Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-03-23
Tbe Empress Josephine


nuptials were to be celebrated
Josephine was about fifteen years o.
age when she finally left her beloved
island home to face an unknown fu
ture among strangers in q strange
land.
The friends of her childheod gath
cred upon the shore where she EN-
barked, when amid tears and expires
Sions of affection she took her depart
ure. Little did she dream what az
eventful life lay before her.
After tempeStous voyage she
landed in France. She went at once
to Fontainbleau where she was met
by Alexander Beauharnais. He greet
ed her with many expressions of love
showering upon her every attention
She had not been long in FOntain-
bleau when she learned that William
and his father lived in the same place
When she heard that William was
so near, all her old love asserted it
self and, it is said, she trembled like
an aspen leaf.
Soon William and his father called
to see her.
The meeting was. an embarrassing
love, although each had reason to be.
ing. day William called alone, but
Josephine, as the atfianced sbrde OF
BeauharnaiS, declined to see him.
He then wrote her a letter and bribed
a servant to place it in her hands. IT
was filled with expressions of devo-
tiOn, and told how he had written
many, many letters, but had received
no word from her.
Josephine wept bitterly when she
read this letter, but what, could the
poor child do?
Betrothed to another, surrounded
by those who were determined the
marriage should be consummated:
told that William was to marry an
heiress and that his fortunes depend
ed upon this union, all this and more
so bewildered the child that she beg
ged to be allowed to enter a convent
where she might remain until she be-
came more calm.
To this her friends consented, and
she spent some months in the convent
at PanthemOnt.
William made several unsuccessful
attempts to see her. Finally, dis
heartened, he went away. After
wards he married the heiress with
whom he lived a very unhappy life.
Josephine received frequent visits
from Beauharnais, Notwithstanding
they were permitted to converse only
through window. The sympathy Of
the sisters during her brief sojourn at
the convent did much to. SOOthe her
wounded heart. She felt that tho it
was cruel fate which separated her
from William, it was one to which
She was much attached to the Wis
count, but did not. love him as she
did William.
Soon after Josephine was sixteen
she married Alexander de Beauhar-
nais. She was Immediately ushered
into the most fashionable and aristo-
cratic society of Paris.
Her grace. amiability and peculiar
sweetness of voice excited great adj
miratien as wei las sqpe envy.
Bearharnais surrounded her with
every luxury, layishly supplying all her
wants. He was very proud of his
young wife, introducing her at Court.
Maria AntOinette, then at the height
of her popularity, was charmed with
Josephine, and showed her marked
attention. Later, in the time of
she evidenced her sympathy by re-
questing Josephine to frequent her
own private garden at her pleasure.
At one time when Josephine was
with the queen by her request, she
took an antique ornament of precious
stones from her own neck and placed
it about that of Josephine,
The king also showed her great
kindness.
Although Beauharnais was very
kind and attentive to Josephine, yet
he, like many another, had two codes
of morals, one for his wife and one
for himself.
Soon Josephine experienced the sor-
row OF seeing beautiful and fashion
able woman publicly claiming the
attentions of her husband. The wO-
man was of high rank and very art
full. She sought in every way possible
to torture Josephine, and tried to OBJ
tain some clue by which she might
arouse the Jealousy of Beauharnais
toward his wife.
In 1880 Josephine gave birth to a
daughter, little Hortense. For a
while the father was more faithful to
his wife, being deyotedly attached to
his baby girl. But his life was not
governed by any law OF God command
ing purity of heart and action. He
CilOuSllu OOoCPlAliiC Oaeliot w w Sch
tented if he was kind to her, even tho
he did crafty his desires in such in
diligence as he saw fit.
When Hortense was three years old
an infant son came to gladden. jose
phine's heart. in the society and love
of her children, HortenSe and Eugene,
Josephine found her only Solace.
The woman who was the disturber
of Josephine's domestic peace, finally
succeeded in arousing the jealousy Of
the ViScount by persuading him that
Josephine held secret interviews with
William. At last he became SO in
sanely jealous that he resolved upon a
separation, and took means to obtain
a divorce.
Josephine now found it necessary to
vindicate her innocence. She retired
to convent until her standing as a
yirtuOuS woman was secured.
This was triumphantly accomplish
ed, the court deciding in her favor.
Josephine returned to her friends
who did everything in their power to
mitigate her sorrow. Her husband
had taken Eugene from her, this sep
aration well nigh broke her heart. She
received many letters from Martinique
urging her to return with her child
ren to the home of her childhood.
Deciding to accept the invitation, she
sought and obtained an interview
with Beauharnais, requesting that
Eugene be allowed to accompany ner.
This the Viscount coldly refused to
permit.