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

On the small island or Martinique,
in the eastern part of the Caribbean
Sea, amid the luxuriant beauty OF
the tropics, on the 23rd day of June,
1863, was born a tiny baby girl, who
was destined to become one of the
most noted women of history. t
Her father was Il French military
island of Martinique with his com
mand. While there he fell in love
with the daughter of a Frenchman
who had gone to Martinique in the
hope of retrieving his lost fortune.
In the course of time, these two
young people were united i'm marriage.
TO this union was born one child, a
daughter, whom they named Jose
phine. Both parents died when she
was but an infant, and baby Jose
phine was adopted by NJ. and Madame
Renaudin. an uncle and aunt living
in Martinique. " .s
M. Renaudin was a planter of con-
siderable means. Both he and Ma
dame were very fond of Josephine
and made her early life happy and
carefree.
Her playmates were almost entire
ly from among the negro children OF
the plantations: who were at once her
She was of sunny, sympathic ma
ture, sharing their Simple pleasures,
and always listening attentively to
their tales of woe: many times inter
ceding for holiday or tightening of
their tasks. This characteristic was a
marked one throughout her entire
life; always giving of self for the hap
pinesS of others; Sparing nothing, sac
rificing everything if by so doing she
could better the lot OF another. The
ebon friends of her childhood loved her
devotedly and she moved among them
like a veritable queen.
No one seemed to think OF sending
her to school until she was ten years
of age. Prior to this her only educa-
tional advantages were those derived
from association with educated
French people who went to the island
for various reasons, invariably finding
a welcome at the hOSpitable mansion
of M. Renaudin. Josephine was by
nature very graceful: endowed to re.
markable degree with that rarest OF
gifts, tact. She had very receptive
mind and passionate love Of books.
In an atmosphere of beauty, love,
culture and freedom, she developed
early into a sweet young womanhood,
with grace peculiarly her own.
At the age of ten she was sent to
a convent where she taught music,
dancing and the art of embroidery.
This latter accomplishment was con-
sidered in those days to be necessity
in young woman's education.
On a plantation near that of NJ.
Renaudin's there lived an English
family who had one son named Will
liam. The family had gone to Mar
Unique because of financial difficulties
hoping, like M. Renaudin, to meet
with SUCCESS in that island home.
There had sprung up between jose
phine and William a mutual attach
ment which was heartily approved by
their elders.
The family of William remained in
Martinique until their English estates
were restored, when they returned to
England.
OF course this separation was a
great trial to Josephine and William,
but promising each to be true to the
other they parted.
A year passed away and not one
word did Josephine receive from her
absent friend. Her tender heart was
deeply wounded but still she hoped.
Soon after the departure of William
q gallant young man from France,
visited, upon business of great i'm
portance, at the home of Kenaudin.
Viscount Alexander de Beauharnais
was fashionable young man of about
thirty years of age, educated, accom-
plished, and accustomed to the most
polished society of France. He held
a commission in the army and by
several acts of bravery had gained
considerable notOriety. He was also
a strong sympathizer with the Ameri.
can colonistS, aiding them with sword
and money.
He visited Martinique to secure
proof of his titles to several large and
valuable estates which had fallen by
Inheritance to himself and his brother
the Marquis OF BeauharnaiS.
M. Renaudin held lease to some Of
these plantations, SO Beauharnais was
much in his home during the trans
action Of business. OF course he fire.
auently met Josephine and was charm
ed with her grace and simplicity Of
manner. He soon became very fond
Of her. Josephine aunt and uncle
were delighted with the prospect of
so desirable an alliance for her as it
would not only secure a very distin-
guished husband for Josephine, but
would unite the two estates, she being
the only heir to her uncles' property.
In view of this, all communication
between Josephine and William as
intercepted, and although Josephine
was true in her heart to her absent
lover, she was taught to believe him
faithless to her.
At first she would not tolerate any
suggestions regarding an alliance with
Beauharnais, clinging to the hope
that there might be some reason for
the silence of William.
AT last her uncle was SO importu-
nate in his entreaties sitting forth
the advantages of a union with SO
wealthy and accomplished gentle
man as Beauharnais, assuring her
that William had certainly forgotten
her, that Josephine was persuaded
to look with favor toward marriage
with the Viscount.
1t is said that during this inter-
view, NJ. Renaudin had several letters
from William to Josephine in his
pocket.
After this Josephine and Beauhar-
nais were often together. She learn
ed to admire him very much and
after a time consented to become his
wife.
Soon after their engagement Beau
harnais sailed for France.
Arrangements had been made for
Josephine to go out later to Paris,
to tie home OF a relative where their
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