The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-04-12
A FRENCH SENSATION
Dumas, Fills, Wants His Statue
Put in Place Malesherbes.
Meissonier's Friends Had selected-The Nov
elist Now Sells His Art Collection-His
Iufatuatlon for MILE Regnier

Especial to THE HERALD-Examiner Dispatch. |
PARIS, April 1.-THE most talked of
man at present is Alexander Dumas, fills,
and the following story is heard only in
whispers, for in view of the fact that it
concerns one of the greatest contemporary
French celebrities, no newspaper in France
has yet had the temerity to print it, although
some Italian journals, which are not dis
tinguished for the same delicacy, have out
lined it in their columns and II SecdIo, of
Milan, has stated it boldly in full, only
suppressing certain names which are most
easily recognized. The first part of the
story. which is the least spicy portion Of
the narrative, refers to the great row be-
tween Dumas, fils, and Nine. Meissonier.
Dumas was one of Meissonier's most init
mate friends, and when the painter died
he headed the list of subscriptions for
magnificent statue, for which contributions
poured in from all quarters. But when the
committee, who had the matter in charge,
selected for the location of the statue the
Place Malesherbes, Dumas, fills, protested.
He had selected the identical spot for
statue of himself which he thinks his ad-
mlrers will erect to his memory when he
dies. The committe made light of Dumas
ills objections and the author withdrew his
subscription. Now he and Nine. Meissonier
are deadly enemies. This would by trifling
! in itself. but for the fact that it Indicates
the erratic conduct of the novelist.
The strange part CT the story begins with
| the announcement made about ten days
ago, that he proposed to sell at auction his
picture gallery and the whole of his famous
art collection. The pictures are extremely
valuable, nearly all being gifts of the great
modern peinters The art collection is
| almost equal in value to the pictures, and
there is little doubt according to the iudg-
ment of connoisseurs, that the sale will
produce minimum of million francs and
possibly the figures may run to even
double this amount. The reason for the
sale is purely feminine, and is nothing
more nor less than the desire of Mile Reg
nier, the daughter of the famous societaire
of the Coincide Franchise. Dumas fell in
love with her six months ago and has com
pletely lost his head, so far as she is con-
cerned. Her strange power over him has
caused a great deal of surprised comment,
but there is no doubt as to his complete
slavery or her wildly extravagant habits.
His handsome income, derived from his
own and his fathers works, has been quite
insufficient to meet her wants. She only
laughs over the matter and speaks of him
as as her "amoureux SUI lie retour, :" indi-
eating that the power OF love is
bringing him back to youthfulness
Dumas two daughters are married and
live in homes of their own. He has a wife
but he practically lives alone, and it is now
remarked that Nine. Dumas has not beer
seen in public for some months, not since
his liaison with Mile. Regnier was unde,
full Roadway. Furthermore, Dumas goes
about meeting his friends with melan
choly air and whispering, "My poor wife:
, shall be obliged to have her in m6ison d
sante" 1t is declared on the other HAND
that Nine. Dumas faculties are not in The
least impaired. and her sorrow over thu
eccentricities of her husband as we'll as hi
keeping her in retirement is deep ent
INDIGNANT