Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-20

patent. and it has been bruited about Of
late that the time is not far distant when
Mr. Bonaparte will be offered most re-
sponsibe position in the service of the fed
eral government. If not a portfolio in the
official family of the President.
This man. who would have been Napoleon
vi had the Bonaparte dynasty prevailed
until the present time, is not only one of
the great men Of Baltimore and the state
Of Maryland, but>his influence, genius and
energy have been leflected throughout the
most important eenters of the Union. Above
all things Mr.. BOnaparte is practical in
every undertaking. He manifested this
characteristic when b young man by push
ing aside all claims to French throne.
and King" on his front door, he has the
more simple and much more practical sign,
Charles Bonaparte attorney and counsel
Or-at-law."
Man Of Firmness and Courage.
Another striking characteristic is his
firmness of purpose and the courage of his
convictions. In this particular Mr.. Bona
parte is disciple of the old axiom: BE
sure you are right and then go ahead"
This was never better exemplified than
upon the memorable occasion when the
overseers of Harvard University were con-
sidering the ACCESSIBILITY of comforting the
degree of LII. d. on President Mckinley
Mr. Bonaparte is one of the oyerseers Of
Harvard University and was present at the
elaboration on the Mckinley matter. He
gave the question at issue deliberate con-
sderation, and then, in most frank man.
ner, informed his colleague that in his es-
timation. Mr.. Mckinley was not worthy of
the honor. No man loved Mckinley more
than did Mr.. Bonaparte, none admired him
more as a statesman and President of the
United States, but the BaltimOrean be-
lieved that craftsmanship and political
ot tRon tn,,e. fa,
degree Of LII. D. from Harvard, and he
backed up his convictions with a vote in
the negative.
These characteristics are but sidelights
on the makeup of Charles J. Bonaparte.
Outside of his professional abilities as
lawyer, one Of the shrewdest and most
brilliant that ever pleaded before a court,
he is prominently civic, social and po-
litical reformer, and while Mr.. Bonaparte
may have been considered radical in some
of these reforms they have invariably been
productive Of great good to the community
or locality affected. In fact among Balti-
moreans his name and that of the Reform
League are synonymous, for 1t was
through this organization that the monu-
mental city was purged OF corrupt poilti-
cal practices and given an election law
that is a model Of it's kind and is rapidly
being adopted by many progressive COM
munitieS.
As to His Appearance.
Mr.. Bonaparte is fifty-two years old.
just in the vigor of his physical ripeness
and mental attainments. He is a large
man, weighing perhaps close to 200
pounds, with a large head resting upon
somewhat rounded shoulders. This head,
which might be called abnormally large.
Is clearly that of d man of the highest
Intelligence, yet 1t Is not head that
would command admiration. The face Is
full and rosy the eyes black. the mou-
oho nf ia a MI
it is only when in debate that this great
legal light would be conferred out as a
man above the ordinary attainments.
This perhaps Is due more to Mr.. Bona
parties indifference to dress than any
lack Of facial attractiveness. Being a
man thoroughly devoted to the duties Of
his law Office. he has no time to court
Dame Fashion. and when the days labors
are at an end he HES himself off to a fine
country seat a few miles distant from Bal
timore, where fine clothes are not requi-
site Considering these facts, Mr.. Bona
parte may be considered a plainly dressed
man-always in black-and would be more
readily taken for student. or perhaps
member of the cloth. than one OF the most
brilliant barristers in the country, man
of wealth and one Of the most powerful
and successful reformers in the land.
That Mr.. BOnaparte became great doc
tor of the laws was not an accident This
career was cut out for him in early youth
and with his characteristic diligence he
pursued his studies, was duly graduated.
admitted to the bar or maryland ana mas
since resided in Baltimore, where he has
practiced his profession with remarkable
success He is identified with nearly every
educational charitable and reforming !nsti-
tuition in Maryland, has been honored with
the degrees of A. B. and LII. d. from Har-
ward University, and recently was made
the recipient of the Laetare medal from the
Notre Dame University of Indiana the
most distinguished Catholic layman who,
during the year. had rendered the most
efficient and Iaudable service to the Catho-
lie Church.
Relics of Napoleon I.
To the lover of The historical, and at the
same time of the beautiful and artistic a
visit to the Napoleon ROOM" at the resi-
dence of Mr. Bonaparte in Baltimore, Is
something far out of the ordinary; some-
thing not to be forgotten in day, if ever
1t has been many years since Napoleon I
passed out of this life into the shadow of
the tomb at St Helena. but in the home of
Mr. Bonaparte one finds himself in a truly
Napoleonic atmosphere. Napoleon himself
Is here. and here. too. are many of his fam
lily. in marble. in bronze and on canvas. AS
one enters the room the eye almost in
stinctively falls upon a marble bust of the
emDeror. although he was not emperor at