Indianapolis Times, Volume 46, Number 238, Indianapolis, Marion County, 13 February 1935 — Page 4

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THE LOVE LETTERS OF NAPOLEON TO MARIE LOUISE, HIS EMPRESS

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who carried the day: the Archduchess Marie Louise Leopoldine Caroline Lucie, one of the thirteen children Marie Louise de Bourbon-Slcile had borne to Emperor Francis the Second of Germany, who was also Francis the First of Austria. Having been born on Dec 12. 1781. Marie Louise was 18 years old. in Vienna, there was talk both of the emperor's divorce and of his projected remarriage. Such an alliance would mark the end of an exhausting struggle kept up by A ust ria against Napoleon since 1796. and which had already cost her Lombardy. Brisgau ar.d the left bank of the Rhine, under the treaty of Campo-Formio; Tuscany, at Luneville; the Venetian States and Tyrol, at Presbourg; Camiole. Corinthia. Frioul, Dalmatia and Galicia, at Schonbrunn. mam *"T AM only sorry for the poor A princess he will choose." writes the Archduchess Marie Louise, on Jan. 10 to her friends. Countess Collendo and Victoire de Poutet. the Countess* daughter; • for I am sure I shall not be the victim of politics . . . Napoleon is too much afraid of a refusal and too ben: upon doing us further harm to venture upon such a request; and Papa is too kind to coerce me in so important a matter.” “I know that In Vienna they are already marrying me to the great Napoleon,” she writes on Jan. 23 to her young friend Victoire. “If such a thing should come to pass. I verily believe I should be the only one not to rejoice at it.” -Souvent femme varie et bien fol est qui s'y fie,” as Napoleon was to learn to his cost; "Woman is fickle and faith in her is folly.” "To bring this girl of 18 to approve of a man of 40. for all the glory with which he was crowned, the Austrian Mettemich urged reasons of State. Napoleon, informed by his Ambassador, Otto, of Maris Louise's appearance 'd resplendent health, conceived the hope that she would bear him an heir. He declared himself without further ado. m m m AND at this point the letters purchased by the Bibliotheque Nationale throw a remarkable light on Napoleon's amorous psychology. The only one hitherto published in his “Correspondence” is that dated Feb 23rd. 1810, a copy of which is filed in the State Archives, as having constituted an official demand in marriage. My Cousin. The brilliant qualities that distinguish your person hare inspired us with the desire to serve and honor you by approaching the Emperor, your Father with the request that he shall entrust to us the happiness of your Imperial Highness. May we hope that the feelings which prompt us to take this step will be acceptable to you? May we flatter ourselves with the belief that you will not be guided solely by the duty of obeying your Farents? Should the feelings of your Imperial Highness be partial to us, we would cultivate them so carefully and strive so constantly to please you in every way, that we flatter ourselves with the hope of succeeding some day in winning your regard; such is the aim we would fain encompass and in respect of which we beg jour Highness to favor us. Whereupon, my Cousin, we pray God to have you in His Holy and Worthy keeping. Your good Cousin. Napoleon ltambouilirt. Feb. 23td, 1810. m m m A ND to his "cousin” he sent his likeness by Marshal Berthlar. Os Napoleon at the age of 40, at the time of his second marriage. hie secretary. Baron Fain, has given us the following outline;

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Os small stature—five feet two —but well set up. a rather short neck, and perhaps already a trifle potbellied, softly fleshed, with cheeks of a dead white, a full face, a round head, a broad, high forehead, blue-grey eyes, a gentle glance, a finely-chiseled nose, a graceful mouth and fine teeth—there was nothing displeasing about the flat-haired man of 40. His sight was not of the best and often compelled the use of an opera-glass, which he invariably had about him. “The regularity of his features often imparted to him, when at work or preoccupied, a hint of sternness; but in the easy-going conditions of private life, his smile again took on great amiability. More quickly than any other person's, moreover, his expression changed under the sway of his emotions From the same glance, so caressing just before, there suddenly came forth flashes of lightning.’* The portrait was mentioned in f . letter from Paris, written as an official document in a secretary's handwriting. Madam my Sister. The successful issue of my request to His Majesty the Emperor, your Father to be joined to you in marriage, is a most precious token of the esteem and regard in which he holds me. I highly appreciate the consent you yourself bestow upon a union which fills me with the most heartfelt joy and which will embellish the whole of my life. I look forward with the liveliest impatience to the moment when its conclusion will be in sight. I appreciate above all. in his bond, the care I am d?u.mined to take to make you happy, my wishes, in this respect. a?e all the more sincere in that my own happiness will be vitally bound up with yours. I have instructed the Prince de Neufchatcl. my Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to deliver to you my portrait. I beg you to accept it as a token of the feelings which are graven in my heart and which will remain unalterable. 1 am. Madam my Sister, your most affectionate brother. Napoleon Paris. Feb. 25th. 1810. a a a ’ITTHILE dictating. Napoleon • * w ould walk up and down the whole time, with slow and measured tread, occasionally plucking at the facings of his sleeve. But love very soon induced him to submit to the torture of writing with his own hand “a medley of unconnected and illegible signs. The words lacked half their proper number of letters.” writes Baron Meneval. his secretary. “He was unable to read over what he himself had written, or he would not take the trouble of doing so. When asked for an explanation. he would snatch up his rough draft and tear it to pieces or throw it in the fire. ' His short notes, or the few lines

Napoleon’s formal request for the hand of Marie Louise (above); the French Ambassador to Vienna, Prince Neufchatel, makes the proposal in behalf of Bontparte. He presented* a letter from Napoleon setting forth his proposal. This was read, a favorable reply given by the Austrian Emperor; and at the conclusion of the ceremony, Marie Louise sent, through Neufchatel, a portrait of herself for Napoleon. A facsimile of the letter of proposal, in Napoeleon’s handwriting, is seen at the right. he chanced to write, which called for no particular concentration of mind, were generally free from mistakes in spelling, save certain words in which the same mistakes invariably’ occur—gabinet, Gaffarelli, enfanterie, reminiscenses of his mother tongue.” From now on Marie Louise was obliged to become fully acquainted with that uncouth handwriting. The style of address to be adopted in respect to Her Imperial Highness was not yet settled in his mind, for the first letter is headed “Ma Cousine,” the second “Madame ma Soeur.” and the third, ‘•Ma Soeur,” a strange form of address to apply to a princess whom he wished to make his wife. # * LATER, indeed, once the marriage was decided upon, he used the term ‘ Madame,” before addressing her in a homely way as “Ma bonne Louise.” My sister, I hear how perfect you were, all the trust you show in me on this occasion is very precious to me I feel the need to

Know Your History of Napoleon—His Feats, Character and Days

The wide interest in Napoleon Bonaparte aroused by the publication of his love letters to Empress Marie Louise in The Indianapolis Times has led Luther L. Dickerson, city librarian, to make available for the public an interesting and complete bibliography on the great

emperor. Miss Marcia Furnas, loan department head at the Central Library, carefully inspected the files, choosing those books which were most interesting and authentic. The books selected by Miss Furnas are: NAPOLEON'S EARLY LIFE Atteridge. Brothers. Foa. Boy Life of Napoleon. Howell -Ap - Howell. Birthplace and Childhood of Napoleon. Morgan. In the Footsteps of Napoleon. Descriptions and pictures of places associated with Napoleon. GENERAL BIOGRAPHIES Bainville. Napoleon. By a distinguished French historian. Belloc. Napoleon. Faure. Napoleon. Phychological study. Fsher. Napoleon. Emphasis on character. Fournier. Napoleon the Frst. An Austrian work of the highest possible authority. Guerard. Reflections on the Napoleonic Legend. Examinations of his extraordinary prestige. Kircheisen. Napoleon. Abridgement of a nine-volume work. Ludwig. Napoleon. Brilliant and dramatic. Extremely readable.

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES'

tell you so without delay. Would you be kind enough to appreciate all I feel on hearing everybody praise so highly your person and the eminent qualities which cause you to be worshiped by my peoples? As for me, Madam, I would fain place at your feet my homage, my hopes and all the tender compliments enclosed in my heart if the happiness of I*. I. H. is to depend upon the genuineness of my affection, no one will have been happier than you: this idea pleases me and is very sweet. Your good brother, Napoleon From the Tuileries, February 25th, 1810. On March Ist, a letter from the emperor was sent off which “wfill reach you after the celebration of our marriage,” wrote Napoleon, who already spoke of the archduchess as “Your Majesty.” It was by proxy, of course, that Napoleon, on March 11th, married Marie Louise of Austria in the Capuchin Chapel of the Hofburg, at Vienna. And he accredited to her household to accompany her to France, Marshal Berthier, Prince de Neufchatel, and his own sister Caroline Bonaparte, Murat's wife and queen of Naples. Madam, This letter will be handed to you after the celebration of our marriage. No single letter reaches me from Vienna, but that it speaks admiringly of your noble qualities. I look forward with the utmost eagerness to finding myself in the presence of Y’our Majesty. Were I to give way to my desires, I would ride off without more ado and be at

Merezhkovskii. Napoleon, the Man. Historically dubious, but brilliant in conclusions.. Napoleon. The Corsican. A diaT of Napoleon's life in his own word'. A chronologically arranged compilation from letters and documents, but not a real "diary.” THE EXILE AND THE HUNDRED DAYS Antommarchi. Last Days of Napoleon. By Napoleon's physician. Controversial. Fremaux. Drama of St. Helena. Library has in German also. Gonnard. Exile of St. Helena. Guedalla. The Hundred Days. Vivid, dramatic. Imbert de Saint-Amand. Marie Louise, the Island of Elba, and the Hundred Days. Library has in French also. Lullin. Manuscript of St. Helana. Os disputed authorship. Disavowed by Napoleon. FAMILY AND OTHER RELATIONSHIPS Napoleon’s letters to Josephine. New letters, omitted from the edition published under the auspices of Napoleon 111. Bearne. Daughter of the Revolution. Abrantes. By a “leader of society at Napoleon's Court,”

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your feet before any one knew I had left Paris; but it is not to be. The Prince de Neufchatel will receive your orders during your journey. My sister Caroline ( wishes to keep you company; give her a friendly welcome, she is very kind to me; I have but one thought and that is to know what may be agreeable to you. The care of pleasing you, Madam, will be the most constant and the sweetest concern of my life. Napoleon March Ist, 1810. u tt tt LOVE, they say, is blind. This was not the case with Marie Louise when she opened the imperial missive. H. I. H., the archduchess, stated a correspondence from Vienna, dated May 9th, and published in the “Gazette de France,” has received a letter written by H. M. the Emperor of the French himself in which he thanks her in the most moving

Hopkins. Women Napoleon Loved. Mahan. Marie Louise, Napoleon’s Nemesis. Ravage. Empress Innocence, the Life of Marie Louise. Rheinhardt. Josephine. Ranks with Ludwig’s Napoleon for readability. Wilson. Josephine, the Portrait of a Woman. PEOPLE AND TIMES OF THE NAPOLEONIC ERA Anderson. Those Quarrelsome Bonapartes. Andrews. Napoleon and America. Gives the story of the New’ Orleans house. Broadley. Napoleon in Caricature, 1795-1821. With an introductory essay on pictorial satire as a factor in Napoleonic history. More than 250 reproductions of contemporary drawings. Browning. Fall of Napoleon. Fitchett. How’ England Saved Europe. The English view of Napoleon's career. Frazer. War Drama of the Eagles. Story of the Standard Bearers. Guerard. French Civilization in the 19th Century. A scholar’s appraisal. Hazen. French Revolution and Napoleon. Headley. Napoleon and His Marshals. Macdonnell. Napoleon and His Marshals. Rose. Napoleonic Studies. Rose. Piw .and Napoleon. Essays

Marie Louise

Josephine

terms for leaving her august father, her family end her country for his sake. H. M. is known to write extremely fast, which often makes his handwriting difficult to read for those who are not used to it. But the Archduchess Marie Louise, much to the surprise of all those with her, read the letter as fast as If it hrd been in her own handwriting. The demand in marriage was solemnly presented in May. Napoleon’s ambassador extraordinary, Marshal Berthier, received on alighting from his coach by the grand marshal of the court, was led into the throne room, where the Emperor Francis sat under a canopy, surrounded by his family and his attendants. The demand was granted, and Marie Louise received permission to hang Napoleon’s portrait, delivered on a cushion by a horseman of the embassy, round her neck.

written from the scholar’s impartial viewpoint. Stanley. Before and After Waterloo. Letters written by an Englishman reflecting the times. NAPOLEON IN FICTION Aubry. The Emperor Falls in Love. Beck. The Thunderer. A romance of Napoleon and Josephine. Gaye, Vivandiere. The March to Moscow. Hueffer. Little Less Than Gods. The hundred days and Marshal Ney. Muhlbach. Madame Sans-Gene. Historical romance of the revolution, the consulate and the empire. (Anonymous). Ein Roman vom Ersten Consul. NAPOLEON IN DRAMA Grabbe. Napoleon, Oder Die Hundert Tage. Hardy. The Dynasts. An epicdrama of the war with Napoleon covering ten years' time. Rostand. L'aiglon. The famous drama about the son of Napoleon and Marie Louise. Library has in French also. Sheriff. St. Helena. Unruh. Bonoparte. MISCELLANY Whately, archbishop of London. Historic Doubts Relative to Napoleon Bonaparte. First published in 1819, runing through many editions in England and in this country, this pamphlet furnishes witty contemporary comment on the career and times of Napoleon.

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Napoleon’s son, the King of Rome.

TN his happiness the emperor includes his people, for whom this girlish bride will be “a loving mother.” And in a few words straight from the heart he sympathizes with the regrets she must feel at leaving Vienna and her father's palace: “All your troubles are my troubles.” Madam, I hope Your Majesty will receive this letter at Braunau, and even beyond. I count the moments, the days seem long, it will be thus until I have the happiness of welcoming you. My people share my Impatience. I have told them you would be a tender mother for the French, you will find in them, Madam, children that cherish you. I hope you are fully satisfied of the genuineness of my affections, you will find nothing wanting in this respect, but I am most anxious to hear that you share them. Believe me, there is no one in the world more attached to you or more determined to love you than myself. Napoleon March 10th, 1810. Madam, Lauriston tells me of all the kind things you have been good enough to say to him, and speaks of Your Majesty in terms which, while adding no whit to the high conception I have formed of your noble qualities, I nevertheless keenly appreciate. You have by this time left Vienna. I am alive to the regrets you must feel; all your sorrows are my sorrows. I very often think of you, I would fain guess what is of a nature to please you and to deserve your heart. Allow me to hope, Madam, that you will help me to win that heart, the whole of your heart. This hope is a necessity for me and makes me happy. Napoleon March 15th, 1810. a a a ON receipt of the portrait of Marie Louise, which “bears the stamp of a lofty soul,” Napoleon is more and moi * To the general favored by fortune, a daughter of the Caesars brings the tribute of her freshness. The most eminent Viennese masters had worked on the portrait of the princess. The famous Lampl, whom no modern artist is held to have equaled in the matter of perfect coloring, used all his talent for the purpose of recording her features in an oil painting.

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Napoleon

And' a reputed miniature painter, Gerard, also took her as a model. Madam, I have received your portrait. The Empress of Austria has been considerate enough to have it given to me. I seem to see in it the reflection of that beautiful soul which makes you so dear to ail who know you and justifies all the hopes I have placed in Your Majesty. You will love, Madam, a spouse whose claims will never be based on anything but your trust and the feelings of your heart. I presume you are very close to France by this time and I await you with much impatience. Napoleon. Paris, March 20th, 1810. We are not given the letters from Marie Louise which “delighted” the emperor, to quote his secretary, Baron Meneval. These replies were written in good French and the feelings expressed in them were marked by delicacy and moderation. Perhaps the Queen of Naples had something to do with th.s. With a view to rendering himself more attractive, the emperor, at the suggestion of the Queen of Fashion, Princess Pauline, had ordered a fancy coat to be made for himself, which was adorned with embroidery, but in the opinion of his secretary, the white stock made him look stiff, whereas in uniform, with a black stock, his appearance was one of easy distinction. Napoleon almost immediately discarded the obnoxious garment and reverted to the green jacket of a rifleman of the guard, or to the blue coat with white facings which he wore on Sundays. a a a ON May 13, Marie Louise set out from Vienna, saluted on her departure by a salvo of the whole of the artillery, and the singing of all the church bells, with troops lining the road, a division of cuirassiers riding in front of the procession. The grand master of the palace, the grand master of the post, the grand mistress, ♦he chamberlains, the ladies of the palace in coaches drawn by six or eight horses, formed an imposing retinue. At St. Polten, where she was to put up for the night, her father, the Emperor Francis, and tier mother-in-law had come in the strictest incognito to wish tier gcod-by. What tears the toor child now shed at the though* of leaving her rela'i'-'-s! The sound of nei cubs did not fail to reach Napoleon. (Tomorrow —The First Meeting) (Copyright, theque Natlonale; In all other countrie* by United Feature Syndicate. Inc. Reproduction either in whole or In part prohibited. Ail- rights reserved.),