Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-20

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princes and Processes might be met at
any turn. there is little now but evidence
of neglect and decay. The rose-oordereu
walks are rank with weeds, the lake on
which the swanboats once were huher-
Gus has dried up and gone. Tne swan
boats have crumbled to dust, as mas the
belvedere, where once the sentries stooo
10 watch the Trenton post ROAD. a 1eW'
only a few. Of the group OF houses tnat
once made up the American establishment
of Joseph Bonaparte, King OF Naples ana
King of Spain, remain.
In all the United States there probably
never has been more charming country
home than this one Napoleons pest
loved brother had at Point Breeze, BOT
dentown, n. j. No wonder he was reluct-
ant to leave 1t. No wonder he deemed
the crown of Mexico when delegation
from that country came to Bonaparte
House to offer it to him.
Il have worn two crowns" he told the
visitors. This now is my kingdom, and
he indicated with wave OF MS nand Inc
broad expanse of Bonaparte Park
1t is likely that the years spent at Bor-
dentown were the happiest of Joseph
Bonapartes life. He loved tranquility.
hut circumstances made his career tenn
pestuous At heart he was democrat,
but in obedience to the will OF his i'm
perious brother he became king. his
early ambition was to be psnop, put
Napoleon decided he should take up the
profession Of arms. He was an aole man
by far the ablest of Napoleon's brothers,
gentle, kindly and philosophical, and re-
sembled his father as fully as the great
emperor resembled his mother.
Queer how the Bonapartes all started
wrong Joseph, who wanted to De
priest, never wore a cassock; Napoleon.
who longed to be a sailor, never went to
sea except as a passenger, and Lucien,
who was ambitious for fame as SOLDIER.
never wore a uniform. Louis, trained as
a military man, gave up the service. and
Jerome, who distinguished himself on the
sea, became general OF division.
AS Joseph was dominated by Napoleon
living, SO he was dominated by Napoleon
dead, for with the death of the emperor
he became the head of the house and
upon him devolved all the duties OF
looking to a restoration of the dynasty.
1t was in the spring of 1915 that Joseph
Bonaparte bought the property at Point
Breeze. As he drove over from Trenton
to Bordentown he was charmed with the
country. And well he might be. for the
region is one of rare beauty. Like all
the Bonapartes. he was prov1dent man,
and he brought to America, after water
loo, not only fortune In money, but
jewels and state papers and objects Of art
of incalculable value. He had house IN
Philadelphia, but he wanted country
estate which would be haven for the
scattered branches OF his family. Moth
ing could have suited his purpose better
than the property at Point Breeze. It
was on an eminence overlooking the Della
ware river and had been the home OF
Stephen Sayre, who. in his youth, had
married an Englishwoman Of great wealth
and who served for many years as secre-
tary to Benjamin Franklin.
There were only 300 acres to the estate
when the king bought it, but he gradually
gathered in adjoining properties. until he
had 1,67 acres, or about three square
miles, Of territory. He bought. too, an
estate on the Black river in the AdTon-
darks This was an immense affair of
$4,000 acres. In each case the state of
New Jersey and the state of New York
had to pass a special law to enable him.
a foreigner, TO own real estate. The king
spent an immense sum laying cut roads In
the Adirondack forest tract. and the land
itself cost him 6Oo.OOO francs. For the
Point Breeze property he paid for the
tional land he paid various prices. until
his total outlay there for land amounted
to SlO6, 331.51.
For two years Joseph Bonaparte de-
voted most of his time to the develop
ment and Identification OF the estate. He
had the eye of an artist. and he had
money enough to indulge his fancies. To
the old Sayre mansion he built wings, and
nearby he built pretty home for his
daughter the Princess Zenaide. and her
husband, Charles Lucien, Prince Of Ca
nino and Musignano. There was a lodge
at the entrance to Bonaparte Park. and
near IL was the home of the kings physi-
clan. There was q picturesque little
house EMPOWERED in roses for NJ. Mall
lard, the kings secretary. as there were
cottages for various members OF his suite.
Out near the Trenton road was what was
known as the Garden House. one Of the
most artistic OF all the structures in the
group. But 1t was not to landscape gar
dening and house building that the exile
gave his most earnest attention. From
Philadelphia he brought the most skillful
cabinetmakers the city could furnish, and
these worked for many weeks under his
personal direction in his private rooms in
the mansion.
When at last all work was finished the
king, who soon after his arrival in
America has assumed the name Of
Comte de Surviiliers. gave a housewarm-
ing, TO which he invited all the people OF
Berdentown. Never had Bordentown
seen such magnificence or had been re-
ceiyed with more democratic simplicity.
The king was their neighbor and as such
he received them. Short and rather stout,
but very graceful. he was in appearance
much like Napoleon. His two daughters,
tho Princess Ienaide and the Princess
Charlotte. received with him, while two
af tho marsIals of France stood on either
side. After the formal welcome there
MAS a dance on the lawn, the king OPEN