The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-12
Marcel and Anita Laurent
Happy In New York.
Father Had Bitter Legal Fight
For Little Girl.
: FINALLY
WON.
Case Taken to the Kansas
Supreme Court.
Letter Written to Topeka At
tOrneys by the Boy.

Last Thursdays New York Tribune
contained the following item concern
ing two little children who were the
center of attraction in a sensational
habeas corpus case in the Shawnee
county probate court about a year ago.
Marcel and Anita Laurent, two little
Sunshine members OF Mount Vernon,
n. Y, called at the Office on Friday.
bringing with them gifts which will
carry all the sunshine and gIadness de-
sired by the generous donors.
''Marcels contribution was a box of
beautiful butterflies, caught and most
artisticaIly mounted by himself. and a
japanese box filed with delicious home
made perpermints.
Anita brought a box of assorted col
ored beads, paper dolls and dolls fur
niture, which she particularly request
ed should be sent to some little sick
girl who could not go out of doors to
play.
THE gifts will be sent on their mis-
sion of sunshine today, and the chill
dren win soon hear again from them
Marcel, the older of the children. was
born in South America, and Anita was
born in Paris. where the mother died.
The father of the children brought
them to Topeka and left them with
Some three years afterwards their
father married again and engaged in
business in New York City. He came
to Topeka to get his children and take
them TO his new home. Mrs. J. 3. Bill
lard, the aunt who had the little boy
in her possession, let the father take
him without resistance, but the grand
mother and aunt who had the little girl
refused TO surrender possession. The
father brought habeaS corpus proceed
ings in the probate court and the Gus
rrlrfT- nf q rah s1V r. flead n
An appeal was taken to the supreme
court and Judge Dolman required the
little girl to be kept in Topeka until
the determination OF that action The
father returned to New York with his
son. The supreme court refused to hear
the case, permitting Judge DOlman's
decision to stand as final. After the
determination Of the case in the su-
preme court. Robert Stone went to New
York and took the little girl with him
and delivered her to her father Mr..
Stone has just received from the little
children a letter and the above item
from the Tribune. The letter will be
of interest to many of our readers who
remember the court proceedings
Mount Vernon. N Y, Sept. :, 1899.
Dear Mr.. Stone:
This day, one year ago, I arrived in
New York City, and hardly could let
the day pass without thinking of you
and Mr.. TrOutman and as you have not
heard from US for a very long time,
you will perhaps receive letter with
y
all that we both, Anita and I. feel very
happy here. Our mamma is so very
good to US that you can hardly inag-
inc it: she does all she can to make
US happy Dear mamma dresses US
as we never had been during our four
years absence and We can not remem-
Der to have such a nice time since we
live IN this country. Don't think that
We are lazy or idle Anita has been
promoted twice and I skipped once and
got promoted twice also I wish could
get to the High school in a year and a
half. and hope I viii succeed. Anita
and became members of the Tribune
Sunshine society, to which mamma be
longs too. The purpose of this society
which has six or seven thousand mem 1
bers all over the world is to give sun
shine" 1t means that every member
tries in the measure of his means to
make enjoy the life Of his fellow mem
bers. Very wealthy people belong to it
and poor ones too. 1t is for Us all a
real every days enjoyment. Did you
ever hear of this sOciety2 We are now
near the end of our vacation, which !
has been very pleasant one, but of
course, we studied every day a little
and did our share of house work Papa |
says that if we are good he would buy |
US mandOlins and hire a teacher We |
have already very many playthings,
but don't you think mandolins are aw-
full nice? Anita made her first fancy
and I made a drawing which papa con-
siders very fine. I practice drawing |
too Last Christmas which was exceed !
ingly fine for US. We sung German I
songs that mamma had taught US; we
understand now good deal Of German, |
which is very useful here, because |
mamma speaks German to us as much |
as possible. OF course, we do not for !
get our French with papa.
This is a very long letter and you |
will perhaps feel tired before you come |
to its end, but I had so much to tell !
you that I could even fill three or |
four times more space, but mamma !
says I have to stop now We send you !
our photograph taken for papa s birth |
day and hope you will keep it in re-
membrance of two children that will |
always keep you, dear Mr. Stone and |
dear Mr.. TrOutman, in good memory.
Our parents and Anita send you
their very best regards and wish TO /
be remembered to Mrs. Stone as we'll 4
as to Mrs. Troutman and little Lillian. |
I remain your very faithful
MARCEL KLINCKSIECK LAURENT. !
No. % South Terrace avenue, Mount 1
Vernon, New York
Beggs' German SaIve-
Is an old Remedy well known to most /
German house wives 1t is guaranteed to 4
a ]