Year: 1879




it give you no idea OF the mode of existence in
ficted on us. The men are all merchants; and COM
merce. although 1t may fill the purse. clogs the
brain. Beyond their counting houses they possess
not single idea they never visit except when they
wish to marry. The women are all occupied in les
details de menage and nursing children; these
useful occupations but do not render people agree
able to their neighbors.
am condemned to solitude which find less in
supportable than the dull reunions which might
sometimes frequent in this city. The men. be ng
all bent on marriage, do not attend to me because
they fancy am not inclined to change the evils of
my condition for those they could find in
other. Sometimes indeed. 1 have been thought so
ennuyee to be induced to accept very respectable
offers. but prefer remaining as am to the horror
of marrying a person l am Indifferent to- You are
very happy in every respect-too much to
,ceiye what suffer here. wish L could
turn to Europe. but it is impossible-a single
woman is exposed to so many disagreeabe COM
ments in foreign country her life. too is so sol
itary except when in public. which is not half the
day. that II IL more prudent for to remain here;
besides. have at present only 100 year to
spend. which you know, make only 25.0OOf.-not
have nothing to spend in eating. or in carriages.
She did not remain long bored by America. for she
again sailed for France June G, 1926


We given letters written by Prince Jerome to
his son. 1t must have seemed strange to him to
write to the young Jerome as father when he re-
fused to acknowledge the mother, but princes
often obliged to do very strange things


When Mme. Bonaparto received tho news of her





am sorry to hear Of the irreparabe folly which
William has committed. Marrying Is almost
crime in my eyes. because am persuaded that the
highest degree OF virtue is to abstain from augment
ing the number of unhappy beings. II people
hected they would never marry. because they entail
misery upon themselves when they bring children
into the world.


Prince Jerome was very anxious to have his
stay with him altogether. but the young man OBJ
jected on the ground that European customs were
distastefu to him and he believed that America
the only country where he could 'have an oppor-
! tunity of getting forward" He regrets that his
fathers pecunary affairs in such state
that there was not the least hope Of any
assistance from him; that the greater por-
tion Of Nine. Meres fortune has been
consumed in supporting her extravagent children.
each Of whom was richer than she in 1914.
Jerome says his father has pension from Russia
and wlrtemberg of from $4,000 to $4,000 year.
but 500 000 year would not his expenses, and
the of his expenses his income has to be
supplied by his mother whose fortune has been
duced in five years from s1,Ooo.OOo to 100000.
Two years after his return to America Jerome be-
came engaged to be married to young lady Of Balt
more. This marriage severe blow to his
mother, who had intended him to marry q lady of
rank. She acted like an insane woman while her
disappointment was fresh. and wrote the bitterest
sort of letters to hor father on the subject. She
says:-


This marriage must as you both and every one
knew, separate me from my son. It must, as you
all foresaw and calculated upon. be to me during
life source Of deep affiiction and burning shame
Could oven believe what sincerely desire-that
the Judgment which planned it will prove superior
to mine-no one ever supposed none who hike or
respect me can ever wish me to forget the treatment
have received


Prince Jerome. however. seemed we'll pleased with
his sons marriage He writes:-


My DEAR CHILD-I hasten to answer your letter
OF September announcing your approaching mar
riage Although have not been consulted about
so important an event. suppose that you have
carefully considered the matter; and al
send you my psternal blessing and wishes
tor your happiness. am put quite at ease by know
ing that have the assent OF my dear brother and
that the marriage has been brought about by the
good and worthy Mr.. Patterson. learn with pleas
ure what your grandfather has done for you in
order to assure your fortune and that your future
wife is rich and endowed with all good qualities.
your happiness, my dear child wili nevertheless
natural and definite situation, for nothing in the
world compensates for false position. Now, the
most natural thing for You to do is to be really,
truly and without reserve American citizen. You
will certainly find yourself in that position happier
in every way than your brothers and sister.


Nine. Bonaparto made up her mind to spend
her money and enjoy herself. Before this time she
says:-


necessary to commit suicide when l contemplated q
long lifo to be passed in . trading town. where every



thing contrasted SO strongly with my wishes.


Now she has determined to make o change in her
of living.


have hitherto lived in the meanest. most COM
fortress manner as you all know. The miserly way
in which have lived and the beggarly shirts to
which have been obliged to resort to collect my
present means have been great disadv vsntage to
appearance Il would have changed my affairs very
materially. not to say how much more agreeable
life would have been to me than it has been. snail
inf fnfp napd n war


Had possessed the means Of living comfortably
should not have felt cruelty the of exist
My life. from the want OF money, has been q
disgusting burden.
Nine. Bonaparte, parsimonious in all other mat
tors. not 80. Mr.. Ddier tells us. in regard to
dress and ornaments. letter from her to q friend
in Baltimore has recently been discovered in which
she describes some OF her jewels, and affords
glimpse of her inner life, showing that her eager
active and unceasing pursuit OF worldly pleasure
had ended in ennui and disappointment. Nine Bo-
naparte at the time forty-seven years old and
still of the most beautiful In Europe The
letter is dated Geneva. 3oth March, 1884," and after
speaking of her future pans-Aix for the summer
and Paris the next winter she says:-


have had all my emerslds and diamonds with
twenty large pearls aud three white added to
several rings and my garnet cross. made into mag
mond ring and . solitaire which took out of u pin
(once belonging to Priucess Borghese, have added



garter ring my emerald riEg. my emerald cross and
two pairs OF emerald earrings all in the head
nament. Princess Galizin says that IL is royal or
nanent. 1t Is 50 contrved as to serve for the head.
the neck and the waist The three white topazes are
to be mistaken for diamonds


Can you, for love or money. contrive to send me
string OF white topazesg i want to wear 1t
necklace and pretend that they are diamonds. 1 |
want too, many will make buckle for my
belt-no has them In Europe and thcy are found
in the Brazils. Send for them II you canno: mud
them baltimore. and do contrve to forward them
to me by some private conveyance to the duties.
DO not put of this commission, tor, even IL have
too many for myself, l can give what IL left to the
Princess, who is famous for making shifts aud
ing false precious stones and for contrivances of
every sort to make appearance economical ele-
gance. DO not shillyshally about these white to-
PAGES. BY the way If could procure u large yellow
topaz should not be sorry.
1 am dy ing with eiHui. and do not know in what
way person OF my age can be amused am tired
of reading and of all ways of killing time, hear
that Prince Jerome and his wife living at Flor