The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-10-06

| believe, Is CharleS Marquis Qe 81. Taul'
grandson of Vincent's. But the grand
son is childless and at his death this really
ancient family will have disappeared.
''One of their particular friends, especial
ly of Therese's, was their nelghbor. Mad
anne Camille de Ferret. She was widow
and might have used her husbands title,
but she never did. She built beautiful
house called The Hermitage. She was a
very lovely woman Her conversation was
brilliant and witty. I used to enjoy calling
on her so much, and she was always very
glad to entertain her American neighbors.
She wasn't afraid Of strangers, like some
rich farmers that moved up from Utica and
! tried to associate with nobody but the
noble Trench families. But the French
| families didn't encourage 'em! Madame de
Ferret, when we could draw her out, would
tell the most delightful things about
her former friend, Madame de Stael, whose
portrait Madame Camille always wore in
4 little locket
"But no doubt the most exalted Of our
lorrign folk in Jefferson county-now that
you, We asked me to tell you all about them
-WuS Joseph Bonaparte, the eldest broth
er Of .Napole con. For Joseph, you know,
had heen real king Of Spain not to men
ton his crowns of Naples and Sicily. He
did not live regularly in Jefferson, although
he visited there several times. But he
came to establish home for his wife and
daughter. When I say that I'm telling
something that you will seldom see, per-
| haps 1,ev>r in any life of Joseph.
It's fact almost unknown. that this
royal gentleman had a dear American
! friend who would have been his wife If
he hadn't had one already in Europe.
Joseph married his real wife before Ma
poleon exalted the family. and she lived
until after Joseph's death. So you see
that with the most benevolent intentions,
he couldn't very well marry little Annie
Savage.
HE met her at Bordentown, N. j.,
where he made his home after he came
to America. l don't know who her father
had been. But Annie had been we'll ed
ucated at Philadelphia academy. She
was a very pretty girl, with deep. gray
tlest white teeth I think that Joseph
not only dazzled her, but persuaded her
and her mOther-then a WidOw-that his
wife in Europe was only sort of formal
state alliance-whch wasn't true-and
that he would marry Annie very soon OF
mother and daughter abroad, SO that, as
he said his child might be born in France.
And Annie actually did live for some
weeks in France, right over the Swiss
frontier, although Joseph preferred to
keep himself hid In Geneva and not say
anything about his new family. They
all came back soon to America.
our country to get a home for Annie. hel
baby and her mother. 1t looked a If he
was trying to put them as far off as pos
II sible, though Annie always gave excuses
for him and said that, if they lived quiet
~ ly a few years, it would help MIN TO an
r. null what she called his state MARRIAGE
- ANYHOW, Joseph bought part Of m
- fathers farm and lot more land an
10 built a pretty house for the Savages
When His Majesty-as old Mrs. Savage usu
ally called him-when he arrived he an
nounced himself as the Count de Survil
= liers the title he'd assumed, and he mad
}" no pretences in his clothing, manners Q
a way of living. He had only one servan
't with him. a soldier of the Old Guar
o with a frightful purple and scarlet we
y across his cheek. He said 1t was made
"a a Cossack lance during the retreat fro1
= Russia.
le Joseph was short dark gentlema
a. rather fleshy, simply dressed and yer
II subdued and kindly in his manner.
III don't think he ever had half the ambitio
, Of his little younger brother Joseph gay
is me the impression that If he'd become
,e king, he didn't mean to- and he was vel
$ sorry for 1t. With him one visit we
Jolly, rollcking young fellow with blac
X eyes that we young women admire
s. hugely. He bore another famous nam
re It was young Joachim Murat. son of tt
great innkeeper and Of Napoleon 9 own si
ter Caroline.
"Anna savages child was a daug]
Id ter named Pauline. The girl real
r. looked like her mighty uncle, especial
ly about the mouth. She had his beautf
de smile that all the biograp piers tell abou
he And she had something Of his strong wi
or a great deal more than her father ha
mt She never went to our little school, b
1t was educated by French teachers at hon
ed Ito become princess she used to sa
he But when she came to our children's e.
W. tertainments she always insisted on talzfl
tie charge of everything in sight, especial
a the cakes or candy or anything worth ha
ed ing. She'd lisp In French, Pour moi e
nd pas?' and wrap up all the cakes she cou
is carry in her little apron. That was b
VI manners for young princess, but
'or was a family failing, and it used to ticF
e. the rest OF us.
he ''She didn't marry a prince, Of cours
mt any moro than any of us-though we us
ELK to envy her the superior chances that
supposed she'd have with the crown
-th heads-but, instead, she married a rath
he useless fellow with no steady occupatl
ith and very little money. He was How
De- Ia chariah Benton. At her marriage S
ng received q wonderful dowry, we thoug
led She got $4,000 in gold from her faith
ms But her husband then adopted a regu
le- business. sleeping, eating and drinki1
especially drinking. He spent her mon
- literally for himself and even before
died she had to take in boarders for
living.
But Napoleon III. gained the crown
France and suppose she wrote to him
course her father had been dead 10
time. Because she gave out that s
was going back to her own family to i
at court, and she started off for Euro
She came back, though, in about We
But after that until her death, few ye
ago, she always lived very comforta
and dressed in the height of fashion.
doubt she got an allowance from the b
apartes. They must have been very k
to her, for she wrote book, France {
- Her People, after her return and tolt
great deal of the inside life Of the CO,
all in the kindliest way towards the e
peror and Eugene.
But this American niece of the or
conqueror left no chi1dren-they all d
young Her house, with the big stone
over the door, was turned into creame
her estate is now dairy farm. After
\ battle of Sedan she used to say-1
> member it so well; Of course, it was Q
- tho other day almost-'Well, ladies, II
u cousin had lived there would have b
x, no republic, and should at lie
Sig have died princess You know
i o. always to go back to court =