NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2288, 6 January 1898, Page 50

NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE.

Napoleon was in love with Josephine from the first mement he met her, whether ifc was in his own house, according to the fable generally current of her having callod to thank him for his kindness to her sod, or in one of the many drawing rocms open to him ■when he became general commandirg the Army of the Interior. He had nev«r yst been much of a ladies' man ; although welcomed at Madame P^rmon's house, and at boms in ihat most respectable family circle, he had known ro ladies of the frothy fashionable type that made up the gayest Parisian society. Josephine Beaubarnais must have come like a revelation to the newly-emanci-pated young man bat jasf raised above the pressure of poverty and now fust admitted to the intimacy of " smart people," as they w^uld be called nowadays. He must have been attracted by her at once. She was an engaging if not an exactly beautiful person ; a little passee, perhaps — for, as a West Indian, she had matured early— but she had the skill to repair the ravages of time. Her complexion was t rilliant by night, her chestnut hair was still glossy and did not betray the dye too cpealy, her rather ind.ff-rent testh were constantly veiled by a fixed sweet smile. Hsr chief beau'y was her figure, and that was still unimpaired ; it was exquisitely proportioned, fell naturally into nretty poses, and was full of the lissome grace of the Creole. She knew how to take the attitudes that were most becomirg to her, and, above all, she cculd wield with great skill that most poteat weapon in the feminine armoury, the art to make tha most of herself. She was always delightfully dressed — even now, -when almost at the end of her resources, her wardrobe was well ililed. By-and-bye, in the days of her splendour, she lavished, enormous sums on her frccks.

BL-napprfce pressed his suit with all the aidour oi! an enterprising soldier. Since the change in big fortunes he had been eager to many; he had proposed to Madame Psrmon, although ehe was much his senior in years — it is said because he coveted her income; he had paid court to Mdlie. Desiree Clery, his brother Joseph's sister-in-law, a, well-dowered, beautiful girl, who afterwards married Bsmadotte and became Queen of Swedes. But he cannot have been much in earnest till he met Josephine and fell at her feet. His love was certainly not immediately returned. She could not tell exactly whether she liked or disliked him. "I admire his couraga; the extent of his icformatioo, for ha speaks equally well on all subjects ; the vivacity of his wit, the gulck iutelligeij.ee winch enables biua to.

grasp the thoughts of others almost before they are expressed ; but lam terrified, I admit, at the empire he search to exercise over all abaut him. His keen gaze has an inexplicable something which impresses even our directors ; judge, then, if he is not likely to intimidate a woman. In short, just that which onght to please me — the strength of a passion with which he gpsaks with an energy that admits no doubt of his sincerity — is precisely that which arreits the consent that often hovers on my lips." It has been said that this very sensible and matter-of-fact letter was either a pure invention or written for historical purposes many years afterwards, but it has rather a genuine rirg. That Bonaparte in the end carried Jjsephine by storm is very probable. His superb self-confidence irnpo3sd upon her. There must bs something in the man who promised such great things. " What do I want with protectors ? __ Do my envious comrades thiuk I cmnot get on without ? By-and-bye they will be glad to accep 1 -, my protection. I have my sword by my side, and will go far with its aid." ... So ahe accepted this impetuous lover who would not be denied, and two days after the marriage he started for the south.. There were two words engraved withiu the weddirg riny : "To destiny 1" — English Illustrated.