The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1892-04-15
ERRArlc DUMAS.
His silly Quarrel with AIne. Nleissonier-.
Under u Woman's Spell.

PARIS. April 1.-THE most talked.s .sf
man at present is Alexandra DumaA
fills, and the following story is heard
only in whispers-for in view OF the
fact that it concerns one of the great
est contemporary French celebrities,
no newspaper in France has yet had
the temerity to print it. Some italian
journals which are not distinguished
for the same delicacy have outlined il
in their columns, and II Secalo, 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 nara.
tive, refers to the great row between
Dumas. fi's, and Nine Meissonier.
Dumas, as is we'll known, was one OF
Meissonier's mostintimate friends, and
when the painter died he headed the
list of subscriptions for magnificent
statue for which contributions poured
in from all qunrtera The memorial
progressed rapidly, and all went we'll
until the committee, of which Dumas
was not a member, selected the loca.
tion at the end of the Place Males
herbes, whore the statue of Dumas.
pere, stands This spot, it now ap-
pears, had been selected by Dumas,
fills, himself, as the place for the statue
which he thinks his admirers will be
certain TO erect for him as soon us he
Is dead He accordingly protested
against the situation. His protest only
caused amusement, and in rage he
withdrew his name from the list on
which it had been so prominent u
figure, and Nine. Meissonier and he
are now deadly enemies. This would
be trifling in itself but for the fact
that 1t indicates the erratic conduct of
the novelist
Tho strange part of 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 mod
ern painters, and they are likely, there.
fore, to bring, both from their associa-
tion and their intrinsic value, very
high prices The art collection is al
most equal In value to the pictures,
and there is little doubt, according to
the judgment Of connoisenrs, that the
sale will produce a minimum of 1,0Oo,-
600 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 Mime. Regnier, tho
daughter of the famous Societaire of
the Committee Franchise Dumas fell
in love with her six months ago, and
has completely lost his head SO far as
she is concerned Her strange power
over him has caused 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 her "amoureux sur lie
retour," indicating that the power Of
love is bringing him back to youthful
ness.
This, however. is not the worst of the
matter Dumas two daughters are
married and live in homes of their
own He has wife, but practically
lives alone. and it is now remarked
that Nine. Dumas has not been seen
in public for some months-not since
his liason with Nine. Rcgnier was un-
der full headway. Furthermore, Du-
mas goes atout meeting his friends
with melancholy air and whisper
ing MY poor wife; shall be
obliged to have her placed in mnison
de sante." 1t is declared on the other
hand, that Nine. Dumas faculties are
not the least impaired. and her sorrow
over the eccentricities of her husband,
as we'll as his keeping her in retire
ment, are sources of deep and poignant
sorrow to her