New-York tribune., 1922-12-10
By Esther Murphy


fHE PRIVATE DIARIES OF THE EMPRESS
kARIE LOUISE. WIFE OF NAPOLEON l.
n. Appleton Co.
TNHE Empress Marie Louise has suf-
fered from the fact that she was a
commonplace woman in extraordinary
circumstances. Her complete failure
70 rise to the great historical situation in
which she found herself has been a source
Of profound irritation to posterity, and her
rputation has been severely handled in con-
sequence. Even critic with such catholic
Vympathies as Anatole France has not
found good word TO say Of her. And yet
there is, after all, very great deal that can
Be said on her side. Through the force Of
circumstances beyond her control, Marie
Louise was married to a man whose indi-
yidralty and career have appealed so pro-
ioundly 10 the human imagination that he
has been exalted into a demigod. Her chief
esense is the fact that she never seems 20
have appreciated the splendor of the destiny
hat made her the wife Of Napoleon Bona
r,rs or TO have regarded her husband with
hss unbounded enthusiasm which his idola-
tn usct as his due. She was hopelessly
UltraA " the Ioit NHtNH bht was SAitN
pm play in the last act Of the great
Mpsssnie drama, and throughout she re-
htrsd quite unaware Of its opportunities.
A new and curious light is cast upon Marie
Lssise's attitude and conduct by the publi-
nton Of her private diaries, which have
fnJ recently been discovered. The diaries
kIe been edited by N. Frederic Mason,
- -
ihiper at the Napoleonic shrine. Marie
Louise as might be expected, does not come
a very well at NJ. Masson's hands. And,
indeed, there is very little in the diaries TO
rscommend Marie Louise TO the good graees
Il a Jealous Bonapartist. For they afford
nill more conclusive evidence Of this wholly
Insignificant woman's inability to realize the
fact that she had married one Of the great
est men who ever lived.
NJ Mason, however, supplies an excellent,
Il somewhat irascible, commentary upon both
the diaries and Marie Louise. He gives
very interesting account Of her early life and
ef that system Of education through which
she learned that her duty was, above all
things, TO advance the interests Of Austria.
she was doeie pupil and took the lesson
TO heart. When Prince Metternieh told her
hat Napoleon had demanded her in marriage
Of her father, the Emperor Francis !, she
replied: 81 desire only what my duty compels
ne to desire. Entreat my father to do only
his duty as sovereign and not to subordinate
Is TO my personal interest" Napoleon had
brought her father and his empire to the
verge Of destruction; she had been taught to
regard him as a sort of monster and Anti
Shf'si, and when the marriage had first been
proposed Sic had written to one of her conf
oantei Pray for me that it may not be so.'
But this daughter Of the Hapsburgs knew
her duty to her race and submitted to It un-
questioninsIy. How deeply ingrained in her
vas the sense Of her obligations is shown by
n incident wheb occurred while she was on
W way to France. During the first part OF
journey Marie Louise, overcome win
% az the prospect Of her marriage to
fAon, wept violently. Then suddenly
-enng her emotion, she turned to the
'H''e's Metternich, who accompanied her,
'a' nld; After all, dear princess, it is
1'fe than we royalties must expect to
," p with" That speech completely ex-