The Washington herald., 1914-07-26

Inc project was LOE III q HOI1lcnl
the door opened and the Emperor stood
before him, his eyes full Of tears and his
voice choking in his extreme agitation
The functionary entered the room. to find
Josephine lying on the floor and uttering
piercing cries: Il shall not survive it! /
shall not survive it, The Emperor asked
the prefect to carry the stricken Empress
down to her own apartments, on the floor
below. and he took candle OF table to
light the way. The private stairs, how
ever. proving too narrow for her to be
carried down in one pair Of arms, the
Emperor gave the candle to the usher
and helped the prefect bear her to her
ROOM
while. Josephine quickly and bravely re-
sumed the part of Empress. Nothing in
her brilliant reign became her more than
her farewell to her greatness. The fetes
went on and. although she could not keep
back the tears and summon the vanished
smile. she faithfully met all her duties
in the mocking ceremonials.
Queen Hortense, perked up in a glis-
teninE grief for her eldest son and wear
ing a golden sorrow in her loveless we'd
lock was unhappiness enthroned and
could not understand why her mother
should dread the loss OF a crown But
Josephine was a daughter of the sun, and
while she cared nothing for power, she
was naturally proud of the success with
which she had sat the highest throne Of
earth and retained the affection and mer-
of the world. II her early indifference
had not really warmed into love for Ma
poleon. she had at least become, in their
nearly fourteen years of married life. a
fond and devoted wife. capable Of feeling
the pangs of jealousy.
The Divorce.
With the arrival Of Eugene the formal
ARRANGEMENTS for his mothers divorce
were entered upon. But when Josephine
proposed that the Emperor should make
her son King instead Of vicerOy Of India,
the always high-spirited young man pro-
tested. Mother, let me be left out OF the
question. Your son does not wish a crown
as the price of your separation If you
bow to the Emperor's wishes II is Of you
alone that he must think Napoleon,
who had never failed in a fathers duty
to his stepson. expressed his admiration
of the viceroy's sentiments. That is a
true heart" he said; Eugene does we'll
to trust to my affection
The son had anticipated the situation,
and written to his mother a month be-
fore that II the Emperor believed his
happiness and the interests of France re-
ouired him to have children, no consider
alton should be permitted to oppose him,
and he invited Josephine, in event of di-
vorce. to live with him in Italy. Finally,
it fell to Eugene to make the first public
necessary for the happiness Of France
that the founder Of this fourth dynasty
should grow old, surrounded by his d.
rect descendants as a guarantee to US
all" he told the Senate. The tears that
his resolution has drawn from the EN-
peror suffice for my mothers glory"
Neither the Empress nor her children
could have asked for more generous terms
than Napoleon volunteered. He proposed
at once that she should retain her i'm
perial rank as crowned Empress, have
the Elysee Palace in Paris, as well as her
cherished abode at Malmaison and the
,,F for hAr
and receive an allowance OF 500. 700
II was agreed that the divorce should
be lawfully pronounced by mutual con-
sent in a family council in strict accord
ance with the provisions of the Code Ma
poIeon. Josephine was as loyalty ready
to forward her husbands plans now as
always, and while her hair was being
dressed on the morning of the day ap-
pointed for the proceedings she carefully
studied her speech. 1t had been prepared
for her. but she made changes in the Ian
guage and rewrote the pronouncement in
her own hand.
JosephIne's Last Functions.
At in the evening she entered the
throne room to take part in her last
Emperor and his mother seated them
selves in three armchairS, while the
crowned members of the Bonaparte and
Beauharnais families sat on chairs with
out arms and the uncrowned princes and
full court dress.
The act of divorce had been read. when
the Empress, drying her eyes. rose to
read her speech in a voice surprisingly
composed. She began braveIy enough:
with the permission OF our august and
dear spouse, / declare that since have
no hope OF bearing children who can sat
isfy the requirements Of his policy and