The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-03-28
A FATAL PASSION.
An Artist who Commits Suicide for Love Of
Ameie RiYes,

New York. March IA cable from
London has announced that Amelle RlYes,
author OF Quick or the Dead?' was the
cause of the suicide III AlgIers OF brilliant
young French artist named Jules Renaud,
who was insanely in love with her. Behind
this simple announcement there i story
of the most intense and tragic character.
Renaud was handsome young man, The
very ideal Of an artist. lie was
of good family. from the south of France,
and lived III a respectable style on an
allowance made him by rich uncle, whose
heir he was. Renaud' ; infatUatiOn for the
senSuOuS American novelist developed be
fore he ever met her by reading her books,
and he became an apostle OF a regular
Amelia RiVeS cult among his social set.
A resident artist who met Renaud last
autumn. when in Paris told an interest
ing story today Of the rawlings and carry
ings on of this unfortunate love crazed
young man. Renaud, 1t appears, was an
artist Of no mean ability. Although
Young he had established a name fUr
himself with his fellow artists, but seemed
altogether unappreciatiVe OF the hOnOrS
which the world could bestOw. HealWays
refused to take any steps looking TO the
making Of Il name, and he worked at his
art for self qualification. lie refused 10
present anything for the Judgment OF the
salon. and unless interested in his subject
was mild and impetuous, and though he
was not given over to extraordinary eN-
cesseS he led the careless, loose life so COM
mon among artists, especially in Paris.
Amelie RiveS he worshipped as god
dess. Long before he ever saw her she
seemed TO him the very embodiment OF
genius Her pictures, CLEANED from the
American magazines, he had framed and
hung in profusion around his room. One
Of his odd fancies was painting OF her
freScoed portrait on the ceiling OF his
chamber lust above his head He declared
that her books were more brilliant than
those of SanOr BalZac, more true to life
than Meredith, and were only equalled IN
richness of colOring by the poems Of
Byron.
When it was announced that Amelie
Rives was married and under the name Of
Mrs Chandler was to visit Paris, RenaUd
was almost beside himself The fact that
her marriage might deter his purpose never
entered his mind. He had been successful
with other women and he did not have the
faintest notion that She, for whom his
whole nature yeaIned, would oppose him.
None Of his friends knew how he met
her but it was not long after reaching
Paris that he hung III the rooms a photo
graph Of his fair goddess dressed in
Grecian costume, on the back of which
was her signature, which he claimed had
been written by her and presented to him.
From that time on he haunted her foot
steps For hours be waited outside of her
door expecting that she would come out
to take her carriage II he knew that she
was to visit Il studio or gallery be would
find an excuse 10 DE there.
Just how far she COuHtenanced the at
tentiOns of this handsome cOurtier is not
known, bat he WAS constantly telling TO
his companionS Of the smiles which she
4 ,riy- Il nd prtI .bn
made to allow him to show her his devO-
ton.
He wrote most imprisoned love verses
VIII ch he would drop upon the seat Of her
when he found il waiting outside
the theater or in the line at a reception.
He once planned to bribe the driver and
take his seat in her carriage and, by send
ing word that she was Immediately wanted
elsewhere, get a chance to tell her of his
passion and insist upon an immediate
eloDement but from this fOOlhardy affair
he was dissuaded by friend
When Amelie Riyes took up sculpture
he dropped his brushes and began to
mold. Whole pages of her stories
and poems he knew by heart and
made his fellows sick by constantly
Spouting. They came ut length to look
upon him as a little daft, and pityingly
would listen to the story of his latest ad-
venture. Ii was impossible for him to Ell
ter the houses TO which she had entrance.
and 50 he planned and begged for invita-
UonS TO receptions where ne might see her-
He was not always lubIiant. however. but
sank at times into the lowest depths of
despair. cursed the fate which kept them
apart and morbidly dwelt upon plans to
put her and himself out of the world at
the same time.
I do NOT know what has happened since
] left Paris. said the artist. but he must
I ii p Il. I
has been studying. and there obtained
chance to declare himself. and on receiving
a reply that she was married and found all
his prospects vain. he became actually in
sane and committed suicide lie might
have made a great name for himself. but
he lived a life OF passion and thought il
noble doubtless TO die for it. ."