The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-11-03
AMELIA RIVES CHAMBER.
.rx pycrURE BY WALTER WELL
vzy IN THE TIMEs-HERARD.
. won.n of Rapidly Changing MOODS
But Withsl Genius ana
Kind Hearted.

walter workman writes as follows 70
,bs Chicago Times-herald from WASH
.o.,on. News OF Amelie Rivcs-Chanlers
divorce caused no surprise ainohs "e'
friends IN this city. Miss Rves was al
WAYS woman OF caprice, "ay"a'''
6ckle. When In a normal mood she was
one OF the NEST loving and ioVdoie oi
ro,oen. as she certainly was and sun is
omony the most beautiful or her SEX
hut her capriciousness. petulance. anu
childlsbncss tried the patience OF her
hushana Roth as a girl and as mar
RED woman Mrs. Chanicr visited her' anu
men and women. who are connoisseurS Ia
feminine beauty. agree that no more las
cinat.ne woman than the Virginia au-
thoress was ever seen In Washington
drawing-room. An incident OF one cf her
visits to this city may be taken as an
indication of her peculiar character. AZ
the request OF her hostess she brought
out OF her trunk batch of poems written
IN her girlhood. and read them 10 an
other guest of the house, an elderly man.
noted for his literary judgment. MISS
Eiyes and the literary man were iei1
alone, and In speaking OF the ihciuehl
afterward the literary man said Il don I
remember a word she read TO me; all
can remember is the sweetness OF her
voice, the charm of her presence. one
read poem after poem in a low, impas-
stoned voice. standing with her face near
TO nine, her eyes ablazc with poetic Ter
yor. To me she seemed unearthly, an
Kelic. had no power 10 concentrate my
mind upon her words. l could see MOTH
Ing, think of nothing, but the petite, ra-
diant, soul-stirred woman by my side"
This pretty story has q sequel, and II
H.. fkfa nd
is found. An hour after Miss Rives had
fascinated tho elderly literary man and
iulled him into an intellectual trance
with the charm of her voice and per-
son, the company sat down to dinner.
There were six or eight at the table, and
Miss Rives. though simply attired, was
nevertheless a picture of youthful beau
ty. An unbidden guest soon appeared,
Tho household kitten leaped 10 Miss
Rives' lap. and was given a warm wei
come. AS the young poetess fondled the
visitor, placed pussy's black nose at the
edge OF her plate and fed the little new
Ing mouth with dainty morsels. more
than one OF the guests wished for a pho
tograph OF the pretty scene. Suddenly
there came reaction, Miss Rives began
scolding the kitten for some unknown
cause. and TO the utter astonshment of
hosts and guests alike. the poetess raised
the offending feline by the nape OF its
neck and gave 1t a vicious ming against
the side OF the room. For several mo-
ments Miss Rives had not a word to say.
The well-bred hostess artfully kept con-
versation going without a pause. ana, in
. short time the clouds left the face Of
the capricious Virginia girl, and radiant
sunshine took their place.
These were the moods Of genius, for
Mrs. Chanler is surely genius. Her
moods and caIrices were well known, not
only 10 her family. but to all the neigh
bors near her fathers house at Castle
HILL Albemarlc county, Va. The writer
once visited there, and was pleased 10
hear tho verdict of all the country folk
as TO Miss Am'ly, as they always called
her. They knew her odd ways, her
pranks, her mad rides astride unbroken
colts. and all that. but they idolzed her
just the same. TO them she was an angel
In human form-an angel of charity, of
mercy, of good works. She visited the
cabins OF the poor colored folks with
food and picture books and sweetmeats.
She nursed the sick. She helped those
who were In trouble. Half the money
which Miss Rives received for her first
literary success. 1.-THE Quick or the
Dead" was spent in making one merry
Christmas for the poor coiored people
round about Castle Hill.
1t is not John Armstrong CHAMBERS
fault that he has lost his beautiful wife.
Probably Ii is no ones fault, but simply
. natural though unfortunate result of
yoking together a manly and practical
young man and romantic. capricious,
genius blessed and genius-cursed young
woman. That Chanler has been marvel
OF patience there can be no doubt. Nor
Is there any reason to think Mrs. Chanler
has not made great efforts 10 control
that wild temperament which is a part
Of her being. The story of Chambers
courtship of Miss Rives know very we'll
He met her at a. ball at Newport and fell
in love with her. He followed her to
Virginia and laid siege to her heart
Three times was he rejected, but the
fourth time proved the charm, and he
was the proudest and happiest man in
America when he won her.
The American press thoughtlessly put a
cloud over Mrs. Chambers life. 1t did
this with its false conception of the mo-
tives which had inspired "The Quick or
the Dead" and by it's cruel criticisms and
jokes concerning the young authoreSs
To this day many people do not know the
inspiration for that remarkable book, and
are not aware that IL was written while
the hand or Amelie Rives was being
sought by John Jacob Astor's greatgrand-
son, ands that the motive was foGld In
the authors contention with herself
whether or not she should give up her
girlish ideal of what a lover should be
and accept the love of her persistent suit
or. This Is the fact, and the rivals in
the book were simply Celebrations of the
living the quick" descendant of the
Astors and the dead" ideal whose men,
DRY was fondly cherished.
The Rives homestead at Castle Hill is
q picturesque and beautiful old place at
the foot OF the Blue Ridge. In Albemarle
county the Riveses are known as one of
the oldest and most aristocratic families.
Mrs. Chanlers grandfather represented
this country as Minister TO France. Her
father has long been chief organizer of
the Panama railway. Her mother was
I'm her day a famous beauty and singer.
The Rives family is related 10 the
cabeils, the ClaiboTnes. the Pages. and
other noted families IN Virginia Mrs.
Chambers younger sister Daisy. almost as
beautiful as the author OF Tho Quick or
the Dead" also possesses genius. Her
drawings of horses are most remark
able. She cannot draw anything else,
and IL cart or saddle is needed TO COM
piete one Of her pictures some one else