The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-30
ERNEST RENAN.s WIFE.
She Has Just Died I'm Paris-Blessed
by Two wOmen's Devotion.
New York Tribune


Mime. Ernest Renan did not long survive
her illustrious husband. Her death a
cause Of surprise TO her large circle Of
friends: She was called away after ILL
ness OF three days, by an affection of the
heart, which nobody suspected until Ii be-
trayed itself in the last few days of her
life Her means were, for one of her tastes
ana habits, ample, the Chambers having
given her pension when she lost Nj. Re-
nan. She had, besides, money saved and
her dowry. But she reaped no royalties
contributed during thirty-five years to
French literature. On quitting the College
OF France. of which he was for long
went to reside In the Avenue de rObserva-
TORE, along with her son AIRY.
the painter. She had set to herself
the task of editing the piles of miscelane-
Gus notes. letters and other literary re-
mains o: Nj. Renan, which in his life she
mad docketed, classified and put carefully
away. The task was a severe one, but
thirty years in the closest mental COM
munion with Nj. Renan. sharing his
stantiy thinking aloud-and giving him
wise and courageous counsel. Mime. Renan
used TO. when he consulted her. tell him
to assure himself of his sincerity, and IL
satisfied on that point TO publish bodily
and fear no man.
The deceased lady was a person of soft,
Dutch woman. Her father, Henry Schef-
s ;eI. the brother of the more eminent AIRY
ocneler' was native or Amsterdam, but
came early TO France and married a
French Protestant lady. Nine Renan
though intellectual, literary and artistic in
ner tastes, was notable housewife. When
fel; IN love with her he was living with
his sister RoSalie, an old maid of sublime
generosity OF character. who had been al
enabled him TO abandon a sacerdotal
career career and betake himself to phi
the great emancipating influence OF his
mind when he was a divinity student at
the Seminary of St Sulpice. Her letters
theology and she found means to place him
mentally in relation with the foremost
German thinkers of the time. Her savings
as a governess belonged to him. on his
casting aside the frock of the divinity stu
dent and quitting the seminary. Resale
gave up her situation In Pomerana 10 come
Paris. Ii was grievous trial for her to
hear that he was in love and wanted 10
marry But he appealed to her generosity
i'm informing her that he could not take
the eventful step unless she lent him a
sum OF money amounting to nearly all her
saved capital. She agreed to this. Coralie
Scheffer came to see her and they buth
sat together for nearly two hours. Renan
was on thorns while the confidential talk
went on. The betrothed and the old maid
en- sister then came into his ROOM tears
flowing from their eyes and holding each
others hands. 1t was agreed that they
nan said that she never hid a thought
from Resale. and that her death in SYRIA
was long a source to her of heart-breaIx-
ing grief.
Nine. Renan possessed a number of fam
lily portraits painted by her father uncle
and Observation-Disclosures illustrious Dutch
painter but not of the name of Scheffer
She died in the arms of her son AIRY The
letter of invitation TO the funeral states
that she was fifty-seven. Pastor Fontaine
attended at the mortuary house to deliver
a discourse. The remains now lie I'm The
Scheffer burying place at Montmartre be-
side those of the beloved and INDUSTRIOUS
husband.