Evening star., 1933-09-17


in this world without finding some re-
\ minder of home even though it may
chance to be a statue OF Washington or
Lincoln in London World War memorial
in Edinburgh canvas in the Louvre or
eIhaps a statue of Lafayette in Paris. In
eed so far as Paris is concerned. there are
osher things there to attract the American
ourist and cause his mind to wander back to
rs native land, for he will find Franklin
~treet. Rue Lafayette Avenue President Will
on and many places and things OF peculiar
and personal interest to U.s.
Even a visit to the Invalides, where No
poIeon is entombed, caused the writer not
only to reflect upon his own country, but par
ticularly upon his native city, Washington.
when he was shown the sarcophagus in which
reposed the remains of Jerome Bonaparte,
King of Westphalia, who, as a young man,
lad married the pretty Elizabeth Patterson of
Baltimore lady well known in Washing
on as she in the Maryland metropolis.
i proved to be very unfortunate alliance,
end although apparently regular in every way,
vet was repudated by Jerome's distinguished
orother the great Napoleon, who, during his
reign would not even permit his young
brothers wife to set foot on French territory.
In describing Jerome's tomb, the over
Jealous guide said that only two women were
buried in the Invalides. Miss Patterson of the
United States and Catherine Sophia, Princess
of Wurttemburg, Jerome Bonaparte's second
wife, both of whom were entombed close to
him. Naturally the writer reminded him Of
the error since Nine Bonaparte Cor Miss Pat
terson) is buried in Baltimore However, the
resourceful guide then limited the burial here
of the Baltimore beauty to her heart only.
And even to this extent he was probably
wrong.
The story of Elizabeth Patterson's marriage
to Jerome Bonaparte, youngest brother of Ma
poleon l. has often been told and no doubt
will be related many times more since it tells
of one of the most interesting international
marriages of all time, involving an American
citizen. And when We consider that it took
place only about 40 miles from Washington,
at time when the first consul was the out
standing figure of the world and that it did
not have his approval, can to some degree
at least appreciate what unfortunate posi-
ton our country was placed in at the time
by having one of its fair daughters marry,
after brief courtship the youthful, dapper
captain of the French Navy
Jerome Bonaparte was just nice boy, with
out any of the aggressive spirit Of his distin-
guished brother. He was born at Ajaccio the
capital of Corsica an island in the Mediter-
ranean, in 1884, and after brief but un-
eventful period in the army-except the fight
ing of duel. in which he was apparently
Worsted-he was transferred as a cadet to the
naval branch of the service, and it was while
serving captain that he escaped the British,
who were guarding the port of Saint Pierre,
Island of Martinique and landed at Norfolk,
bia in search of the French commissaire,
Pichon, who was then residing in Georgetown.
EVIDENTLY the commissaires accommo-
L dations were not sufficiently adequate for
the distinguished visitor. and his contemplated
early departure was rather urged. However, in
the meantime he received invitation from
his old friend Joshua Barney-who had served
in the French Navy-to stop with him at his
home in Baltimore. And this was the greatest
mistake of his life. for in accepting the future
commodore's hospitality he not only embroiled
himself in lifelong trouble, but wrecked the
life of an estimable lady as WE'LL for it was
some time afterward that he was introduced
to Miss Patterson by his host, when love and
courtship rapidly ensued, followed few
months later by marriage much to the regret
of her father, william Patterson, and to the
disgust of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Mr.. Patterson born in Donegal, ireland,
in 1882 his father being farmer with a large
family; his mother Elizabeth Peoples both
said to be descended from English and Scot
tish families that had settled in Ireland after
the conquest of that country With but an
ordinary education, his parel.tS sent him to
Philadelphia when but IA years old, and there
he was employed by an Irish shipping mer-
chant. He was industrious and thrifty, and
by the time he reached his majority he was
established in business for himself.
He was a patriot, and dun ing the American
Revolution, when Washineton's army was
before Boston, with hardly enough ,ammuni-