The morning call., 1894-05-13

they show the extreme hatred of Barras
for NAPOLEON and his followers. Mr.. de
st. Albin was obliged to retouch and
polish the style, but as M. de St. Albn
himself detested Napoleon no passage
against him was omitted. NJ. Georges
Duruy thinks this the moment to publish
the memoirs because Napoleon is now la
mode. But all the attacks of Barras will
not injure the memory Of the great hero,
who said: "Calumny has exhausted all its
venom against my person. 1t cannot hurt
me. l am not afraid of slanderers, for
they will bite granite"
The memoirs refer to the fall and death
of RobeSpierre, but they laud Barras him.
self in the most remarkable manner
Barras also relates the history of Bona
parties marriage. and makes of the inter-
views between Napoleon aud Josephine
Bile comedies. Napoleon writes him
self: I'm Paris l attached myself to Bar
ras because [ knew no one else. Robes
pierre was dead. Barras played role.
and it was necessary or me TO become at
tached to some person or something"
Again Napoleon writes: 81 explained
my plan to Barrss. He had been a sailor.
and although sailors know nothing of war
the National Assembly asked him not to
be responsible for arms and legs, only for
success"
And again. 81 had nothing to do in
Paris. l had no acqusintances. was not
accustomed to society. and l visited only
Barras. At his house | saw, for the first
time, my wife, who had so great an infIu-
ence On my life, and whose memory will
be always dear. Nine. Josephine de
Beauharnais was the first woman capable
of placing me at ease. She flatiered me
about my military talents one day when l
was near her. This praise intoxicated me.
| followed here everywhere. l was madly
L. 1T. -.
l dared to acknowledge my affection.
Batras spoke to me of my devotion. and L
had no reason for denying it. In that
case, said he, you must marry Mme. de
Beauharnais; you have military rank and
great talent, but you are isolated, without
fortune, without friends. 7 on must
marry marriage gives position. Nine. de
Beauharnais is agreeable and witty. but
she is a widow. Widows no longer play
an important role in the world they must
marry to have influence. You please her.
Do you wish me to negotiate the mar
rlags? AnXousiy l waited the reply. 1t
was favorable. Nine. de Beauharnsis ac-
corded her hand. and if in my life there
have been moments of happiness, to her |
owe them"
Barras, in his memoirs, turns all his
love-maklng into rIdcule. and speaks of
interviews he had with Josephine at The
Chantereine baths. when the little artil-
lery officer was walKing up and down
planning revenge Barras' indiscreet re-
marks are far from those Of gentleman,
and some are so crude that the compiler
has thought best TO omit them altogether.
Under the second empire the son of
BotGt (Barras' secretary announced that
his father had advanced important sums
to Nine. Bonaparte, but that when he was
rich be did not think of demanding the
money. When ruin came be offered nine
autograph letters of Josephine in exchange
for an annuity OF 1909 francs.
1t is on these letters that Barras bases
his claims to Josephine's affection. One
was written to Botot, December 8, 1897,
the day when Bonaparte returned sud-
denly from Italy.
"Bonaparte arrived Tonight. beg you,
my dear B0tot, express my regrets to Bar
ras because | cannot dine with him. Tell
him not TO forget me. You understand my
position batter than any one. dear Bntot.
LA GERIE-BoNAPARTE."
Barras also speaks of a visit made to the
Dauphin in the Temple Tower, and those
who believe the escape of Louis XVII say
that yielding 10 the prayers OF the ons
who was to become Cypress Josephine,
Barras gave the care of Louis XVII in
prison to Laurent. q friend of Josephine's.
from Martinique, and that the plans for
flight were arranged aud carried out by
trusted friends.
The public Will be indignant when read
ing the attacks on Josephiue's reputation,
but. as said to me by witty Partisan,
the public, 10 the presence of these docu-
ments. is like Saint Augustin, who, at
bull-6ght. put his hand before bis eyes be-
cause such spectacle offended divine
MAJESTY. but he was careful TO spread his
fingers"
BARONESS ALTHEA SALVADOR