Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1907-08-30
PRINCE WILHELM OF SWEDEN.

Prince Wilhelm, of Sweden, Duke Of
5ondermanlsnd, our guest, who from
all accounts q modest and unsssuming
gentleman is evidently enjoying himself.
He visited first jamestown where he was
we'll entertained, and in manner that
gave no offence to good form or good
taste, principally by Mr.. Tucker, the presi-
dent of the jamestown Exposition, who
by birth and breeding of course under
stood how to entertain another gentle
man. Mr.. Tucker also had the sdvsn-
tage of having the prince on the soil of
beautiful women and gallant men. Some
social friction seems to have followed
upon these functions, but that is usually
the case under similar circumstances.
There are always some persons who i'm
agine that they have not received the
recognition to which they are entitled.
1t appears that, at Newport, the prince
was 30 pursued that he sought refuge at
party given by bis own country people
which goes to show that he is not with
out democratic pToclivities, and why
should he be, for he comes Of a self-msde
family. The blood of the great Gustavus
Adolphus and Charles the Twelfth
runneth not 10 his veins. He is de-
scended from Bernadotte. Who then WAS
Bernsdotte? He was marshal OF
France who betrayed his benefactor, Ma
poleon Bonaparte, the greatest man and
the creates: soldier that God ever per-
mitted to live upon this earth.
Bernadotte, the son Of poor country
lawyer, entered as private in the ranks
of the army Of the revolution. Napoleon
attracted by his bravery and military
qualities, advanced him step by step un-
til he finally be same marshal, and mar
ried sister of Joseph Bonspsrte's wife.
He then began to show jealousy, and
insubordination. At the bloody battle of
ESlau, when Napoleon was opposed by
a mighty Russian force, Bernadotte was
stationed with his corps of 25, 900 men
ten miles distant, at Auersdadt to sup
port Marshal Augereau who had about
the same number of men and who
was the ranking officer. The Russians
largely outnumbered Augereau, and
assailed him fercely. Augereau beg
ged and implored BerDadotte to
Come to his aid even offering to allow
bim to take supreme command, but
Bernadotte steadily refused to advance.
In spite OF it, however, Augeresu gained
brilliant victory. Napoleon fighting
hard at Eylsu didn't even known until
the following day of Augereau's battle.
When he learned of Bernadotte's con-
duct he was furious and would have had
him courtmartialed and shot had it not
been for the Intervention Of Joseph.
Again at the battle Of Wsgram where
the French gained great victory over
the Austriaus, Bernadotte pursued the
same tactics, and after the battle he had
the impudence to issue manifesto,
claiming that all of the glory of the vic
tory belonged to himself and his troops.
This was too much for Napoleon, who
issued counter address showing that q
very few of Bernadotte's men we're en-
gagged at all and that Bernadotte himself
was not even under fire. Napoleon then
dismissed him from the army, ordering
him to return to Paris. Bernadotte then
began to intreague and scheme political
ly and succeeded in having himself elect
ed as King of Sweden. Napoleon reluc-
tantly conseuting upon condition that
Bernadotte would be his ally, Befnadotte
promising faithfully to be steadfast and
true.
How did he keep his piomiseY After
the disastrous expedition to Russia and
Moscow in 1912, Napoleon fighting on
French soil the armies Of all Europe,
Bernadotte advancing at the head OF q
Swedish army asssiled him in the rear
and helped to bring about the events
that eliminated in the Punishment OF
Napoleon to the Island of Elba.
Bsrnadotte made Sweden an excellent
ruler He was an able and brave SOL
der and his cause has been approved by
historians mainly English. But as
Rochefoucauld truly remarks "True
love is rare and true friendship is rarer
but the rarest of all qualities is graft
tude," and Bernsdotte, Marshal OF
France and King of Sweden, never show.
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