New-York tribune., 1906-12-23

,,.-h are has witnessed the disappearance or
certain number or the dynasties OF the Old
world. and the twentieth century win apparent
:, nrore no exception 10 the rule Many OF these
.rrs+rious families seem doomed 10 early eX-
,,rction; and while this is an eVentuality which
AMERICANS can afford 10 contemplate with a con-
sisersble degree Of equanimity. yet the fact that
!, one notable instance the responsibility for
che perpetuation OF great name depends upon
well known American family is calculated to
grouse & certain amount OF popular interest IN
she matter this side Of the Atlantic. The
house in question IS that OF Bonaparte. which
hss played such a phenomenally large part in
the history OF the last hundred years, having
contributed more than any ether dynasty to the
-adical transformation OF the face OF Europe
nnd when one calls 10 mind the manner in
which the First Napoleon set the laws OF the
Church and OF conEentionality at defiance for
the sake Of perpetuazing his line and the heart
lsssness with which he strove to exclude his
Youngest brothers American wife and son from
legal membership IN his family. it certainly
.eems an act Of poeracal retrbution that the lat
fer should apparent tly be destined 10 be saved
from extinction by the grandson and great
grandson Of this transatlantic sister-in-law
whom he had so cruelty spurned-
Al the present moment the house OF Bona
parte Is represented in Europe by Prince Victor
Napoleon, The titular head of the Bonapartist
party. lie is man Of ffty. who has been Ifv-
.ng for a number OF years at Brussels with an
actress by the name OF Marie Blot, by whom he
has a number OF iIlesgitimate children She oc-
cupies with them q house adjoining his own.
Snd while he has neTer Vet attempted TO lesalizs
after fashion his relations with her by means
o. any ecclesiastical marriage. YET the intimacy
has been sufficieTE 10 constitute an apparentlv
frsruera obstacle rO ar1v
with q woman Of his own rank Some time ago.
n Difference 10 the urgent enreaties Of his rela-
tives and Of the leaders of the Bonapartist
party, he presented himself as a suitor for the
hand Of Princess Clementine Of Belgium. mel
sncaoly LADY Of mature years and celebrated
for the possession Of the longest nose Of any
princess n ChristendoIn. But while she was
willing enough 10 overlook the actress the fam
iy Of illeEitimate chilorer and the lack Of en-
thusiasm the part oS Victor Napoleon. King
Leopold perem7toriy forbade the match being
unwilling 10 incur the fl VIII Of the French
government by aIlying his daughter 70 party
whose avowed object It is 10 overthrow the re-
public
Prince Tictor's only brother Prince Ixouis
since he was jilted by the Grand Duchess Helen
of Russia, with WHOM he was deepIv infatu
sted. has become confirmed bachelor and will
not hear OF marriage. The only other male
member of the house OF Bonaparte in Europe is
Roland. son Of that Prince Peter Bonaparte
whose killing of Victor Noir may be said 10 have
rrecipitated the downfall OF the empire in 1870
Roland a lad in his teens before any legal
marriage Of his father 10 his mother q plumbers
daughter, took place. and so little did Prince
Peter regard him his lawful issue that no
mention appeared Of the boys existence in the
pages OF the A1maIEach de Gotha until after the
a,~rA - D. d.. @s4
vast wealth which Roland derives from the pub
lie gambling esuablislunent Of Monte Carlo Of
which he is part owner. through his marriage
20 the late Marie Blanc, daughter Of the founder
Of mat world famed resort, il is doubtful
whether the title Of prince, which he has as
suned without any l1aOWn authority would be
accorded 10 him he has only daughter but
no son. and was on the point, some years ago.
Of marrying Letitias Bonaparte, the widowed
Duchess Of Aosta, when the late King Huuabert
her Uncle and brOther-in-law intervened and
made use Of his authority as chief of the house
Of savoy, to which size belongs by her marriage
to forbid such a mesallisnce would have been
constituted by union 10 a man of doubtful title
and whose principal claim 10 consideration was
his tainted wealth.
From this il viii be seen that there ara tr
Europe only two BenapayTes Of imperial stand
lg. and q third Of questionable origin and rank.
And al Of them seem destined 10 die without
ieayine any legitimate sons 70 nerpetuate their
line The ozly other BenaRaFtes in existence are
those in America. namely. Jerome Bonaparre az
Washington, and his uncle Charles Bonaparte
who has just exchanged the portfolio Of secre
tary Of the Navy for that Of Attorney General Of
ths United States They are the great-grandson
and grandson respectively Of Napoleon Is young
est brother. King Jerome Bonaparte OF West
ffe and Of hf
Patterson, OF Baltimore The marriage. which
was in every sense OF the word a love match.
vas solemuized by Bishop Carroll at Baltimore.
in the face OF good deal Of opposition on the
parc Of Miss Patterson's father, who seems TO
have failed 10 appreciate the honor OF any such
a-lsace for his daughter For there are letters
~ MS IL existence in which he deplores the in
ia'uation of his daughter for jerome, whom hs
describes as adventurer. and unworthy by
MS rank and parentage TO enter family so
blue blooded and enjoying such universal respect
and consideration that Of Patterson.
Il is unnecessary 70 recall here the desertion
by Jerome Of his wife and little boy. or the re-
tusal OF Emperor Napoleon TO permit them to
lano in France, and his denial OF the validity OF
NE marriage, the ground that It had been
contracted without his consent. More than half
century later this son Of jerome visited Paris,
With his own son. the late Colonel Jerome Bona /
parte. elder brother of the Attorney General OF
ne United States. The object of King Jerome's :
American was 70 secure from the French
government = decree acknowledging the validity
OF MS mothers marriage and his own legiti-
macy. Thanks TO the good VIII and assistance /
o. Empress Eugenie he was able TO secure a .
Decision from the Council of State 70 that effect;
bur the influence OF his haIf-brother, the late
Frinoe Jerome Napoleon. was sufficiently strong .