The sun., 1908-10-04

seat Besides this personal aspect the
little French colony was the subject OF
some political calculations. :,
This extensive territorial holding by
the ex-King had produced some eject
on the mind Of the ex-Empcror At st.
Helena. He thought that its proximity
to Canada would attract number Of
French Canadians. and that the colony
would be susceptible Of WELDING an anti
English influence. II he could reach
America he would cell his relatives to
this mountain eyTie. .,t,.+
he. estimated that with their asso.
oiates they could command one hundred
millions of francs and would gather
about them 5000 people. 'the, greater
part having property, talent or instsuc-
hon: This would constitute national
asssEnblsge. o new country. IwouId have
loved to realize this dream. I 1t would
have been Q new glory "as. c! ~
OF this fantastic dream the sole me-
MORALS are the few stones on the hilltop,
said TO be remnants Of Joseph's villa,
and Q single intimate souvenir Of the
former lord OF the manor--the fayorite
armchair of Joseph. Aboard tho motor
boat Elba We visited the little settlement
where this memento IL still; kept with
care. 1t 10 at the western end Of the lake
at place called Alptns. u ~. -i,
Here is an old coking oven Of the
primitive days Of iron smeltinG and q
modern savmill. In the cottage on the
hiii. in th@oest and only parlor. We were
shown the straight backed. leather COW
cred. capaoious chair wherein the ocou-
pant Of several thrones had reposed in
the evenings, Of his Nimrodio days In the
American wilderness. ~ .-.:.
At Natural Bridge. about ten miles
away. he built species Of blockhouss to
use as hunting lodge. The passions
excited by the great Napoleopio struggle
were still 30 vivid that this building was
loopholed for defence. ''tt ~
The fires which had occurred at his
Bordentown home. As well as at Lake
Diana. had excited Joseph's suspioions
OF incendiaries. The special incentive
was said TO be the destruction Of doou-
ments in which European monarohs had
paid their compliments to each other
at the time when they were all paying
court to the Emperor. After Joseph's
departure from this country the loe house
did in fact burn down. "'eF.
Even as late as 1928 $1,000 more acres
were conveyed to the Count Survillier.
He made generous use OF large portion
of these possessions by transfers to old
officers end soldiers OF his brothers
armies. The names Of surrounding places
bear testimony to this muniicenee; wilma
and North Wilma perpetuate the men,
ories Of the Grand Army.
The circumstances under which this
entire property passed from the owner
ship of the Bdnapartes are not without
interest After the downfall of the Bour-
bons. ex-King Joseph felt that he could
safely return TO Europe. There was also
some serious prospect Of reestablishment
Of the Bonapartes through the accession
Of the former King OF Rome.
To aid In these enterprises Joseph de-
sired to realize on his Adirondack estates.
He had paid $5an acre for some Of the plots,
and he was willing thirteen years after
ward to sell at the rate OF from % to 81.
with the mills. houses and local improve
ments, Stephen Girard, the expected
pure lser. died about this time. and the
difficulty Of finding purchasers for such
an estate forced sale, which was made 20
John Lafarge OF New York for sSo0oo.
causing loss to Joseph OF $4,000.
A few discreet words may be given to the
alleged circumstances whereby this beau
tiful nook lost its chaste name OF Diana.
On a promontory about the centre Of
thn In 4, :, thara ;s a Ettla cnfta ~, vfoxr ~ n;.
habited and almost hidden by foliage.
This belonged to q family Of Benton. a
late member Of which is said to have
married Joseph's daughter by the left
hand. The local gossip attributes to the
descendants Of this lily Of Jersey the
ownership OF many valuable books and
other articles which belonged to the ex-
King Of Naples and Of Spain. But an in
spection OF the cottage disclosed no REM
nant OF past grandeur. .o.
The waters OF Lake Bona parte are as
Transparent and cold as they were whom
the exiled King sped, over their surface
in his six Dared gondols. At the foot
of the hill where the royal harnitage
once stood line Of cottages borders the
shore. Echoes Of modern life resound
where Real the administrator, Caulain-
court the diplomat. and Grouchy the SOL
der surrounded their Emperor's, brother
nearly q century ago. For it's intrinsic
beauty as well as it's associations with
the most famous family OF modern times,
Lake Bonaparte is we'll worth a visit.
as s- EDWARD L. ANDREWS.
WuERE M WRIGHT FTTFs