El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-22
Josephine, NapOIeOn's Star
Until the French Warrior Cast Her
Off, He Won Notable Victories;
Losing Her, He Lost All.
=Rr Madison D.. Peters
> ARIE Joseph Rose Tascher

MI Ia Pagerue, first wife of Ma
%NA polean I, empress Of the French,
was born in the hamlet of TrOis lets,
near the town of St Pierre Martinique,
on June %, 1853. Her father went to
Martinique. in the first quarter Of the
18th century, leaving France because
he could not make things go there,
and, not relishing work. he met with
no better success abroad and only
constant favors persistently solicited
from his relatives in France, kept him
and his alive. He idled his time in
gaming, intrigue and soliciting, his
only asset was his birth, the eldest
son of a noble.
Josephine received very imperfect
education. but her native grace won
all who knew her. Her companions,
in the main, were negroes OF me
plantation, who idolized her in
taught, unrestrained little Aetette,
as Josephine was called, developed ike
the negroes into a beautiful animal,
with hardly more moral sense ana
less of responsibility
At 10 years of age she was sent to
a convent where she remained -FOUR
years. learning to read and write.
dance and play the guitar. as much OF
an equipment as many noble porn
maid in France started out with IN
18th century.
Married By Fathers Wish.
few months after Josephine had
come out of the convent, her father
proposed that she go to France and
marry Alexander de Beauharnals,
though she had not seen him since
she was seven years old and he ten
The father NJ. de Beauharnals, VINO
had been governor in Martinique,
was rich in favor with the king at
Versailles, and JOsephine's father,
a
creditable. did the best he could for
his family.
BY this unhappy union. Josephine
had a son Eugene, afterward prince,
and HOrtense. a daughter who ne
came queen of Holland by her mar
rage with Louis Banaparte, and was
the mother of Napoleon III
In spite of the 10000 livres, her
gOdmOther. Nine Renaudin. had spent
on her trOusseau, Josephine made a
poor impression Her husband. cul-
tured and aristOcratic-a lieutenant IN
the army-was irritated with her pro-
vinciaI air Josephine had no head or
heart for the sentiment about liberty
that flowed so glibly from every
French tongue and she demanded that
her husband love her exclusively, and
very soon he was only too glad TO
be called to his regiment that he
might leave her behind
Deserted BY Husband.
In 1882, when the English made a
descent on Martinique, Beaunarnals
enlisted for service there and fell in
love. His-neyg love persuaded him that
Josephine had love affairs Of her own
before she left Martinique to marry,
and although there was never any
proof of the stories she related to
him. he was glad to have reason Cor
deserving her. A kind Of recOncllla-
ton followed between de Beauhar-
nais and Josephine. They continued
to live apart but they saw each other
-
Though an ardent advocate Of
liberty and equality and one OF the
promoters in the constituent assembly,
Beauharnais was arrested on suspicion,
during the reign Of terror, and sent
to the scaffold- JOsephine's efforts
to secure his release caused her own
Imprisonment Her children were re-
duced TO such extremities that Eugene
became a carpenters apprentice
Napoleon Fails In Love.
When Napoleon was still an obscure
officer. he met Josephine at reception
and at once determined to marry her'
though she was SIX years ms senior
and widow with two children ana
after pressing his suit through the
fall and winter Of 1875 and 1886, he
married her March g, 1896 Twelve
DAYS later he was appointed 10 the
chief command of the French forces IN
italy. She accompanied him, restrain
ing his violence and sharing MS glorS.
It was with great difficulty that she
was kept from accompanying NapOle-
on to Egypt During their separation
and after his return she attracted
around her the most brilliant society
Of France and established her nus
bands power She was crowned
queen. December =, 1904, but her hap
piness was soon marred- She had 40
children by her imperial husband and
in his eyes a direct heir was essen
tial to the preservation of his power
Consents to Divorce.
Josephine consented to divorce,
which was granted December l6.
1909 Her enthusiastic attachment
to Napoleon remained and she never
lost her power over the French people
Josephine was NapOleon's star he
won his greatest victories while she
was his wife and while he loved her.
His star began to set with his mar
rage to the Austrian princess. Jose
phine cared not for books. knew lit
lie about music, but played good
hand Of whist and was fond Of tell
ing her own fortune with cards This
was her daily delight, but her real
pleasure was dress. In one year she
bought 1876 dresses, 20 cashmere
shawls. 81 hats, $50 pairs Of gloves
and $40 pairs Of hoes. She bought Al
that struck her fancy and never ap-
peared twice in the same costume