The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1895-05-03

The meeting or Napoleon and Jose.
prime was an event OF the first lmpor-
lance. His ovn account twice relates
that a beautiful and fearful boy pre-
scented himself. soon after the diaarma.
ment OF the sections. to the commander
OF the city, aud asked for the Hword OF
his father The request was granted.
ana next day the boys mother. Nine.
Beauharnais came 90 thank the gen.
eral for his kindly act Of restitution.
Captiyated by her grace Bonaparte
was thenceforwnrd her slave. A cold
critic must remember that In the first
place there was no disarmament Of any
body after the events OF Oct .. the
only action OF the convention which
might even be construed into hostility
being decree making emlgrnnts in
eligible for election 10 the legislature
under the new constitution: that In the
second place this story attributes TO
destiny what was really due to the
irlenuBhip OF Barras q fact which his
beneficiary would like to have forgot.
ten or concealed; and finally. that the
beneficiary left another account In
which he confessed that he FIRST met
MS wife AZ Barrns' house. this being
confirmed by Luclcn In his memoirs
There are hints. too. In various con.
temporary documents aud In tho cir
cumatances themselves that Barras was
an adroit matchmaker. In a letter
attributed to Josephine. but without
address. a bright light seems to be
thrown on the facts. She asks female
friend for advice on the question of the
match. After u iocular introduction OF
her sutton as anxious TO become a
father TO the children OF Alexandra de
Beauharnais and the husband OF his
widow, she gives gportivo but mercl-
less dissection OF her own character.
and declares that while she does not
love him. she feels no repugnancc. But
can she meet his wishes or mlnll his
deSircs? II admire the generals cour-
age; the extent OF his information
about all manner OF things. concern
ing which he talks equally well: the
puickness OF his intelligence. which
makes him catch the thought Of an-
other even before II IL expires 'el; but
confess ! am afraid Of the power he
seems anxious TO WELD over MI abo.t
him. His piercing scrutiny has In II
something strange and inexpllcable
that awes even our directors. think.
then, how II frlghtons a woman" The
writer II also terrified by the very
ardor OF her sultor's passion. Past her
FIRST youth. how can she hope to keep
for herself that violent tenderness"
which Ia almost n frenzy Would he
not soon cease TO love her. and regret
the marriage? II 10. her only resource
would be tears-a sorry one. indeed. but
stu the only one. "Barras declares
that II ! marry the general he will NO
cure for him the chief command OF the
army OF Italy. Yesterday Bonapnrte.
speaking Of this favor. which. although
not yet granted. already has let his
colleagues In arms TO murmuring. said:
DO they think need protection to sue
coed? Some day they will be only too
happy n give them mine. My sword
In az my side. and with Il I shall 40
far What do you think OF this as
suruaoo OF success? Is II not n proof
OF confidence arising from excessive
self-esteem? A brigadler-general pro-
tccting the heads OF the government!
I don't know: but sometimes this
ridiculous self-rcllnnce leads me TO the
point Of believing everything possible
which this strange man would have
me do: and with his Imagination. who
can reckon what he would undertaken"
This letter. though often quoted. Is 30
remarkable that. as some think. II may
be later invention. II actually writ
ten later. II was probably the invention
OF Josephine herself.
What motives may have combined TO
overcome her scruples we can not tell:
perhaps n love OF adventure. probably
an awakened ambition for success In
other domains that the one which adj
vanclng years would soon compel her
TO abandon. She knew that Bonaparte
had no fortune whatever: she must
have known likewise. on the highest
authority, that both favor and fortune
would by her assistance soon be his.
Al all events. his suit made swift ad-
vance, and by the end OF January he
was secure OF his prize.
on Feb. .. 1876. their bans were
proclaimed; on March the bridegroom
received his brides dowry IN his own
appointment. on Carnot's motion. not
on that OF Barras, as chief OF the army
OF Italy. still under the name OF Bona
parte. on the eth he was handed
hlH commission; on the 9Th the mar
riage ceremony was performed by tho
civil magistrate; and on tho nth
the husband started for his post In
the marriage certificate at Paris the
groom gives his age MS 2s. but In reality
he was q; the bride. who was SO. gives
hers as not quite 20, Her name is
spelled Detaseher. his Bonnparte. A
new birth. a new baptism. new career, |
new start in a new sphere. Corsica |
forgotten. Jacoblnlsm renowned. Gen. |
end Nine. Bonaparte made their bow |
TO the world. The ceremony attracted |
no public attention. and was most I'M
ceremonlous. no member Of the family .
from either side being present. |
Madame Mere, In fact, was very angry, |
and forotold that with such a difference |
IN age the union would be barren.