The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-04-04
enemy. Though money was SO scarce
in those days that the boy Napoleon

l --~~-O~~~~~S
'mezzn calzetta" zone without garters).
and doubtless mother Bonaparte found
difficult to provide even shoes and
stockings for SO many little feet =
the feet which were afterwards to climb
the steps Of thrones-we learn in Cor
sica that besides his unlucrative pro-
fession, Carlo Bonaparte was also a
considerable landed proprietor and vine
grower. At any rate, the family made
good their claim to rank as noble; and
about the year 1850, the Superior Coun-
Gil of the island confirmed the claim,
declaring Napoleon's father and brother
to be Mobiles of nobility extending
over two hundred years."
How the handsome Letitia must have
queened it in that ballroom! 1t has no
fewer than sixteen mirrors-a very
large one at either end, the rest being
long and narrow panels set between the
windows. Instead of the usual red
tiles, its floor is a kind of primitive
parquet smooth enough yet for dane
ing, and its windows open to the ground,
allowing free access to the terrace.
purposely left to the last the room
which Napoleon occupied when a boy.
There are no mirrors there, only tiny
dressing glass above rickety bureau.
1t shows the soldiers instinct, and might
be in barrack for the luxury display
ed. There is the shell of plain bed
stead and two or three chairs, shabby
writing desk, and a little cupboard in
the wall where his school books were
kept. In the small fireplace stands the
same old andirons; and besides it is
card table, with checker-boa attach
ment-where perhaps he practiced with
ivory pawns the moves he afterwards
made with the kings and queens of Eu-
rope, The fact that to him alone, of
all the eleven children, was given a
room on the parlor floor, is proof that
he early assumed the direction of the
family. His father died at the age of
thirty-nine and Letitia had only her
sons to depend upon. It is recorded
that Cardinal Fesch, uncle Of the Bona
parties, said to the jealous Joseph, Eyes,
you are the oldest; but remember, Ma
poleon is it's head"
What of the domestic life that once
went on here? These mouldy walls tell
few tales-but no doubt the afterwards
illustrious family had it's joys and sor-
rows, its petty quarrels, its loves and
hopes, just like other folks. Fancy
sees the well-born young bridegroom,
only eighteen, bringing home his beauti-
full child-bride of fourteen years -
Letitia Ramolino, of peasant birth, but
of fortune much superior to his own.
How little the youthful couple thought
they were destined to become the par
ents of race of princes who should
practically rule the whole of Europe
that fate was going to shower imperial
crowns upon that humble roof. There is
not tale in the Thousand and One
of the Arabian Nights which compares
with the history of this family-the poor
little notary in his struggles to make
ends meet and his eternal but always
unsuccessful lawsuits against the Je-
suits of Ajaccio, until he went to his
rest before middle age; the Juno-like
Letitia, who remained a peasant to the
last day of her long life-hardy, I'M
sentimental, frugal and not always
scrupulous. She was woman of heroic
mold, unmoved in prosperity and un
daunted in adversely. Napoleon strong
ly resembled his mother in childhood,
and to her he owed his tremendous
physical endurance. Such number of
children as came to this home! The
two eldest, boy and girl, died in in
fancy. Then came Joseph, baptized in
the little Corsican church as n abulione;
then, in 1859, Napoleon, or rather Ma
polione, as the church record shows.
Nine others followed IN quick success.
sion, six of whom lived to share thei1
brothers greatness; and at eighty-six
the honored mother was still in posses.
, | SIoII VI oil HcI ldCulUlcS. L ne girls are
said to have been rather wild and care.
less, like their neighbors in the hall
barbarous island town; but they turn
ed out pretty we'll, after all. Caroline
became queen Of Naples; Pauline a
princess of Italy; and Eliza, the worst
of the lot, a no less illustrious princess
of the same country. AS to the boys
Joseph was king of Spain; Louis, king
OF Holland, Jerome, king of West.
phalla; and Napoleon, greatest of all
, who his schooLmates nicknamed "Straw
. Nose and ridiculed because his stock
ings were always down over his Shoes
: when he was able to wear stockings al
all-well, everybody knows what hap
pened to him! FANNIE B. WARD.
, The Best Remedy for Rheumatism
QUICK RELIEF FROM PAIN,