ONE WOMAN LOVED NAPOLEON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1263, 14 May 1896, Page 19

ONE WOMAN LOVED NAPOLEON.

Masson states in his memoirs of Napoleon that the " Little Corporal" bitterly regretted that no woman had really loved him. Even Mine. Walewska married as soon as Napoleon was sent to St. Helena, proving conclusively that her course of action was prompted by the love of her country, and not for any tenderness that she may have felt for tho great general. Nevertheless, if Napoleon was a failure as " lover and husband," according to Masson ho succeeded in retaining tho adoration of his foster-mother to the end. The deepest affection existed between Mammuccia Caterina and her nursling. Sho came to Paris to see him crowned Emperor, and when told by Napoleon to ask him for any favour, begged that she might be introduced to the Pope. The old lady so amused His Holiness with accounts of her " garcon," as sho was wont to call the Emperor, that lie forgot in her society the difficulties of his situation. Mammuccia Caterina nearly died of grief when she heard of her garcon's downfall. And nothing could bo more forcible than the terms with which sho denounced Marie Louise for net following Napoleon into exile. Mammuccia Caterina, despite her great age, was preparing (o go to comfort her garcon at tit. Helena 'when sho died. During his prosperity Napoleon heaped favours upon her and lor family. To-day her descendants bear the title of barons and are received in the best society in Paris. Their family name is Savcrias.