The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-21
VICTOR NAPOLEON
AND HIS BRIDE


veins of an Legitimate branch OF the
house. have spoken in these letters Of
Compile Leon. who was NapOleon's son
by Eleanore dc la Plaigne, lady-in-wait-
ing TO Caroline Bonaparte, then Princess
Murat, with whom she had been school
fellow at Madam Campan's. I told Of
how on one OF Napoleon's visits 10 his sis
ter the victor Of Austerlitz had remarked
this girl and OF this remark there pres
emily was born the Compile Leon.
one Of the consequences Of this event
was that Napoleon began TO harbor
thoughts of a divorce from Josephine
Leon was duelist and a gambler, a
thorn IN the side Of his cousin, the third
Napoleon. Only the intervenui n Of Bow
street prevented a hostile meeting be-
tween the cousins at Wimbledon, when
they were both eXiles in London other
wise. as the compte was a dead shot, the
map Of Europe might be different. AS II
was. the imperial cousin found himself
perpetually made liable for the others
debts, Imprisonment for debt then suu
obtained. and il would never have done
10 let the caricatuTists see the living inn
age OF the great Emperor behind the bars
at Clichy
That living image always did excite
plenty OF remark. II was never trans
mitted matrimonially. When Compile
Leon died at Pontoise during the year
OF the Franco-Prussian war. he left
son, an Industrious SILK manufac-
turer. in the south OF France
But II viii be remembered Napoleon
had another illegitimate son. born 10
him during the Russian campaign by
the famous beauty, the Polish Coun-
tess Walewski. This son. under the
second empire. became French Ambas-
sador 10 the Court OF St. James. This
Walewsh. in turn, acknowledge pa
ternity Of a son. Alexandra. by the
great actress Rachel. This last Alex
andre entered the consular service and
rose 10 be a consul general in italy.
and through him the blood OF Napo-
leon l has been transmitted 20 a re-
spectacle dealer in motor cars on the
continent.
Both the rake Leon and Count Wa
lewsh were mentioned by Napoleon
in his Will. made while an exile at ST.
Helena.
Prince Victor Napoleon viii not be
married at Marlborough at the home
Of ex-Empress Eugene Owing TO the
illness OF Princess Clothilde the bride
grooms mother, the ceremony viii
take place at the castle OF Montaca-
lieri. near Turin. IN ITALY. An Austrian
archduke and Gen Louis Bonaparte
viii be the best men. and Prize de
Ligne will he among those in attend
ance. The ceremony will be private.
The story OF the betrothal OF the
pTincely pair is a romance Il was six
years ago that Princess Clementine first
gave her heart 20 the heir OF the Bona
parte dynasty and pretender 10 the
French throne AS a pretender he never
Vas formidable II is true that there is
a body Of men IN France who still cher
ish the traditions OF the Napoleonic
regime. To them Prince Victor IS marked
out as a man Of destiny, and for that
reason the French republic declines to
have him within its borders. Prince Vic
tor himself has no illusions on the sub
Ject. For years he has been an exile in
Brussels. living quietly on his income OF
5000 francs a year and MISUNDERSTANDING
foolish little plots into which his adher-
ents have tried 10 drag him.
At the age OF forty-two he genuinely
fell in love with King Leopold's daugh-
ter Clemeutine The pair often met at
the house OF the Countess Of Flanders.
mother Of the present King OF the Bel
gians. Clementine, unhappy In her home
life and on bad terms with both Of her
parents, earnestly desired 20 be married
10 a man who had some strength OF
character. coupled with a simple heart
But King Leopold refused his consent.
He favored the Orleans family. he hated
the Bonapartes. Besides, il did not suit
his policy with the French republic 10
have his daughter married 10 a royalist
pretender.
The Countess ot Flanders interceded for
them. but Leopold refused 10 reconsider
his decision. Aged Empress Eugene,
with whom Prince Victor always has
been favorite, even travelled 10 Brus-
sells and pleaded for the lovers. but with
no better success. Then Princess Glenn
enune fell III, and the court physicians
told King Leopold that the shattered
nerves of the princess and her continued
Unhappiness were caused by her fathers
hard-heartedness. The court chaplain
also was a champion for the unhappy
pair, but all TO no purpose.
The pair met In private houses and in
the drawing rooms of the Countess OF
Flanders and of the present King But
they never appeared together in public
and both were absentees at court.
On the death of King Leopold the two
separated lovers again appeared at court.
and pretty soon it was announced that
King Albert had given his consent 10 the
union. The princess, despite her thirty
eight years, is a charming and even beau
tiful woman. though OF extreme paIlor
and sad, dark eyes. Prince Victor, who
is now forty-eight, is a square built.
soldierly man, who would bear a strong
resemblance TO the great Napoleon If he
did not wear a big back mustache.
The engagement is announced OF Sir
Archibald Hunter, X. c. B., and Lady
Mary Inverclyde. widow Of the second
baron and sister-in-law to the present
Lord Inyerclyde, They VIII be married
in London in November
Sir Archibald. one Of the best known
Of British generals. has had an enviabie
career, even for a great soldier. He
is now governor and commander-in-chief
al Gibraltar, and, although only hfty-
four years old, had been regarded by his
friends as a confirmed bachelor. Engaged
in every campaign since the Sudan ex-
petition in 1854 Sir Archibald distin-
guished himself so consficuously at the
battle OF KhartOum that he was made
a K q r and personally was thanked