The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-08-09

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Senate prospects Of paternity.
March %, Isu-Birth Of the King Of Rome
Nay =. Bu-Emrres went on tour with the I'm
p@uL.
June T. Ill-The baptism.
All Europe paused to listen as the stork
lowered above the palace home of Ma
poleon and Marie Louise in the early
spring of 1911. If it should be only a
girl. twenty-one guns were to be fired.
but If boy. 101 thunderous slavos were
to proclaim the birth of an heir to the
sovereignty of the earth.
In the Tuileries, two gorgeous little
cribs stood side by side. one pink. the
other blue. Near by them rose the gift
of the city of Paris. a magnificent cradle,
designed by the famous artist, Prudhon.
1t was overlaid with mother Of pearl and
golden bees and at its head a winged
figure Of glory held a crown high above
the pillow. while a young eagle perched
at the foot with wings outspread ready
for fight. A great heap of lacy. tiny
garments had been made at a cost Of
$50 900, and a governess from the highest
nobility was in readiness to take her ap-
pointed place of honor in the imperial
nursery.
As early as December, 1910. on the sixth
anniversary of his coronation. Napoleon
received the congratulations of the SEN
ate on his expectations Of paternity. and
twelve brides, with generous doweries
from the Empress, marched to the altar
of Notre Dame. Under the spell of SYM
rathetic emotions. the Emperor organ
lied 1000 of the great ladies Of France in
a society for the aid of needy young
mothers, and the Empress became its
patron.
The Mother First.
When a year had passed since Marie
Louise made her entry into the empire.
the monstrous clapper of the great oeH
in the south tower Of .Notre Dame
sounded a summons to the devout. which
was chimed by all the church bells OF
Paris. calling upon the people TO give
the night over TO prayer for the Empress
EarIy in the morning while the En-
neror was resorting to his customary
remedy for strained nerves in steamins
hath. DR.. Dubois. the foremost maternity
specialist of Paris, eXcitedly burst IN
unon him to say that the event was at
hand. and that he feared either the
mother or the child must be sacrihced-
NaDoleanz always was true in his
simpler moments. In the presence OF
the problem presented 10 him by the
nhysician the monarch and his dynastlc
ambitions gave way to the man and the
husband. Come! Come! NJ. Duboise.
he exclaimed. DO not lose your head!
What would you do in the same cir
cumstances if you were attending the
wife of a citizen?'' DR.. Dubois replied
that he would use instruments.
well then" the Emperor commanded
\ him, do Just as you would II you were
in the house of a tradesman in the Rue
ST. Denis Be careful of the mother and
the child, but if you cannot save both.
save the mother for me. Whatever hap
pens consider her first"
No less than twenty-five persons Of
the court were crowded about the EN-
press, in her travail, including Gambia
ceres and Berthier and four physicians,
as well as the lady of honor, the govern
ess, half a dozen ladies-in-waiting, as
many women in attendance, the maids Of
the wardrobe and the nurse. But among
them all, the nineteen-year-old girl saw
none of her kindred and no face Of an old
friend. Perhaps the only one in the
group upon whom she looked with trust
was the widow OF Lannes, the Duchess
of Montebello. whose uprightness and
devotion as lady of honor had won the
confidence Of her mistress.
The spectacle of the Empress suffer-
ings unrelieved by anaesthetics soon
drove her husband pale and trembling
from the scene to look out upon the
great silent throng that had been gather
ing since dawn. Alth ough he often stole
back to her room. the victor in'one hun
dred battles could not find the courage to
stand his ground. But go where pc would
he could not escape the outcriss of his
wife, which rang through the palace
and followed him wherever he went.
The King of Rome.
It was not far from o'clock in the
morning when man child came feet
foremost into the world which was to
be his birthright: But the little eagle was
silent, blue, and apparently lifeless and
all interest was centered upon the
mother Napoleon gave his whole atten-
ton to her and no more than glanced
at the tiny figure as it lay neglected
upon the floor.
Only when the Empress had rallied
did the governess turn to the all-but
forgotten and supposedly dead child
Forcing between-its dumb lips a drop
of brandy, she slapped its still body
and wrapped 1t in hot cloths. It was
seven minutes after the birth when
faint cry startled the company At
that feeble wall. wild joy leaped into