The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1894-09-12
MADE THEM MARRY.
EMPEROR NAPOLEON WAS A MATRl-
MONlAL DESPOT.
He Compelled Women to Marry TO Suit His
Interests or whims-some of the Disa-
grceable Alliances Brought About by
This Tyrannical Matchmaker.

grceable Alliances Brought About by
This TyrannicaI Matchmaker.
Among the numerous works to which
the revival Of the Napoleonic legend has
given birth is one called Napoleon and
the Ladies. " The writer exerts himself
to the utmost to transform the rough
soldier and despot into hero Of ro-
nance, but without success. His rela-
ton with his two wives were not re-
markable for either consideration or
delicacy, and he adopted coarse pleas
antry in his conversation with the ladies
of his court which was not far removed
from downright vulgarity.
But what tended to make the very
name of Napoleon hateful to all young
Frenchwomen was his famous conscrip-
tion of girls, whom he married offhand
to his generals without the slightest
ceremony. The Marquise de Corgny, on
her return to Paris, was ordered to
marry her daughter to General Sebas-
tiana. Both mother and daughter pro-
tested in vain. Three days after the
order the marriage took place at the
Tuileries, Napoleon himself giving away
the bride. Mile. Adele de la Rochefou-
cauld was renowned throughout the
whole department for her grace, beauty
and expectations, when she was private
ly informed by the project that Napoleon
had decided to marry her to Count AL
dobrandini. The lady objected to the
count for tho best Of feminine reasons
namely, that he was neither young nor
handsome
The count however, was the brother
of Prince Borghese, the husband of
Pauline, the sister of Bonaparte, and
the resistance of father and daughter
was of no moment, and they were
obliged to yield to the will of Napoleon.
Count d'Arberg, the descendant of a
sovereign family, prefect of the Bouches
du Weser, and one of Napoleon's cham
berlains, had two daughters of mar
riageable age. Napoleon ordered that
ono should marry General Klein, and
the other General Mouton, count de
Lobau. The mother Of the two young
ladies was Countess Stolberg, sister OF
Countess Albany, widow Of the last OF
the Stuarts. Fanny Dillon, the daughter
Of Count Dillon, was ordered to marry
General Bertrand. The young lady re.
fused even to see the general, objectine
that he was hideous, which unfortu.
nately happened to be tho truth. Ma.
poleon was irritated at this conduct and
ordered the young lady to be arrested
and confined in prison until she consent
ed to marry Bertrand, the monster, az
she called him.
The Due de Laureguais, father Of the
Due d Arenberg, colonel of a regimen,
of cavalry and an unfortunate bachelor,
was ordered by Napoleon, under penalty
Of dismissal from the army, to marry
forthwith Mile Stephanie Tascher d.
In Pagerie, cousin german Of the EN-
press Josephine. The young lady a,
well as the duke objected TO the mar
riage, and the former had the audacity
to declare that she not only hated the
duke but was over head and ears IL
love with certain M. de Gentry. The
marriage between the cousin Of Jose
phine and the duke nevertheless tool
place, and at the marriage ceremony
when the young lady, in reply to thu
priests question. refused to say yel
Napoleon himself deigned to push hel
head downward in token of assent
| After the marriage ceremony thil
strangely married couple went to reside
at the Hotel de Chimay. But the duch
ess refused to receive her husband, who
like reasonable being, posted after hi
regiment, then serving in Spain. Ii
1911 he was made prisoner and sent Il
England, where he remained until the
fall Of Napoleon in 1914. On his return
to Paris the duchess obtained dissolu
tion Of the marriage on the ground o.
restraint, and she finished by marrying
the happy M. de Gentry.
The Prince of Hohenzollern, cousin Of
the king of Prussia, was ordered tC
marry Antoinette Murat, cousin Of
the Beau Sabreur" and king Of Ma
pies, and although both the prince and
Antoinette declared that they mutually
hated one another the marriage never
theless took place, Napoleon being of the
opinion, like Mrs. Malaprop, that mar
ried life had better commence with q
little hatred. One morning the Duo dc
Croy was informed by his friend, the
project Of Mans, that Napoleon had re-
solved that his daughter should be mar.
ried at once to general, and that an
order to that effect would be delivered