“Upon my head they placed a fruitless crown.”—SHAKESPEARE.
“Farewell, a long farewell, to all my greatness.”—SHAKESPEARE.
STRANGER than fiction are the facts of history; and nowhere, among the
imaginary characters of romance and poetry, can be found a story of
a life more marvellously varied in experience, more weirdly strange
in its many thrilling scenes of unutterable misery or dazzlingly
triumphant splendor, than the history of the Empress Josephine affords.
But remarkable as were the events of her life, her character was
still more remarkable. With no early advantages of education, outside
of the fashionable accomplishments of music, drawing, and dancing;
by her self-taught acquirements, and diligent study, together with
an intuitive perception and aptitude, which enabled her mind to
grasp the gravest questions, she was in after-life a most brilliant
conversationalist; and by her comprehensive genius and marvellous
political foresight, she became the safest, wisest, and most far-seeing
of all Napoleon’s advisers and counsellors. When influenced by her
persuasive voice, prompted by a heart incapable of any motive but that
of the sternest rectitude, and most exalted and unselfish devotion,
Napoleon’s acts were always to be commended; and so highly did he prize
her counsel, that he called her his “Mentor.”
[Illustration: JOSÉPHINE.