The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1915-04-16
BRIBED NAPOLEON
The Prize Barras Offered to Have
Him Wed Josephine.
A STEPPING STONE TO FAME.
Command of the Army In Italy Was
the Lure That Won the Ambitious
Young General to Court the Widow.
A Surprise For Notary Raguideau.


the Lure That Won the Ambitious
Young General to Court the Widow.
A Surprise For Notary Raguideau.
Paul Jean Barras, the fiery French
revolutionist, who took leading part
In the overthrow of Robespierre in
1894, then became a member of the
committee of public safety and COM
mander in chief on the thirteenth Ven
demiaire, entering the Directory In 1895
and becoming dictator In 1897, was
the man who while head of the gov
ernment induced Josephine Beauhar-
nais to become Bonaparte's wife. Both
Of them were unwilling. Nine Tallien
had apparently taken the affection OF
Barris away from Josephine Bona
parte started like a war horse at the
sound of a trumpet when BarraS alb
ruptly proposed that he should offer
the widow his hand.
Il want no wife save this" he ex-
claimed, striking his sword hilt.
Listen to me-" said Barras. "You
are brave, but poor This widow of
the Marquis de Beauharnais Is In a
position to advance your future. You
are a foreigner and an exile Her in
fiuential friends will serve you. Marry
her and | procure you the command OF
the army In Italy"
flush passed over the face of Bona
parte.
"Decider' said Barras.
We all know the result The bribe
was too tempting, and Josephine yield
ed also. If her heart remained awhile
untouched her vanity was less passive
AS she listened to the glowing prophe-
cies of the ardent young soldier she
began to indulge the same visions and
glory In the same hopes
She requested him to accompany her
TO NJ. Raguideau, a lawyer in whom
she had long been accustomed to con-
.f1de. They went. and Bonaparte wait
led in an anteroom while she talked
with Raguideau in his office. She neg
lected to close the door. and 1t happen
ed that Bonaparte was able to over
hear the conversation.
''If you are really going to marry this
adventurer." said Raguideau, "it will
be the worse for you
ooh. why?" asked Josephine.
why? A paltry general, without
either name or prospects. VIII he ever
become Dumourfez or a Pichegru?
Better marry good rich army con-
tractor. The profession Of arms is
worthless now. You will repent your
folly all your ife. Whoever heard of
sensible woman throwing herself
away on man whose fortune consists
in his sword and his great coat?"
Bonaparte was half suffocated with
rage and impatience in listening to this.
He was on the point Of dashing into
the room, but refrained. Josephine
came out ruffied and annoyed, but it is
remarkable that neither of them said
a word about the conversation right up
to the time when Napoleon was crown
ed emperor by the pope, in Paris.
On the morning of that day he sent
for Raguideau. The honest lawyer was
lost in amazement. He was ushered
into an apartment of the Tuileries and
found himself in the presence of Ma
poleon and Josephine.
"Ahaw said the emperor. ''Do you
remember a day when / accompanied
to your house Nine. de Beauharnais,
now empress of the French? Do you
remember your panegyric OF which l
was the object%
A deluge OF such questions stupefied
Raguideau. and Josephine was bewil-
dered.
The poor fellow could hardly gasp
out word. When he found speech 1t
was "How could I tell? How could l
guess? / thought only of her and her
fatherless children. | wanted to see
them restored to prosperity and honor"
With that he burst into tears.
II believe you," said the emperor.
Then he paused and added, The fu-
ture is beyond the grasp of any living
man. Well, look here. ! have pun
ishment for you. ! condemn you to go
this day to Notre Dame and witness
the coronation Not in a corner, not
behind pillar. which will prevent my
knowing your obedience, but in the
best seat that can command for you"
From French Episodes" by Julia
Pardoe.