The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
THE KING OF sWEDEN,s BOOZE.
A Historical Romance About His Crane.
mother, tho WHO OF Bernndotte.

mother, tho vifo or Bernndotte.
The King Of Sweden has written a book, but
his loyal subjects don't mind 1t so much as they
might be expected to, because he had written
other books before. and they were In a measure
prepared for eccentricities of this nature. Be.
sides, the situation Isn't half so bad as 1t might
be, for the other books wero poetry, while tho
present volume ia prose, and a historical novel
at that. Although belonging to a sleep-invttins
order of literature, it is a monument to the ro-
mantle and poetical tendencies Of the royal au.
thor, being about his grandmother.
That grandmother, as every one knows, was
the Desiree Clary who was betrothed to but
didn't marry Napoleon Bonaparte, and did
marry Bernadotte, one of Napoleon's Marshals,
who afterward became King Of Sweden. Sweden
is not a little proud of having had for Queen Q
woman who is reputed to have turned up her
nose at the future Emperor Of France, who
really subdued him who was destined to con-
quer Europe. So a great deal is written about
her there, much Of it with the idea OF demon
strating that current history is all wrong about
her in details which may seem highly unimpor-
tant to the rest OF the world, but are held to DO
highly important there. About ten years ago,
when the flood of Napoleonic literature first be-
gan to be let loose upon a helpless world, the Court
Chamberlain-you see, it's the fashion to be liter
airy at the Swedish court-brought out q book
~ hSi III "hith hO DdChtu up tNeTyInlURn Nc
said about her by the most respectable and un-
impeachable Of documents. The hook did net
have the success outside of Sweden that the in
habitants thought it was entitled to. So the
heavy historical style Of the Court Chamberlain
having failed, King Oscar III. determined to
wake up the world with his own airy poetical
fancies. That is the history OF the book.
The facts stated are all warranted. There arc
preserved in Sweden an immense number Of
documents relating to Bernadotte, his wife, and
their times, and King Oscar had free access to
them all. Some of the letters and papers quoted
published before. The book is a biography Of
h his 5g%f 1a idrnSt ERR IN p,t the form Of e novel: til
nadotte and Napoleon, and heips to expIsin b O.
the former was able TO defy the latter without
coming to grief or meeting the fate Of most Of
projects t%o Stsn actively lsiyefi In VA" addi fPlRRo' to h NSR1isoRR his
documents, King Oscar was able to give personal
way he repeats her account OF her betrothal
with Napoleon. Joseph Bonaparte. who after
and she were all together one day. While they
were chatting, Napoleon said:
husband and the Wife are complementary. You.
Joseph, are accommodating, as is Desir9e, while
We'll. therefore he %si 10 marry mare Our julie own Wh MeS as 4 for De 90
stree, she shall be my wife"
Then he took her upon his knee and they were
betrothed. They were not to be married until
she was is. Napoleon went to Paris and in I795
D nesir broke her Engagement because he was
who was II and had fine eyes and a dowry OF
l,20O,OOO francs. Desir6e acted with great re.
l~uctance, and wrote to Napoleon that he had
rendered her unhappy for life. Her letters afford
evidence that she never entirely forgot her first
love, and her jealousy and dislike OF Josephine
broke out occasionally after a lapse Of nifty
years; After her marriage to Bernadotte, Napo-
leon showed his friendly feelings toward her and
she remained intimate with the Bonaparte fam
lily, and, according to King Oscar, was able NOT
only to protect her husband from Napoleon's ro-
sentiment. but also TO aid in his advancement.
There is one obscure point in Mime. Berna-
dottes history which the King does not see do
10 clear up, surprising him to have been able to
do so. That is why. she left her husband and
son in Sweden and returned to Paris alone.
This separation lasted twelve years, during
which period she lived In Paris under the name
or the Countess OF Gothland. Whatever the
reason, her correspondence relating to this
period has been destroyed. Her presence in
The evil,tongued Barras said that affairs OF the
heart detained her there. The Duo de Richelieu
said d OF her; She is a Swedish spy.
watch me. Just as he did under tho
imperial government, when he used his little
VIE TO good advantage In his personal intrigues,
while the Bonapartes on their side were think.
ing that she was the instrument OF their family"
nevertheless she remained in France for hyo
years after her husband had been crowned King
OF sweden, and after rejoining him she lived in
happiness with him for twenty years
until his death in 1874. She herself did not die
until 1860.