence which he showed even 10 the
las, toward men whom he knew t. be his enc
mies-Taleyrand. Fouche. Bernadotte Bourienne
and host Of others. who had once entered
deeply into his fc
Most ~ the incidents in this book would be
prosaic II related OF another man: or If written
ont by a legs brilliant master II style than VI.
Mason. less admirably translated than by
Mr. Howell Some very simple formula Ike
"Closeied for an hou, with such and such "A
person would meet ali the requirements ~
history. There are other affairs alluded 10 in
which Nap1eon's infatuation lasted day or
week or months. but hey reveal little ~ tho
character Of the man beyond the cynical tom
per and the lavish hand ~ one who. II l." had
not despised both mankind and womank.nd.
would have been more than mortal His g.fts
were imperial hut surely the manner II giving
must have left lifelong sting In natures that
were sensitive. Thus siftcd. the narrative cen
tres about five women. who elther influenced
the evolution u Napoleon's character in
marked way. or found themselves cniang i In
his calculations. These Josephine. Ste
phanic de- IIcauharnais IIortersc. Mime Walcwska
and Maria Louisa 81 Austria The misfortunes
u the nrsi-namcd have made nor n sentimental
figure in history. 1t is almost needless 90 saJ
thai ~ Marson dlscrcdts utterly the popular
view 81 her case. f,1naparie fresh from the
provinces knew nothing of lie In IN" capital be
yond what ne could see with the keen eyes ~
a man alert 10 every novelty. But recently he
had fanclod himself I'm love with Mile. DHsree
Eugene Clary. sister 10 Nine Joseph Bona
parte Now he saw mat he was mistaken. The
mistake brought upon him resentment that
aided and reioiced IN his downfall Meanwhile
he discovered that the women - Paris were
certainly the most beautiful IN the world. and
Characteristic observation great role
in the affairs ~ lfc" He was fascinated by
them. and proposed in succession 10 Nine
de Pcrmon Nine. de la Bouchar1ie. Nine. de
Lesrarda and finally 20 Nine De Bcauharnais
He Lad sprung into fame 81 suddenly that people
hardly knew how TO spell his name; yet he al
ready had control ~ Paris and was about TO be
made COMMUNICATIVE When he ordered
the disarmament OF the city. there came 10 his
quarters n boy who asked permission To keep
his fathers sword. Napoleon granted the re
quest. and soon aftcrward the mother called -
show that she shared her sons gratitude. She
was n great lady ci-devanf vicomtesse the
widow ~ the president q The constituency. Of
couriier. 81 the comma ndcr-in chief of the
Army Of the RhInc."and she charmed the young
general by the grace Of her manner He
suddenly placed in the attitude of a protector by
n lady of the class which had hitherto paid him
no attention. When he visited her he was 80
IMMERSED In the ways Of the world that he failed
10 note the manifest signs Of her poverty. lie
may be excused then. for not having discovered
that she was deeply in debt. Even II he had
discovered this he might have scorncd 10 weigh
the matter for ne was still addicted u tho rO-
mantle teachings Of Rousseau. Practical az
fairs had not taken hold upon him. This woman
possessed a charm and grace peculiarly her own;
long practice had rendered her every move
ment graceful and refined: she never lost an
advantage was constantly on her guard leaving
nothing to chance. and she had that indcfinabe
nonchalancc Of the creole which IL 50 attract
i've" But when one remembers the persistent
efforts which Napoleon made as Emperor 10 at
tract the old nobility. one wonders If there
not a glimncr Of future policy In his description
Of Josephines imposing manner as that calm
and dignihed demcanor Of the old regime" NJ.
Mason would have us believe that ne was com
pletely taken in. the victim OF an artful woman
and Of his own inexpcrence. But for once. per
haps his ambition may also have cOnspired to
make him the victim rather than the master Of
his situation. He soon learned after marriage
that his wife loved not him. but the nattcry
which his achievements brought 10 her His
union became more and more irksome. and from