The Wichita daily eagle., 1898-01-06
Latest Of Good Literature.
LAST MOMENTS OF DAuDEE.

great and popular French story teller
had passed away when the news OF his
demise was bruited in the theatres and
other places late last night. It was
known that he had long been suffering
from spinal disease, that ne had frequent
attacks Of illness. from which, however,
he seemed to recover easily, and that al
though he was a confirmed invalid, he
was able to continue his literary work.
There was, there fore. in the minds Of
many of his friends and admirers no i'm
mediate cause for alarm the novelist
was even yesterday orning, apparently
full OF fair health anl spirits. He had
recently completed new novel, and was
looking forward to a Christmas dinner
party which he was planning, and to
| which his two Saphos, as ne called them,
| were TO be invited. These were Madame
Rejane and Madame Calve. the latter, as
will be remembered, having lately ap-
peared at the Opera Comique asthe Sap
no in Massenet's musical version of the
| novel. Fate wiIled otherwise, however,
AMI Alphonse Daudet has been stricken
before he has reached his Goth year, like
| Charles Dickens, who was one Of mis- fa-
vorite authors. and, like whom, ne died
| IN harness. The novelist was sitting
| down 10 dinner last night with his fam
lily in his new residence Rue de rUniver-
cite when the dread summon came.
Around him were Madame Alphonse Da-
udet, Madame Atlas, his mother-in-law,
MS two sons, Leon and Lucien, Madem-
oiselle Edmee Daudet, and his nephew,
Georges. Just as he mad taken his first
spoonful of soup he fell back in his chair
uttering piercing cry and putting mis-
right hand to mis- heart. Madame Dau-
det at once ran TO mis- assistance, held
up his head, and called out for medical
assistance. Two doctors arrived after
an inevitable delay, but even had they
come sooner their service would have
been unavailing.
Alphonse Daudet was carrier from the
dinner table to mis- bed almost with the
death rattle in his throat. His face wore
the dull earthly look that betokens the
approach of the last sad hour, he was
speeches. and senseless. and no human
help could have done anything for him.
The doctors tried electricity, his wife
bent over him and endeavored to make
him recognize her. to bring back some
glimmering ray OF consciousness to the
feeble, stricken mind, but all in vain.
The dying man passed away without
apparent pain as the vicar of the neigh
boring church of Sainte-Clotilde, who
had been sent for was reciting the inten-
sely mournful prayers enjooined by the
Roman ritual for those at the point Of
death. Today there were numerous SYM
pathizers at the residence OF the deceas-
ed The body lies in a room filled with
flowers. A crucifix is in the hands of the
dead man, garland of white lilac at his
feet, and two sisters OF mercy pray near
the bedside. NJ. Ernest Daudet, the bro
ther, received the visitors, most of the
other members of the family being too
overcome by the terrible suddenness of
the death and by their unutterab BILE grief
TO be able to see strangers-Paris Cor
respondent London Telegraph, Dec. IS.
approach Of the last sad hour, ne was
ABOUT FRENCH MARRIAGES.
Miss Anna L. Bicknell, writing OF
French marriages in the January Gen. |
tury, says:
caused so much sorrow and consequent |
evil in former days, when girl was ia |
ken out Of convent TO be SHOWN the |
man to whom she was about to be mar |
ried, is now a thing Of the past. 1t |
must be acknowledged, however. that |
marriages are still amle up, often too |
hastily and superfcially. by nicely bal |
anced family arrangements and by the |
Intervention Of friends. Nevertheless, at |
traction and repulsion are now taken in |
to consideration, and a girl is no longer |
forced to marry a man whom she positi- /
vely dislkes. 1 could quote instances in
the very highest (historicaD aristocracy
where, at the last moment, after the tro-
uS5eau had been sent in Cmarked ac-
cording 10 custom, with the united ini-
tial letters OF the two names elabora-
tely embroidered), and all the social pre-
paration5 made, the marriage was bro
ken off because the bride had declared
that she could not get accustomed 10
the bridegroom, nor endure the idea OF
seeing his face in her nome during her
natural life. In one OF these instances
the family lamentations over the initials
of the rousseau were really amusing. |
Fortunately substitute was soon found,
whose name like that Of the rejected
suitor began with an z. and the COM
plications were thus happily settled.
The great object OF the French girls
life is marriage. From the time OF her
birth her parents have prepared for this
event. and in 'many cases they have
straitened their income and
their enjoyments to make up
her dot Every girl in every class is ex-
peoted to have something; those who
have nothing are exceptions. and con-
Stitute minority OF old maids The girls
who from choice do not marry generally
become nuns. usually much against the
wishes of their parents. The old tales
or young women being forced into con-
vents 10 improve the position OF their
brothers are forgotten in these days
wher, While no child can on any pre-
tense be deprived OF share in the faith
ar's Inheritance, nsonas;ic VOWS are not
by law. Nuns and spinsters
are exceptions; marriage is the rule.
When q girl is OF an age TO be introdu-
,ed into society. her frierds and relati-
YES Immediately look out for a suita Die
husband. whom IL is considered highly
ieSira bic 10 obtain before sne has reach
Il the age Of q. that sle may not be pro-
,laimed file majeure wien he banns are
published The principal considerations
are equality OF birth. OF pisitioa. ot for
ure; and in the last particular the scale
5 usually expected 20 weigh rather more
N the side Of the young woman. eSpe-
;iany II the young man. in addition %