Evening star., 1936-12-20

into confusion and no one dared to
look at her but by stealth. The shut.
ters being left open, a crowd assem-
bled around the windows to get look
at this beautiful little creature, for
every one allows she is extremely beau
tiful. Her dress was the thinnest
Sarcenet and white crepe without the
least stiffening in it. made without a
single plait in the skirt, the width at
the bottom being made of cores; there
was scarcely any waist to it and no
sleeves; her back, part Of her waist
and her arms were uncovered, and
the rest of her form was visible. She
was engaged next evening at Nine.
F.'s. Mrs. r. Smith and several other
ladies sent her word II she wished to
meet them there she must promise to
have more clothes on"
MISS PHOEBE MORRIS. who was
q guest at the White House in
1912. summarized Nine. Bonaparte's
beauty in the following words, writ
ten to her sister, Rebecca, in Phila-
delphia:
How I wish you could see Mime.
Bonaparte. in all her splendor Of
dress and all the attractions Of beauty.
I think I never beheld q human form
SO faultless. To the utmost symmetry
of features Is added so much Vvacity,
such captivating sweetness! And her
sylphic form. 'thinly veiled,' displayed
all the graces Of Venus. She appears
particularly lovely in a fine crepe
robe Of a beautiful azure color inter-
woven with silver. In this attire she
Is truly celestial, and 1t is impossible
to look ON any one else when she Is
present"
But the happiness Of the bridal
couple was not to last for long. Jerome
was ordered home by Napoleon. His
wife accompanied him. but she was
denied admission into the country
and finally returned to America.
where one son, Jerome, ancestor of
the late Charles J. Bonaparte. Secre-
tary of the Navy and subsequently
Attorney General IN the second cabi.
net Of Theodore Roosevelt, was born.
Although America interceded In
Nine Bonaparte's behalf. bringing the
matter to the First Consul's attention,
even by personal letters from Presi-
dent Jefferson and James Madison,
Secretary Of State, yet Napoleon was
adamant and refused to recognize the
marriage Of his minor brother, con-
tracted in foreign country without
the consent Of his mother. Later
Jerome was forced into another mar
riage by Napoleon and Nine. Bona
parte never saw her husband but once
and then only in casual
way, some time after the downfall of
when she was visiting Eu-
rope. She encountered him with his
princess in the Pitt Palace in Flor
ence. On observing her. Jerome
started aside and said to the princess.
THAT lady is my former wife" He
instantly left the gallery and the next
morning departed from Florence.
IN FRANCE decree Of divorce was
= ordered by the Imperial Council
in 1905 and in 1915, by a special act
Of the Maryland Legislature. Nine.
Bonaparte obtained q divorce from
her husband in order to prevent him.
after the downfall Of Napoleon, from
claiming any share Of her fortune. It
is also said she obtained the divorce,
granted in Maryland, because Of the
attentions she had received from peo.
pie Of rank in England, which in
spired the idea that she might marry
advantageously again. However, the
writer has never read any supporting
evidence to bear out this statement.
Jerome Bonaparte died near Paris
on June "a, 1850, and his body Is
intombed there in the Chapel Of the
Invalides. His American wife died
In Baltimore at the advanced age Of
90 years and lies buried in the site
she selected in Greenmount Cemetery.
Napoleon's objection to Miss Pat
terson could not have been that she
was q commoner, for he was born q
commoner himself. 1t was, however,
strictly for reasons Of state, since he
had selected some one else for
Jerome to marry that would mean