The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-05-08

tory merely ConJeCtured as To how
he was received. Very soon the young
Wife left Lisbon under advice from
Jerome and sailed for Amsterdam in
the same vessel in which she left
America. Her vessel, the Erin, was
not allowed to land. After Il weeks
waiting the Erin sailed for England.
and the fair but dlsconSolate bride
was landed at Dover. From thence
che Went TO London, and ON July 7,
1905, she gave birth to son. After
many months Of narrowing suspense
she began To realize the treaehery of
her husband
Napoleon absolutely refused To ac-
knowledge the marriage rs valid and
offered pension of 60,000 francs a
year for the support of Miss patter-
son. as he called her. if Jerome would
persuade her to return to America
and abandon the name of Bonaparte.
The emperor had already requested
the pope to publish Il bull annulllng
Jerome's marriage This the pope re-
! fused ~ 90, immealateiy Napoleon
had the imperial council pass n de-
| cree OF divorce. jerome was created
II prince of the empire and advanced
TO the rank of admiral Efforts were
made TO marry him 10 European
princess.
As late as October. 1908, Jerome still
| continued 10 write TO his bride, aYow-
ing his Interchangeable love, but events
dlsproved his loyalty, for in less than
four years after his nuptlals In Baltl-
more his final abandonment of his
faithful American bride WAS confirmed
by his marriage 10 Princess Catherine
of Wufttemberg The marriage was
celebrated With great pomp and the
approval of the emperor. The newly
married couple Immediately proceeded
to Westphala, of which Jerome had
only recently been made king.
The disconsolatc bride and her Infant
son had returned TO Baltimore. Her
life imbittered and her spirit cnVenom-
ed, she found no satisfaction In living
except In ambitious hope for the OFF
spring OF her treacherous royal hus-
band.
Her love for Jerome was transformed
into hate and contempt. Jerome offer
ed her II title ma princess and Il 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 heI
doing so. She replied surcaStieallH, Il
prefer TO hide under the wing of M
eagle rather thun hang from the neeb
of II goslng" Again Jerome advised
her that she might have home IN
Westphnlia. She sent him the reply
"Your Kingdom may be large, but II Is
not large enough for two queens
Her fame for wit and rcpartoe was
| international There were cutting vein
OF SARCASM and n pithiness of humoI
/ that made her conversation interesting
| by its brilliant and reckless malicious
ness. When she was ruthleSsly shu
out from the regal circles to which hel
| husband belonged. IL imhiucrod hel
~sainst the -,lemocrntic nerd. rScvvrtnc
less whrn shc visited Europe she wa
the toast OF the salons and the cente
of attraction In court and diplomatic
circles.
She never saw her husband but once
after he left her at Lisbon Years aft
erWard Jerome was In the gallery %
| the pitti palace, In Florence, whcl
Nine. Bonaparte was also visitor
| jerome recognized her as She silently
walked by, and he whispered 10 hi'
other wife. Catherine, "Thai lady is
my former wife" The recognition was
mutual, but no words were ntrrChang
ed, and they never saw each other
again.
Her son developed n wonderful Hike
ness to his famous uncle, the emperor,
and she lived In the hope that the re-
yival OF the empire would rcinstatc
the Napoleonlc dynasty ana that her
son would be accorded his Just posi-
tlon In the royal household. When the
republic was oycrthrown In 1892 and
the empire established, she made a
desperate effort To secure the recogni-
ton Of the validity of her marriage
and the Legitimacy Of her son. Jerome
entered plea to tho council OF state
demanding TINT jerome Patterson"
should be prohibited from using the
mime OF Iionaparte. The council de.
cldcd that he was Il legitimate child
and entitled 10 the name. but did not
recognize hin NJ II member Of the
royal family.
Nine. BoHHparte lived to the ripe old
age Of 81. and her latter years were
characterized by eccentriciiies In
Vulnerable. by pnrslmonlous economy
She accumulated "A lurge estate, but
her yitrlolic temperament held ut dis
lance many who admired her beauty,
virtue and even her vnultlHg ambition.
| stood beside her grave only few
hours after she was laid - rest. and |
could not help contrasting her madly
romantic mesal!iance with royal
( traitor With the sweet loYe matches
that have made the happy homes Of n
great republic. Sunny South.