The Washington herald., 1914-07-19

To escape the green eyes Of his cruel
torturer, there was nothing for the EN-
peror to do but to turn his back and walk
on whistling an Italian air. After all, be-
| tween him and Nine. Grassini or any Of
the rest there was no love lost on either
side. probably not even in his relations
with the mothers Of his two sons.
The Bar Sinister.
While Napoleon was on the German
campaign in the winter Of 1sOs. his hrst
son was born him in Paris by EIeonore-
Eleonore Reyel-and through seyenty-ive
| years OF a worthless, rascally life, the
! Count de Leon carried the certificate OF
MS parental origin stamped on his face,
| winch he proudly boasted as his .glori-
Gus resemblance" The Emperor appoints
| ed his secretary. the Baron de Meneval.
10 be one OF the child's guardians, and
made liberal provisions for the bow he
| fore his nnal remembrance Of him in his
/ will. "a '''"
The other son, who was born in 1910, be-
came, as Count Walewska, a distinClIish
ed statesman OF the second empire, serv-
to London, minister OF foreign affaiTs
minister Of state, and as president OF the
corps legislatif until his death in ISSS This
counts mother. the only weIl-defned fig-
the background of Napoleon was the
oeautiful Wenty-two-year-old wife of an
OLD Polish noble when, in the cnthusias-
Ic emouon that swept her unhappy Po-
a.
smiled upon the hberator Of her people ar
warsaw in the winter OF lS0S-OT. To this
DAY the Poles cherish her memory as one
VINO gave her love for her country Even
her aged husband and his family appear
10 nave been content TO see the beautiful
patriot gain the confidence of the master
OF their nation, s destiny. VI. walewska's
sisters were her chaperons when SO
took up her residence in Paris where in
the deepest seclusion. in the utmost self
enacement. she lived only for the En-
peror or for Poland,
II the captor Of the capitals of Europe
ever really captured a heart IL beat in
the faithful, modest breast Of this fair
olue-eyed daughter OF the SHOWS He
mad hardly more than landed at ST
Helena, however. when her complaisant
husband dying and ceasing to lag super
nuous on the stage, Mime. walewska mar
ried Gen Ornano. a cousin of the exile.
VINO WINGED at the news OF the quick
transfer of her caresses. even tbouSh
they remained in the family.
1t is not clearly written in history that
the most brilliant man in its pages, with
grace on his brow, the front Of Jove and
the eye Of Mars. ever won the love Of
any woman. Grand. gloomy and Pc
culiar. he sat upon the throne a sceptered
hermit. wrapped in the solitude Of his
own originality
Yet the fault may not have been 50
much in the man as in his star, which
forever lured him from honne-fsIt
pleasures and gentle scenes Fortune shed
upon him the glory of victory and power,
and showered upon him scepters and
crowns, but she withheld blessing COM
mon to men. great and small. worthy
and unworthy-the pure, unselhsh love Of
two good women, a mother and a wife.
Letizia Bonaparte. with the head of a
man on the shoulders OF a woman
was the stern and noble mother bird OF
an eagle. but her virtuous and dutiful
breast was no fountain Of affection. Nor
did the eagle. after mewing his mighty
youth in monasteries and barracks, re-
ceive any response to the wild :hrob-
oings In his bosom when he swooped
down upon Josephine's dove cote
Thereupon he bade his heart to dis
miss its distracting illusions. and thence
forth he omitted from his scheme of
conquest the hemisphere OF
Men were intoxicated by
mis- glance and died by thousands 10 win
his smile. But in the midst OF
prostrate world. womanhood stood erect
and unconquered. and IL Is doubtful IL
any woman lost either her head or
her heart as the Great Unloved marched
on to his destiny.