The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-11

only at rare intervals. IL remains TO speak OF
the one real passion that Napoleon ever ex-
perienced in his coniugsl in1delities.
II was between the battle OF Jena toct.
| 1900 and the battle Of Eylau Feb 8. 1907
that the Emperor first occupied Poland. In
France the reputation OF the Polish women for
beauty and charm was great. and Josephine.
| as though she had a presentlment OF immi-
nent danger, was tortured day and night by
| bitter jealousy. She. who had once opposed
| the most strenuous resistance to the prayers
OF her husband that she should Join him in
Italy. now sent of letter after letter imploring
| him to let her Join him in Poland. Every
| evening" says the Duchesse d'Abrantes.
she used to consult the cards in order &c
| learn whether she would receive the desired
| orders or not" The Emperor on his part,
sought to avert her suspicious and like q
bourgeois who is contem plating an infdelty.
showed himself more afIectionate and tender
toward her than eveT. "Al these Polish
| women" he wrote. are French: but to me
there Is but one woman in the world. Do you
know herr could paint her portrait for you.
but should have to iatter her so much that you
would not recognize yourself The nights are
| very long" The truth was that scarcely had
| he arrived In the capital OF Poland when Ma
| poleon mot the only woman who. In all his ad-
| ventures. ever gave him a real love. At War
| saw he met the dyll OF his life; there only he
realized the bliss OF a passion that was
shared. Neither Josephine as she had
shown amid his early struggles. nor
Maria Louisa as she was to show In the hour
OF his misfortunes. cared for him as Nine.
Walewska did. Napoleon first saw her at q
ball given to him BIZ the noblesse OF Poland.
He says OF her: She was q charming woman,
an angel One might say that her soul was as
beautiful as her face" We reproduce tho
portrait drawn OF her by the author OF this
work. she was two and twenty. fair. with
blue eyes. and a skin of dazzling Wilderness.
She was not tall. but perfectly formed. with an
exquisite 0gure. A slight shadow OF melan-
choly lay on hor whole person. and rendered
her still more attractive. Recently married to
an old noble with bad temper and extremely
rigorous views. she seemed to Napoleon like q
woman who has been sacrificed. and who 10
unhappy at home" Constant tells us that
this idea Increased the passionate interest
that the Emperor felt in her as soon as he saw
her Tho day after tho ball the Emperor
seemed to be In an unusually agltated state.
He walked about the room. sat down. got up.
and walked about again Immediately after
luncheon he sent a great parsonage to visit
Nine. Walewska on his behalf. and to present
to her his homage and his entreaties She
proudly refused proposals which had been
made too brusquely; or was It, perhaps the
coquetry innate In woman that suggested
to her to refuss3" What Is certain
is. that the Polish lady did not long
resist the temptation OF becoming the mistress
OF a horo. still young The was but thirty-sevenl
and a sunburst Of power and glory. Napoleon
wrote TO her In language so tender and touch
ing that she ended By yielding and promised
to come and see the Emperor on a certain
night between 10 ard IL o'clock. Constant
says that the Emperor while waiting for
her, walked about the room and displayed as
much I'm patience as emotion. Every moment
he inquired the time. Nine. Walewska arrived
at last-but in what statei-pale. dumb. her
eyes bathed in tears" According to the same
witness. the first evening was given up to tho
condolences OF Nine. Walewska. who dilatsd on
the domestic troubles which were her excuse
for throwing herself into tho arms OF q lover.
She left at In the morning. her handkerchief
TO her eyes. and still weeping. 1t is suggested
that her tears served to show her the way
again. as the white petals did for Hop.o-my-
Thumb. for she soon returned STAYED till a |
fairly early hour in the morning. and contIn-
ued her visits till the Emperor left"
The first chapter OF the romance begun at |
Warsaw ended with the departure OF the En- |
peror who had to go and take command Of |
his army for the campaign OF Eylau. In 1909. |
after the battle Of Wagram which marked the |
apoges OF the mperiAl power. Napoleon spent |
three months at sehonbrunn. There he was
rejoinsd By Nine wAiewska who soon became |
sncsinte. Her SON. It is well known became .
Minister under Napoleon I'LL The birth OF |
this child was fatal TO Josephine. for hitherto |
the Emperor had more than half credited her |
declaration that he and not she was respon-
sibls for the childlessness OF their union.
Once assured OF the contrary he resolved ir-
reyoeably upon divorce.
h. 81
did not pass away. After having given him
supreme pleasure by making him father she
never oecasioned him the smallest unpleas-
Antness. Throughout tho i'm psrlal reign she
remained in shadow. and did not reappsar
until the reVerses came. when enc fslt that
loving words were needful to him. crushed as
he was under so many disasters and such har-
rowing betrayalS She visited him in the island
OF Elba. carrying consolation TO the exile who
hal fallen from his grandeur aud was left
without power or fortune. The figure Of this
constant and disinterested woman floats like
guardian angel over the sea Of eoWardiee
and trsacheTy in which the star OF Napolson
was doomed to sink.
What is the fundamental purpose Of this
book. which. with its tremendous aeeumula-
ton OF nrst-hand evidence. constitutes the
most powerful plea ever made on behalf Of
Napoleon Bonaparte. considered as a kindly.
generous. and sympathetic human bsing7 It
Is not the General or the statesman. but the
man. who. in these volumes is commended TO
the gratitude esteem. and love OF the French
people Shall We assume that such a work a.
this IL only = colossal pamphlet psnned in the
Interests OF Prince Victor who Il the heir OF
the kaDolsonle dynasty WsshouId rather say
that IL was written TO convince the bOuTRsoisie
who, since lf82. have. under all political mu-
sLtons. been the real masters Of France. that !
having once produced In Napoleon a eonsum-
mate example Of their class Ihsy may again
under favorable circumstances. evoke his |
eountstpart. That this IL the real intsntion OF
ne author ys infer from the hnal sentence Of
MS BOOK: There may even nov DO among |
plain. haFd-uorklng oniesra ohs Who. somS |
eey. m1y 9sy e he eoqntry What ThsRisto-
elss said 70 the AthSniAns Ia truth can | ,
eSlthsF tans Tyre ~ plAg psAltaIy. bat
give ne snail and otAsnrs toyh. AID Il shall
hMA II