The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-18

wouIu rain snoro IN the raocd gIories or
| the Italian cities.
| At tho middle OF the eighteenth cen.
tury the head of the Corsican Buonapartes
was Joseph, grandfather of Napoleon
The family resided at Corte, In the center
of the island. Joseph received patent of
nobility from the grand duke Of Tuscany,
making him patrician, and this worth
less distinction was carried down to his
son. Carlo Buonapartc. whose rights were
confirmed by the Archbishop of Pisa and
the King Of France.
The geographical position OF Corsica
made IL bone of contention among the
Powers. From the sixteenth to tho eight
ecnth century the island was under the
suzerainty of Genoa. The people were
partisans. Some favored the Genoesc;
some. the French; and some, other Italian
States. At the middle OF the eighteenth
century, there was turbulence. Insurroc-
tion came, and rebellion, and attempted
independence The patriots rose against
Genoa, and certain General Won Neuhof
was about to be made king, when French
army under General Marbeuf was sent
into the island to bring IL into subsection.
The French had just lost their colonial
empire In North America, and were anx
ious to make gain in the Mediterranean
TO oounterbslance the growing power of
Great Britain.
After the episode of Won Neuhof, the
patriot loader Pascal Paoli gained an as
tendency in Corsica, ana became dictator.
He contcnded yaliantly for the indepond-
ence of his country, and for while held
his powerful enemies at bay. This, how
ever, could not last. The French party
among the Corsicans desired the breaking
Of all connection between their country
and the petty state OF Genoa, and "a union
with the powerful kingdom Of France.
The cause Of Paoli fell before overwhclm-
Ing odds, and In May of l76S, Corsica was
formally delivered to the French Tho pa
triots were scattered, and their leader
found refuge In England.
II was I'm the midst Of these agitations
civil and military, that the Buonaparto
family emerged clearly Co view Carlo
Maria Buonaparto was born I'm Ajaccio
March 90 l7ls AT the time of the fail
urc Of the revolutionary movement and
the loss Of his oountrys Independence, he
was twenty-five years Of sgo. Meanwhile,
I'm his eighteenth year, he had fallen In
love with Lolita Ramolino. daughter OF
wcll-to-do Corsican peasant With her,
nature had been prodigal OF all gifts She
was beautiful 20 a degree. strongly marked
In feature and person with tho excollon-
cics Of the Italian race -
OF The Ramolino family, not much Is
known. Suffice 10 that Carlo di Buona.
partc-though nobe--rooklcSsly took
Letitia I'm marriage when she was but ff
teen years of age. She brought Nm her
beauty and portion Of properties. but no
additional rank. She Is said 90 have been
a Girl OF heroic qualities. queeniy in her
bearing, rather silent I'm manner, healthy
ns Ca her bodily life, and ignorant of sen
tmont. Her face, preserved I'm a hundred
forms OF art, shows urmistakahly the
origin Of that Napoleonic visagc with
which the whole world will be familiar tu
the end Of human records.
The character Of Carlo di Buonapartc.
though discoverahlc only IN fragments.
shows mixture of courage and advcn
tArc Hc was protector of many sthings
"a visionary. His education was obtained
IN Italy. He had been student at Rome.