The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-26
Josephine's Last Functions

Josephine's Last Functions
 At 3 in the evening she entered the throne room to take part in her last function at the Tuileries. She and the Emperor and his mother seated them selves in three armchairs while the crowned members of the Bonaparte and Bcauchharnais families sat on chairs without arms and the uncrowned Frincesses on mere stools. All were in full court dress.
 The act of divorce had been read. when the Empress. drying her eyes. rose to read her speech in voice sur prisingly composed She began bravely enough with the permission of our august and dear spouse, declare that,
 '. have no hope of bearing chii- dren who can satisfy the requirements of his policy and the interests of France 1t is my pleasure to give him the great est proof of attachment and devotion which ever was given on earth. But now her voice trembled and utterly failed her, and, as she sank weeping Into her chair, she handed the paper to a gentleman of the court and dumpiy appealed to him to finish the speech. which continued:
 ..I owe all to his bounty. It was his hand which crowned me and, seated on his throne, l have received nothing but proofs of affection and devotion from the French people
 ..The dissolution of my marriage will make no change in the sentiments of my heart
 "The Emperor will always have in mo his best friends I know how much this act, which is made necessary by his pol icy and by such great interests. has wounded his heart. but we shall win glory. both of us, for the sacrifice we have made for our country"
 After the Divorce
 As the divorced Empress left the pain ful scene attended by her son and daugh- ter, Eugene fell to the floor in faint and himself had to be assisted out of the room. After a few minutes the Emperor and Empress met again to mingle their tears in a private leave taking, when Jose phine covered his face with kisses and for the last time he embraced the bride of his youth and his glory.
 Napoleon at once entered waiting car riage and drove alone in his gloom through the black night to Versailles, there to pass few days in solitude at tne pdidce ol tnt t1fdnu IIldnoH JpSc- phines departure was deferred until the next afternoon. few courtiers present. ed themselves in the morning to take for nal leave of her. but when, attended by two members of the court she entered her carriage for the drive to Malmaison, no one came to say good-by, and she saw not friendly or grateful face as Tn cold and dismal rain she drove away from the Tuleries forever. The palace crowd were saving their supple hinges and their fawnings for her successor.
 The Emperor rode over to Malr >n the next day to call There he srteiled. with Josephine, in the familiar paths of the chateau park. but there were no more embraces. When he had returned to Yer sales he at once sat down and wrote her. letter breathing the tenderest anx- iety and hastened to dispatch it by cour- fer in time to reach the Empress before she retired for the night
 My Friend; found you weaker than you should have been. You have shown courage. and you must seek the strength to sustain you. Do not let yourself fall into fatal melancholy. You must learn to content yourself, and above all care for your health, which is so precious to me. Sleep well, thinking to yourself that it is my wish.'
 But the callers at Malmaison all came away with tales of Josephine's tears. and. at each distressing report, the Elm reror sped courier to her with a letter appealing to her fortitude He called again in person on Christmas eve to invite her to q Christmas dinner With him at Versailles. and she went with Hortense and Eugene
 r.s poleon returned to the Tuileries the day after Christmas. He had been away q fortnight and was plainly moved bv the memories the place evoked and shocked to find it so desolate without it's graceful mistress "rhe great palace seemed very empty 10 me- he con ftssed inc lis daily letter to Josephine. Cree more he paid her debts and hec appealed to her to try to live on S3oo.-k