The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-02-02
by Hubert VI. Skinner.

BY Hubert VI. Skinner.
One hundred years ago. at the beginning
of the last century, there were social
revolutions in two nations, which were
guided by two brilliant women whose
place in history is unique. Dolly Madison
and Josephine alike possessed remarkable
qualifications for their exalted stations
Moreover, they were herOines in romantic
episodes of history. 1t might have been
assumed that, of the two, Josephine
would have the longer career, since an
empress is supposed to reign over the
social world at least as long as her hus-
band lives, while the first lady in the
land" with US has generally but brief
stay at the capital. But Dolly Madison
presided over the White house for the full
period of sixteen years. Only two other
women re been its mistress for half
that period. Dolly Madison. had been in
the White house more than three years
Before Josephine was crowned; and when,
four years later, the poor empress was
discarded and divorced. and retired from
the court of France, the mistress of the
White house had but nalf finished her
period OF social supremacy.
In France political revolution had
preceded the social upheaval. The king
and queen had been guilotined and an
anarchistic republic established. Josephine
had been a YiscounteSs of the old nobil-
ity, and court faVorite of the I'M
fortunate queen, Marie Antoinette. Dis
gusted and Mortified at the bloody reign
of terror, the people were ready to ac-
cept Of the man who could master the
mob. Naponeon Bonaparte, a Corsican
adyeuturer, now found his opportunity
Already proved an able soldier, he mar
ried the widowed viscountess, and
through her influence secured coveted
promotion He won battles, she won
hearts. The old order was overthrown,
poleon so delighted the French nation
that they made him dictator, under the
title Of First Consul in 1872. tive years
later he established the empire with
himself at the head. He sought to create
a new nobility, of successful soldiers.
But court of ex bakers eX-butcherS, and
ex hotel keepers would have made a sorry
figure had not Josephine taken them in
hand ana secured for them a partial and
reluctant recognition by the old nobility.
The Old mobiles had nearly all perished
and their impoverished families were in
exile. Napoleon gave to his wife a large
income, and she faithfully devoted one
half of it to their aid. She brought the
widows back TO France and made match
es for them with Napoleons successful
soldiers. She procured for them, secret
ly, the restoration of their estates. She
made a complete success of her social
reign in the most brilliant period of Eu-
rOpean history. Her story is one of the
strangest in historical annals She had
been herself condemned 10 death, with
her first husband, but had escaped as by
a miracle. And now, to make her name
ever memorable for pathetic suffering of
WTong, she was divorced and cast aside
Her death, in 1914 when Napoleon was
oVeTthroWn and the monarchS of Europe
were gathering at Paris, was like the
closing scene Of some gorgeous opera.
In America the great social change
came with the election of Thomas Jeffer-
son to the presidency in 1901. He came
In with the success of the new Repub-
Iican Democratic party. Previously
the American presidents had maintained
a sort of court, plan borrowed from
the royal courts Of Europe. At the re-
ceptiors the president end his august
spouse had stood upon dais to receive
aheir guests. who advanced with great
reverence and then backed out aftci
~E1ving the cold recognition which the