Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-07-05
her husband.

! NhpOleon uDSOluteiy refused TO nc-
knowledge the marriage as valid and
offered a pension OF 10000 francs a
year for the support OF Miss Patter-
son." as no called her, II Jerome would
persuade her to return to America
and abandon the name OF Bonaparte.
The emperor had already requested
the pope to publish a bull annulling
Jerome's marriage. This the pope re-
fused to do. Immediately Napoleon
had the imperial council pass a de-
cree of divorce. Jerome was created
a prince OF the empire and advanced
to the rank of admiral. Efforts were
made to marry him to European
princess.
As late as October, 1905, Jerome still
continued to write to his bride, avow-
Ing his Interchangeable love, but events
disproved his loyalty, for In less than
four years after his nuptials In Balti-
more his final abandonment OF his
faithful American bride was confirmed
by his marriage to Princess Catherine
OF Wurttcmherg, The marriage was
celebrated with great pomp and the
married couple Immediately proceeded
to Westphalla, OF which Jerome had
only recently been made king.
The dlsconsolate bride and her infant
son had returned to Baltimore Her
life imbittered and her spirit envenom-
ed, she found no satisfaction In living
except In ambitious hope for the OFF
spring OF her treacherous royal bus.
band
Her love for Jerome was transformed
Into hate and contempt. Jerome offer
ed her n title as princess and dover
of 100000 francs. which she refused.
When he learned that she had accepted
smaller pension from the emperor
and rejected one from him so much
larger, he requested reason for her
doing 80. She replied sarcastically. 81
prefer to hide under the wing of an
eagle rather than hang from the neck
OF gosling" Again Jerome advised
her that she might have n home In
Westphalla. She sent him the reply,
"Your kingdom may be large, but 1t IL
not large enough for two queens"
Her fame for wit and repartee was
international. There were a cutting vein
Of sarcasm and a pithiness OF humor
that made her conversation interesting
by Its brilliant and reckless malicious
ness. When she was ruthlessly shut
out from the regal circles to which her
husband belonged, 1t imbtterud her
against the democratic herd. Neverthe-
less when she visited Europe she was
the toast OF the salons and the center
of attraction In court and diplomatic
circles.
She never saw her husband but once
after he left her Mt Lisbon. Years aft
erward Jerome was In the gallery of
the Pitt palace, In Florence, when
Nine. Bonaparte was also visitor.
jerome recognized her as she silently
walked by, and he whispered to his
other wife, Catherine, '"rhat lady Is
my former wife" The recognition was
mutual, but no words were interchang-
ed, and they never saw each other
again.
Her son developed a wonderful like
ness to his famous uncle. the emperor,
and she lived In the hope that the re-
vival OF the empire would relnstate
the NapOleOnic dynasty and that her
son would be accorded his Just POSI-
ton In the royal household. When the
republic was overthrOwn In 1852 and
the empire re-esta bllshed, she made a
desperate effort TO secure the recognl-
ton OF the validity OF her marriage
and the Legitimacy OF her son. Jerome
entered n plea to the council OF state |
demanding that jerome Patterson"
should be prohibited from using the |
name of Bonaparte. The council de- |
cided that he was n legitimate child |
and entitled to the name, but did not |
recognize him as member OF the |
royal family.
Nine. Bonaparte lived to the ripe old |
age OF %, and her latter years were
characterized by eccentrcltIes In
Vulnerable. by pnrslmonIous economy |
she accumulated n large estate. but |
her yltriollc temperament held at n dis
lance many who admired her beauty, |
virtue and even her vaultlng ambition.
| stood beside her grave only few
hours after she was laid to rest. and |
could not help contrasting her madly |
romantic mesalllance with n royal
traitor with the sweet love matches
that have made the happy homes OF
great republlc.-Sunny South.