The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-01-13
oUIDA AND HER POVERTY.
Fernando Jones Recalls the Famous
Novelist while nj Florence.
Chicago News

Chicago News.
Nearly every Chicagoan who has Travelled
in Europe has visited the City OF Florence
and counted his time lost If he failed to see
the delightful villa where formerly dwelt
Mdlle. dc la Rame. the novelist, known TO
the world OF readers as Ouida
To such people especially the report that
ouida is now reduced almost TO poverty
proves interesting. and among others i'm
pressed by the story is Fern u.lo Jones.
who was some years ago the distinguished
and eccentric writer's neighbor
When she lived in Florence" said Mr.
Jones, the authoress was at her brst, or
worst, as some critics declare. lu those days
when 1t was rumorod that she had a new
book In press the fair DANES of Florence
trembled In their boudoirs cach fearing
her time had come, for ouidas malicious
ness seemed TO Increase with the passing
years, and her polished aud poisoned darts
We're always aimed at shining social marks.
society. her apparently. natural enemy,
credited n peculiar motive to Ouida for
Keeping up constant warfare with its de-
voices and declared that when she came
TO sunny Italy. though no longer young
she was still heart whole and fancy free
No tender thoughts had ever knottod them
selves in the woof of her influential
life. She was happy, she studied. read
wrote. potted her forty faithful dogs and
her sleek steeds communed with herself
and regarded man simply as good material
| Tor clever woman to weave into romanccs
Tor silly women TO read. But one can play
win IRE certain length OF time. and then
one Is sure to be scorched and Ouidas
| time came
| she who had Travelled the world over
| had hobnobbcd with the Intelligence and
Vaccinations of every cline. unscathed, was
destined to surrender her stony heart ut
lest; and. terrible and illogical to relate
to an cffominlte, langull and luxurious son
OF Italy. At that happy epoch IN her life
the authorizes never failed to chant the
praises Of Italy. Whether or not this AZ
! lection was returned is stll an unsolved
problem Her hero who was a young mar.
quis said no. Bu; Ouida stoutly maintained
that his devotion Was deep and unchanged
BILE but that alas, her lover was SO inex-
tricably cnmcshed In the tolls OF mar
ried woman that he dare not approach the
adored of his soul, Ouda proceeded at
once TO drown her sorrows in flowing bowls
of ink and through the medium of a facile
pcn poured her woes into the willing ears
of the public contrary to the usual meth
DDS of her hcroines. who had Invariably
permitted concealmont TO gDaw their da-
mask checks. All her heroes at once fell
desperately in love with clever young girls.
but We're invariably tcttered by artful mar
ried women, whom they detcstod, but to
W HON they made love from fear or force OF
habit. while the neglected adored ones
were slowly dying.
"ouda was not contented In those days
In being considered clever writer only.
size aspirod to fame as an artist and her
villa was adorned with creations OF her
brush Ouida was rarely courteous, and
when she received on Mondays was never
more than frigidly polite She had n novel
way Of changing climate without disturb
Ing her domestic arrangements to any eN-
tont When the comparative cold days of a
Florcntine winter came mademosele re-
moved her household goods to apartments
ON the sunny south side OF her villa and 10
avoid summers heat they were removed TO
the cooler north side.
I'VE had an opportunity OF testing bet
Kindness OF heart whore pet animals are
concerned. our landlord and his wife died.
leaving n young family IN the lower
apartments of tho house we occupied. The
children had fine dog. which was kept
In the rear garden and. whether from neg
loct or grief at the loss NJ master and mis-
iress maintained dnceasing lamcntatinn.
NV wife. who knew of Mile dc Ia Ramo's
love for dogs. asked the chiidrons gual
dian whether he was willing TO sell the
bowling animal. He consented to part
with the dog and Mrs Jones informed
Ouida by note Of the circumstance. 'ihc
great writer came the following lay In an
swer to the communication and paid an al
rrost fabulous price to the orphans for
their dog which. Till its death along witt
two seoro other dogs. was carefully fed
housed and exercised"