The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-06-21

HHARTINIoUE has for the readers
" OF French and general history 1
Ava pathetic interest. and not with
out sentiment. for IL is intimately as
ISOLATED with the history OF the great
est monarch and most remarkable
character OF modern times. The his
tory OF Napoleon e curiously interwov-
en- with that OF several islands. He
was born on an island. on which he
afterwards began his military career;
the ruler ot an island. a little dot OF
land on the Italian coast: the most
strenuous resistance TO the growth and
development OF his power came from,
an island. and after his final downfall
he was exiled TO an island. where ne
died and was buried. The connection
OF the NapoleonIc history with Mar
Unique IL found In the fact that IL was
the birthplace OF the woman who above
all others influenced his life. She In
ffuenced without controlling. Nobody
controlled Napoleon While female In
triSue was plentiful At the cour: IF
Atlt gtaAo - tAAa
1900 TO 1915. IL was sternly kept In the
weak French kings who reisned IN the
century before the revolution made the
treaties. y appointed the ambassadors.
directed the foreign policies. managed
the finances OF France. but while Ma
poleon ruled. the empire was governed
oy men.
josephine - often spoken OF "a the
beautiful Creole. but In the Sense in
which the word was used IN her
day II conveyed no hint OF blood mix
ture OF different races. She was OF
pure French family. her father being
OF gentiemaniy IL not noble estate. He
removed from France TO Martinique to
take service In the navy guarding the
colonies. Her mother was likewise OF
an old French family. which TO bet
ter its fortunes had gone TO the new
world. The twenty-five or thirty years
preceding the revolution were far from
years OF plenty with the French nobil-
ity. Old conditions were changing. VEN
cradle estates were being broken up.
noble families were ernigrating. so IL
was not strange that among the en-
tyres should be found people as dis
tinguished as the Taschers and the
Verges. Josephine's father seems to
have had little sentiment in his mar
riage with her mother. Rose Claire des
Verges de Sannols. She had property
or n claim 10 an estate: he hoped TO
better his condition. and the result was
a typical French marriage.
The future Empress was born a.
Trois islets. Martinique. In an old sug-
ar house temporarily used as a resi-
dence by the family. The little French
girl grew up surrounded by the scenery
OF the Garden OF Eden. and during her
childhood acquired that taste and love
OF nature which made her later in life
impatient OF the splendor even OF the
great French court. She had her day
dreams. too. for while she was in her
early teens n fortune teller promised
her marriage with n great soldier. and
that she would wear a crown.
The fortune teller was afterward proud
Of her accuracy in this one prediction.
and wrote a book Boosting OF II. but as
she was in the habit OF promising bril-
Liant marriages. fortunes and crowns
TO her patrons. she
does not seem particularly entitled to
credit for one success. in view OF her
host OF failures. But Josephine had
confidence and seems 10 have regarded
her marriage with the Vlscount de
as the first step TO n
throne. This marriage took place in
i5IS. when she was just IS years OF age.
and was soon bitterly regretted. for the
NiscOun; was noted for his gayeties.
even In the most profisate court OF
Europe. and after six years OF suffer
ing. during which two children were
bora who afterward were prominent IN
the court annals OF their time. a legal
separation took place. and Josephine
felt a longing 10 return 10 the home
~ her childhood. In 17Ss she went back
20 Martinique. passed a few months
with her parents. and returned TO
France just In time TO be involved in
the troubles OF the revolution. Beau
harnais was arrested and sent for her.
there was n reconciliation. She endeav-
orcd 20 aid him 90 escape. was herself
incarcerGted. and came near sharing
his fate when he was sent 20 the gull
lotine in 1884, Through the influence OF
friends after the re-establishment OF
order she secured a portion OF her hus-
bands estate and lived in quiet in a
retired street OF tbs capital and there
IL was she first received the attentions
Of the rising young general. whose
name afierward became a terror word
IN every country in Europe.
Many stories are told OF the court
Ship how far any are authentic is now
In possible TO say Most OF the ssntf-