The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-01-31
SLY JOSEPHINE
WON NAPOLEON
BY FLATTERY
Times Soon to Publish Lost
Letters Written Her
Successor.
BY DON GARDEN
Inn. spseIaI Writer

When Napoleon Bonaparte was
barely embarked upon the fantastic
career that vas to make him master
Of a vast empire, woman's intu-
ition foresaw the heights To which
he might rise. She married him.
FIattery was her weapon Of at
+ tack; coquetry was her strategy
once. when he was determined 10
cast her off, her feminine tears
saved her from defeat. At last,
when she became an obstacle to his
overwhelming ambition, even her
artfu devices could not hold him.
But at least for six years this Creole
daughter Of a French army officer
shared with Napoleon the imperial
throne Of France.
Josephine de Beauhsrnais did not
set out at once to win young Bona
parte. Her first reaction was mild
curiosity. NapeOleon's physical ap-
pearance was certainly not prepos-
sessing. He was but ) feet O. His
pouter- pigeon chest was too big and
his legs too short. He was thin
then. and a sallow skin covered
sharp angularities of his face.
His nervous awkwardness made
him a sorry figure indeed in the
brilliant salons of Paris which both
freouented. But there was some
thing in his wild blazing eyes that
intrigued her.
Josephine Not Beautiful
Neither was Josephine particu-
larly beautiful, but she was pos
sessed of a peculiar land deter
mined charm. one of her friends
wrote Of her: Her features were
delicate and harmonious, her ex-
preston gentle, her tiny mouth dex-
terously concealed defective teeth;
her somewhat dark complexion was
improved by her clever use of cos
metics. Her figure was perfect, every
outline well rounded and graceful;
every motion was easy and elegant.
Her education had been neg
lected, but she knew wherein she
was wanting and never betrayed her
ignorance. Naturally tactful, she
found i easy to say agreeable
things. Unfortunately she was
lacking in earnestness Of feeling and
true eleSation of mind"
r-o-<s.7o rtroc Fhoyo row miHnW
with two children. She had attached
herself 10 the most brilliant Partisan
social set. and became an intimate
friend of Barras, one of the most
powerful members of the govern
ment.
Napoleon General at %
Napoleon was already a general
at 81. His genius was recognized by
a small group of high officials, but
he was yet to command the cam
paign that was to bring him the
first intoxication of universal fame.
And Josephine was directly respon-
sible for his appointment as COM
mander-in-chief of the italian ex-
pedition-which was the catapult
that started Napoleon on his dizzy
ascent to the peak of power.
Years later, when the Eagle was
Gagged at St. Helena and his flight
was only a haunting memory, he de-
scribed his romance with Josephine.
L was not inSensible 10 the
charms of women" he said, but up
to that time I had not been petted
and spoiled by them and my dispo-
sition made ME timid in their COM
pany. Madame de Beauharnais was
the first to reaSSure me. She said
some flattering things to me about
my military talents one day when I
CHANGED to be seated next to her.
That praise intoxicated me: I al
dressed myself continually to her, I
followed her everywhere; I was pas
sionately in love with her, and my
inIatuation was generally known
long before I ventured to declare
myself"
Marching OFF to War
The wedding ceremony was per-
formed on March 9, 1896 Trying
desperately to stay her fleeting
youth by entangling it in the net of
lf-deluSion, she represented herself
as being a year younger than her
husband. Actually she was six years
older
Two days after the wedding. the