The Tomahawk., 1917-06-28

Hem AT la PAoERIE
into sort of trance, and to then re-
veal future happenings. Josephine
brought up with all the ideas and SUI
perstitions of the creole child, which
from it's birth assimilates all sorts OF
African folklore, due to its constant
association with negro slaves and serv-
itors, was far from soothing at her
nurses revelations and constantly
lived in the hope that she also might
some day be the subject Of Euphemlas
prophecies.
Prophecy of Euphenia.
It seems that Euphemia, however, no
matter how easily she revealed the fu-
ture Of other people, seems to have
possessed a strange reticence about
JOsephines fate. And it was not until
the beautiful young creole had reached
the age Of fifteen years that the old
"mammy" could be made to speak on
this subject. One day, while seated
under the shade of Il giant mango
tree, near the pool where Josephine
took her daily bath, guarded by her
faithful servnnt-the visitor to La
Pageric is still shown the gigantic
tree and the shaded pool where these
events took placc-Euphemia's eyes
took on the far-nway look that always
preceded her prophecies, and she
spoke:
"YOu will be married to man OF
fair complexion, intended to be the
husband of another Of your family.
The young lady whose place you are
called to fill will not live long. Your
| star promises you two marriages.
Your first husband will be n man born
in Martinique, but he will reside in
Europe and wear sword he will en-
| joy some moments Of good fortune. "A
sad legal proceeding will separate yoa
from him, and, after many great
troubles which are to befall the king
dom of the Franks, he will perish trag-
ically and leave you widow with two
helpless children. Your second hus-
band will be or IN olive complexion, Of
European birth; without fortune, yet
he will become famous; he will fill the
world with his glory, and will subject
great many nations to his power.
You will then become an eminent w0m-
an and possess Il supreme dignity; but
many people will forget your kind
nesses. After having astonished the
world, you will die miserably. Tho
country in which what I fOretell will
happen forms Il part Of Celtic Gaul:
and more than once, in the midst OF
your prosperity, you will regret the
happy and the peaceful life you led
in the colony. At the moment you
shall quit it (but not forevcr) prod
icy will appear in the air-this will be
the first hnrbinger Of your astonishing
destiny"
It All Came True.
How true this prophecy became 1.
Of course, well known. The man OF
fair complexion whom Josephine first
married was the viscOunt Alexander
de Beauharnais, who was first afi7
anced to Maria, the eldest daughter on
Monsieur de Tascher. Maria, however,
died in Martinique before her mar
rage took place. Shortly afterwarda
Josephine married De Beauharnais,
after a brief engagement, and sailed
for France. De Beauharnais was then
in the French army Of King Louis XVI
For various reasons he Instituted legal
proceedings against Josephine after y
few years of married life. He was
guillotined during the French revOlu'
ton, leaving Josephine widow with
two children. She then met Napoleon
NJ hn hIS
an humble lieutenant of artillery, and
subsequently married him. Her rise
to emnence ut NapoleOn's side and the
Incidents Of her unhappy life with the
emperor are but two well known.
Even the latter part of Euphemia's
prophecy came true, for, when the ship
which carried Josephine to France left
the harbor Of Martinique, the masts
of the vessel seemed to be tipped with
fire, according to traditions which
have been handed down. This, OF
course, was nothing but an atmos-
pheric phenomenon known as St. Ell
mos fire. but it must have astonished
the youthful mind Of the future en-
press of France to see this sign upon
her departure from her native shores.
The third Napoleon, son of Hortense
de Beauharnais and, in consequence.
grandson of Josephine, made some few
efforts during his turbulent reign to
preserve the memory of the Tascher
| family. lie had q tombstone erected
| in the church of the small village OF
Trois Isets to perpetuate the memory
of Madame Tascher, his great-grand-