Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-10-01

breast. Inc news
papers were imme- BoULANeER.
diately besieged by great crowds for de-
tails of the affair, and extra editions could
not be printed fast enough to supply the
demand. But with all the excitement the
feeling among the Republicans was one Of
intense relief, as it removed from their
path one of their most bitter foes. Beyond
subject for talk in the cafes, on the bou-
levards, and in the salons, Boulanger's
death is expected to be without results in
Paris. 1t will, of course, revive the incl
dents of his comet.like career, but its eff
fects on politics will be very slight in
deed, for Boulanger was dead TO France
long before he slew himself on the Bar
onne de Bonnemain's tomb.
The Woman He Died for.
Boulanger had the intrepidity, the phys
ical presence, and the traits TO rise high,
but it was his fate to fall, and that vanity
and women played an important part in
his eclipse there can be little doubt. The
cause of his suicide was no doubt the
death some weeks ago of Nine. Bonne-
main, his mistress. She was the Baronne de
Bonnemaiu to whom the mysterious,
though respectful, reference was made by
Paris correspondence during Boulanger's
sojourn at St. Heliers. She was unhap-
PLY married. Her husband, who belonged
to the nobility, and was the son Of dis
tinguished French general, was driven
from the army on account of his peb.s.
He dissipated his wife's first fortune, fed
from France. and few years ago was liv-
ing in San Francisco from hand to month.
Laid Her Fortune at His Feet.
Barone de Bonnemain called on Bou-
LANCER when he was minister of war to
lay before him her unfortunate situation.
She saw him often and his desire to OBJ
tain a divorce was said to have been
awakened by a wish TO wed the baronne
who on her side, had gone before the
courts and asked to be freed from her
worthless husband. But the generals
failure to get divorce caused him TO
take the baronne as his mistress. She
had the good fortune at this time to re-
ceive bequest of 81, 500 600 from a
wealthy aunt, and this sum Nine Bonnie
main laid at her lovers feet, saying: at
is yours. Take it." The general took it
only as he needed it, the barcnne holding
possession of it. Nine. Bonnemain was
enthusiastic in her political support of
Boulanger and accompanied him to
England and thence to Brussels, where
Ill and died the 18th.
The Loves of the General.
That he loved the baronne is a matter
beynd speculation. But he had loved be-
fore-"many time" Boulanger was a
beau as well as fgbter-two qualities
which seem to go hand in hand. Had he
been an Englisman or an American his
loves would probably not have been so
varied nor so notorious, but being French
they became apart of his daily life.
He.married in 1855, while a captain in the
army, a daughter of NJ Renouard He
was then about 80 years old, and his wife
was beautiful woman, with whom for
some years he lived very happily.
Enter Domestic Infelicity.
When the war of 1870 broke out Nine.
Boulanger removed to Paris, taking her
two daughters. Here her husband Joined
her and was Immediately appointed d.
rector Of infantry in the war Office. 1t
was then he began to become acquainted
In army circles, and it was then his first
domestic trouble began. At this time the
general added one more duty to his many
occupations. He became frequenter of
the green-room Of the Theatre Franchise,
where he spent an hour almost every
night especially on the evening when Nile
Relchem berg appeared on the stage. To
all of this Nine. Boulanger raised her
voice in earnest protest, but to no avail.
His Suit for Divorce.
The intimacy between Boulanger and
Mile. Reichemberg grew apace, and Mime.
Boulanger talked of divorce, but she never
sued for one, and when she refused to at
tend the marriage OF one of her daughters
to q henchman Of her husband, the latter
brought suit, complaining that his wife
would not live with him, which is cause
for divorce in France. He was about to
win the suit when bis wife, after repeat
ediy refusing to live with him, suddenly
changed front, and said she would live
with the general If invited to do so. This
knocked the wind out of his sails COM
pletely, and the suit was dismissed Bou-
hangers mother is still living, and has
reached the ripe old age of 81. She resides
at Vile d'Avray. Boulanger always
showed the greatest veneration for her.