The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-18

the Emperor, whose head was full of grave
resistance, soon overcome by his natural
His enemies alleged that his
generous treatment of his brothers and Sis
tiers was dictated by his interests, and by
an unwillingness TO disclose family quarrelS
TO European courts. The author of this
sidered public opinion, but the very fact
Is pronounced a proof of his wish not 10
place himself above the level OF humanity.
An anxiety, however. to conceal his lam
lily troubles, although legitimate ana re-
spectacle, was not the handspring. or Ma
poleons acts. 1t was rather the direct re-
suit Of his earnest desire tC see all his own
people happy and respected, for the eVl-
dence shows that this desire animated MN
at a time when he was responsible 10 no
one. not even to public opinion His So
licltude for Joseph and for Lucien, warmly
expressed in the letters which he wrote
while still a schoolboy OF thirteen at Bri-
enne; his pastoral care for Louis, whom,
when he was himself only a sub-lieutenant
he educated at the cost or untold prlva-
tons: the help which he gave TO Eliza when
he was a captain on half pay; the educa-
ton OF Jerome, which he undertook as soon
as he became a general; the marriages OF
Pauline and Caroline, which he arranged
when he was first consul. with no thought
but for their happiness; all these facts AT,
test that Napoleon, in showing himself kind
TO his family, needed no other motive than
the natural promptings of his heart. On
this subject let US listen TO Prlnce Aletter-
formed, and who was. moreover, an enc
my of the Emperor: Napoleon had a
GREAT weakness Tor MS FANNY ~ SOOQ SUI,
p good parent, with those shades of char
acter that are particularly TO be met with
in middle-class Italian households. he
suffered from the e~xtravagances OF some
members of his family, without putting
forth sufficient will to stop them. although
it is clear that he should have done so IN
his own interest" 1t was from the mouth
of the Emperor himself that Metternich
heard the following words: My relations
have done me much more harm than
have done them good. They possess king
doms which some of them cannot manage
and wherein others compromise me by
parodying me-" Stendhal, In his laconlc
happier for Napoleon if he had had no fam
ily." Stanislas Girardin Is OF the same
Napoleon encountered the most strenuous
opposition; alone he would have been more
tranquil and France more happy" All OF
them" says General Rapp, except his
mother, overwhelmed him with disappoint-
ments, while he never ceased shoWering
kindnesses and honors upon them" To the
Constant: 1T is worthy of note that,
despite the frequent a~nnoyanees caused
tanned the greatest affection for them ALL"
AN EMPEROR'S AMOURS.
The author does not pretend to call Ma
poleon a rigorous observer of c~onjugal fdel-
ity as 1t is prescribed by strict morality.
There is reason to believe, however, that he
was exceptionally chaste up to the time Of
his marriage with Josephine. and it is n
reasonable inference that he would have
continued continent If Josephine had known
how to preserve the love that Napoleon,
at the outset. bore her. The fact remains
ton of affairs created by her, first by her
eXasperating coldness and then by hep re-
mad reduced to friendly affection and the
mere force OF habit the bond which kept
her husband near her-he eventually be-
came unfaithful in his turn. 1t is not dis
puted that Napoleon had ,nistresses, but
the fact accentuates his middle Class preiu-
Francis /. Louis XIV and Louis XIV,
his predecessors, the Emperor took every
possible precaution to prevent his intima-
court and the public. During his reign we
do not find a single instance of a concubine
eXerting the very smallest influence in the
councils of the state, or in the distribution
of S-svileges and appointments in the gift
OF rn- monarch. The first woman who
save Josephine cause for jealousy was"
says Lucien Bonaparte, in his memoirs,
'Mme. Branchu, of the opera, a very plain
woman. but a magnificent singer" Ma
pOlson'S attention was retained rather
longer by another pensionary of a subsi-
died theater, namely. Mile. Georges, of the
a magnificent woman of surprising beauty.
1t was believed that she was handsomely
provided for by the First Consul; he did
not advertise the connection, but it was
talked about in high places. Her conversa-
ton" says the valet Constant, pleased
and amused him very much, and / have
often heard him laugh very heartily at
the anecdotes with which Mile. Georges
seasoned her interviews with him." While
at Milan Napoleon was charmed by the
theatrical beauty and the voice of Nine.
Grassini, a singer, and he made her come
to Paris, allotting her 5000 a month. But
and was determined to give Josephine no
cause Of umbrage, he only paid Nine.
Grasslni short and furtive visits. A love
without any public attentions was not
calculated to please a naughty woman,
who quickly fell in love with a violinist
81 Al x-sfA L4-- - Dnrfr T1,fa Drn~1-
seems to have disguised the Emperor for
ever with theatrical people, for no further
mention of them is to be found in the gal
liant annals of his reign. The Sovereign's
caprices next fixed themselves on the ladies
in waiting or the companions Of the En-
press. In this category belonged, as we
are told by Mile. Avrillon, Mime. de Van
ay, at that time a very beautiful woman;
she attracted the Emperor's attention, but
followed the liaison with Nine. Duchatel,
wife Of a counsellor of state, who was old
Constant, "fell very much in love with Nine.
D.. He did all he could to quiet Joseph
ines conjugal mistrust. He used not to join
his mistress until every one in the palace
was asleep, and even went so far in his
precautions as to pass barefoot from one
apartment to the other. Nevertheless, as
he feared q surprise, he ordered me 10 hire
for him a little house in the Alice des
Neuves. and there he and Nine. D used
to meet" There succeeded ephemeral lik-
ings for three of the Empress's cOmpan-
ions, after which came the intimacy with
Nine. GaZani, a very beautiful GenOeSe-
an intimacy which, according TO Constant,
lasted about a year, with meetings only at
rare intervals. II remains TO speak of the
one real passion that Napoleon ever expert
enced in his c~onjugal inhdelities.
THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE.
1t was between the battle or Jena (Octo-
Der. 1860 and the battle of Eylau Feb. s,
1900 that the Emperor first occupied Po-
land. In France the reputation of the
Polish women for beauty and charm was
great, and Josephine, as though she had a
presentiment of imminent danger. was tor
tured day and night by bitter jealousy.
She, who had once opposed the most siren
uous resistance TO the prayers of her hus-
now sent off letter after letter imploring
him to let her join him in Poland. Every
evening" says the DucheSse dAbranteS,
"she used TO consult the cards in order To
learn whether she would receive the de-
sired orders or not" The Emperor. on his
part, sought to avert her suspicious, and,
ike a bourgeoise who rs contemplating In
intidelity. showed himself more affectionate
and tender toward her than ever.
Ill these Polish women" he wrote,
ARE French; but TO me there is
but one woman in the world. Do you
know her? l could paint her portrait for
you. but should have TO iatter her so much
nights are very long The truth was that
scarcely had he arrived in the capital Of
Poland when Napoleon met the only woman
who. in all his adventures, ever gave him
a real love. At Warsaw he met the idyll
of his life; there only he realized the bliss
Josephine. as she had shown amid his early
struggles, nor Maria Louisa, as she was