The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-01-22
GRANDSON OF the
GREAT NAPOLEON
Comte Fernan Leon Comes to
Live in ST. Louis During
the Fair.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN a KING
His Father Was Son of Napoleon and
Louise DeiapIaigne, Though lllegit-
innate, and the First Born Son
Of the Emperor.

st. Louis Special: A grandson OF Ma
poleon Bonaparte. a son of the man
whose birth decided Napoleon to di-
vorce Josephine and thus-so say be-
lievers in the business of fate-caused
h waning of his brilliant star of des-
tiny and the loss of the empire which
he had gained. has come to live in ST.
Louis during the worlds fair period.
He is Comte Fernan Leon, second son
of Comte Charles Leon, who was the
son of Napoleon Bonaparte and Mile.
Louise Catharine Leonore Delaplaigne,
beautiful femme de chambre of Prin-
cess Caroline Murat, Napoleon's sister
and the wife of the famou field mar
shall. whom he raised to the rank of
prince.
Comte Fernan Leon came into the
title at the death of his elder brother,
who was Comte Charles Leon. in Vene-
zuela a few years ago. He is in st.
Louis with his wife, and has k the
old O'Fallon mansion, 2S13 Pine street.
where he will entertain French visitors
during the worlds fair.
II ave come to see the great fair
hat is to be given in celebration of the
mt which my grandfather sold to
the United States" said Comte Leon.
IF matters had turned out different
Il was suggested.
The comte smiled and shrugged his
Expressive shoulders.
Il might have been king of
louisiana" he said. half-seriously.
Bonapartc's First Son.
Historians express no doubt that the
ion of Louise Catherine Eleonore
~Delapiaigne was the first son of Ma
poleon, born even before the son Of the
beautiful Polish Countess Walewska.
Conte Leon's bundles of correspond
ence With French and Spanish digni-
%tarles, his memoranda OF grants of pen
sions to his father, II other docu-
plents, seem to leave no doubt that he
is the only living son of Eleonore's son,
and that he is formally recognized as
such. He has a sister. living now in
France, but no brothers, and no chill
dren.
This first son of Napoleon was born
December 10. 1906: the son or Countess
Walewsla Was born in 1908.
Napoleon first saw Eleonore when he
visited his sister. the Princess Murat, in
the latter part of January, 1906. She
was ocn beautiful and of statuesque
physique. Her great eyes We're black
and soulful: her long. soft hair rolled in
a midnight mass from u high, broad
and beautiful forehead.
1t was just before NaDoleon's famous
campaign Of Vienna, when the victory
of Ulm had brought fresh dreamings of
empire-dreams that We're halted By
the absence of a son to succeed him on
the throne. Alas, that we are child
less!' he had said to Josephine.
Il am not childless." replied ..oseph-
inc. Who yer held Eugene and Eor-
tense i3eaucharnals before the master
OF France as a shield against the di-
vorce which he threatened. The yelled
1~nsinuation never failed to affect Ma
%poleon; and to its II petition is attrib-
uted the development OF the deep in
terest which he at once manifested in
the beautiful Eleonore, whom he met
among his sisters attendants.
The girl was tlattered by the cmper-
or's attentions, n easily won. 1t was
Il short-liNed passion on Napoleon's
part; for then came the summer of 1906.
and the beginning OF the Polish cam
paign.
Planned to Adept Child.
While at Poitusk, the news OF the
birth of the son, Leoll-at 20 Rue de la
Nictoire, Paris-officially recorded as
tine son of Mile. Illeonore Denuel,
RENTER, aged 90 years, ana of an alb
sent father'-reached Napoleon. His
resolution to divorce Josephine was 1T
once definitely formed; after that hour,
her taunts that she was not %childless''
had no effect upon him. There was an
heir OF his blood to the throne which
lie haG raised out Of the debris Of the
revolutions.
But an alternative was offered Jose
rhine. The news of the birth of Leon
wAs not kept from her. Eleonore and
her child were installed in the Rue de
Provence. at the Hotel du Commencement,
the property of Prince Murat. On his re-
:,,rn from Poland, Napoleon visited the
mother and son. Afterward he desired
20 adopt the boy. and told Josephine that
II she would agree to auch adoption he
would never speak of divorce again.
Josephine repealed the suggestion. Ma
roieon, defeated in what he deemed his
nal course TO establish an heirship to
his throne without divorce and remark
age. sought no other alternative. The