The Ladies' Garland

JOSEPHINE AND MARIA LOUISA.

"As a domestic occurrence, nothing could more
contribute to Bonaparte's happiness than his union
with Maria Louisa. He was wont to compare her
with Josephine, by giving the latter all the advantages
of art and grace, the former the simple charms
of modesty and innocence. His former Empress
used every art to support or enhance her personal
charms; but with so much prudence and mystery,
that the secret cares of her toilette could never be
traced—her successor trusted for the power of
pleasing to youth and nature. Josephine mismanaged
her revenue, and incurred debt without scruple.
Maria Louisa lived within her income, or if
she desired any indulgence beyond, which was
rarely the case, she asked it as a favor of Napoleon.
Josephine, accustomed to political intrigues, loved
to manage, to influence, and to guide her husband.
Maria Louisa desired only to please and to obey
him. Both were excellent women, of great sweetness
of temper, and fondly attached to Napoleon—
In the difference between these distinguished persons,
we can easily discriminate the leading features
of the Parisian, and the simple German beauty, but
it is certainly singular that the artificial character
should have belonged to the daughter of the West
India Planter: that marked by nature and simplicity,
to a Princess of the proudest court in Europe.
Bonaparte, whose domestic conduct was generally
praiseworthy, behaved with the utmost kindness to
his princely bride. He observed, however, the
strictest etiquette, and required it from the Empress.
If it happened for example, as was often
the case, that he was prevented from attending at
the hour when dinner was placed on the table, he
was displeased if, in the interim of his absence,
which was often prolonged, she either took a book,
or had recourse to any female occupation—if, in
short, he did not find her in the attitude of waiting
for the signal to take her place at the table."