The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-13
Star of the Bopapartes.
TWO NAPOLEON Story the Rival Claimants to The T;+

finally put an end to by the death of
Prince Napoleon in 1891.
Indeed. neither Prince Napoleon him
self nor either of his sons seems for
many years to have felt much interest
In SO doubtful possibility as the Ma
poleonic succession. Plon-Plon and
Prince Victor, despite: their rival IRE
til the very last and four years after
the prince fmperials death thew to-
gether paid a visit to the Empress Eu-
genie. in England =
Nay, it has frequently been reported
In recent years that Prince Victor had
resigned his rights to primogeniture to
his younger. brother, Louis Napoleon
jerome The substitution would have
been popular one in France. Prince
Louis is the best liked and the more re-
putable of the two. He is the only one
OF the Napoleonides who has proved
himself soldier. Now. In his thirty
fifth year, he is a general in the Rus
sian army. His relations with the i'm
per1al court. always cordial, have been
made more intimate by his marriage.
In 1893. with the Grand Duchess Helene
or Russia. He is treated there as a
near and dear relative. and is invari-
ably invited TO entertainments restrict
ed exclusively to the princes and prin-
cesses or the reigning families With
out posing as either saint or prig.
ne has managed to keep his name free
from any unpleasant faint of scandal.
Another point in favor of Prince
Louis In French eyes. is the uniform
closeness of his relations with his par
ents. He was the idol of his father.
He is the idol Of his mother, the Prin-
cess CiCthilde, sister of King Humbert
Of Italy. He is the favorite nephew of
Princess Mathilde, who is still the most
popular of, all the Bonaparte women
In Paris, and of the Empress Eugene
There are other more Fictitious rea-
sons for the approval of the French
populace. If there is one accomplish
menl more than another which cap
lures them it is good horsemanship.
10 this Boulanger owed much of his
extraordinary vogue 1t is always, the
man On horseback who is the popular
idol in France Now, Prince Victor is
most awkward horseman, whose mis-
adventures while out riding have made
him the butt of ridicule, from friends
and foes. Prince Louis. on the con-
trary. has achieved fame even in the
Russian cavalry as a superb horse
man.
FAMILY LIKENESS STRONG.
Though Louis wears short cropped
beard, there is reason to believe that if
he were clean shaven he would pre-
sent striking likeness to Napoleon I.
His features are clean cut. his face
full, his stature medium, while his
chin is. strong and wells rounded In
fact, of all the MEMBERS of the house
OF Bonaparte, past or present, he is the
one VINO. In appearance as well as in
reserve and self-mastery, bears the
greatest resemblance to the founder of
the Bonaparte dynasty
Prince Victor moreover, lacks dig
nifty of bearing and distinction of man
ner. He is a familiar figure in Brus-
sells. the natural refuge of pretenders.
where he has lived continuously since
the passage OF the expulsion act by the
French chambers The two brothers
appear to be on excellent terms. They
ride and drive together in Brussels,
when Prince Louis is not on military
duty in Russia. and they make a pious
pilgrimage annually to see their moth
er. the Princess Clothilde
This lady, it will be remembered.
lived unhappily with her husband and
separated from him to take up her
residence at Turin, the capital of so
much of Italy as was then under the
rule of her father Victor Emmanuel
She has remained there ever since.
while the seat of royalty was success
sively transferred to Florence and to
Rome. She is very pious, and by her
own orders her apartments in the Pal
ace Moncalferf at Turin, have been
transferred into the resemblance Of a
clolster In nunnery. A little iron bed
stead, TWO chairs, a table and a prize
dleu are the sole furnishings Of her
bedroom. She spends her time in
prayer and in attending the sick and
lnhrm, who are given quarters in other
portions of the palace
SCIONS OF ROYALTY.
Were either of her sons to become
emperor he would ascend the French
throne under more favorable conditions
than either the first or third Napoleon.
1t was the favorite boast Of "Plon-
Plon' that as the son of princess of
Wurtemberg he was the only Bona
parte VINO had royal blood in his veins
and who was entitled by right of birth
to cousinship with the reigning houses
of Europe. His own marriage brought
an accession of regal dignity to his de-
scendants. Victor and Louis, If only
as nephews of the King of Italy, are
household. 1t is Victor Emmanuel and
King Humbert whom Victor more
closely resembles than any Of his faith
er's family. He is tall and square
shouldered, his gait Is slow. his ges-
lures quiet. his voice LOW. his glance
Feieu. severe ana even sad. Although
MS conduct has been cratic, he is
singularly prudent in his speech. He
admits contradiction and courts discus
sion. he mentions his senemies and OPP
ponents with extreme reserve, he even
speaks with respect OF his father, who
ended by disinheriting him. Of his
mother he has has always been very
fond, but 1t is understood that she. too,
has constituted Louis her chief heir.
Nevertheless. Victor, though not
wealthy himself, and though he will
gain little of the family. patrimony, has
pretender. whoever he may be, will not
lack for the sinews of war. The Bona
parties have always been famous for
their money getting qualities.
The first NapoleOn hald held absoliife