The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-20

vas alone in the world. She aimed foI
histrionic triumphs and courted public ap-
plause. She was liberal, entertained well
and had host OF friends.
She attracted many admirers by her
personal beauty and accomplishments
while others laid seige to her heart with
view to possessing her money. She
showed no preference, but treated all heI
admirers with equal consideration.
In the Latin quarter she was exceeding
ly popular. One story is told that on an
occasion of the students bail she emulat-
ed Bettina Gerard and suitors for her IA
vor drank deeply to her health from her
dainty satin slipper.
No artistic function was deemed COM
plete without her presence as queen and
ruler of the festivities. She was known to
the students as ''le cherie Americana
and was voted the ''best fellow in the
Quarter.
Art and artistic sensation appealed to
her strongly. and it was while she was
present at a Bohemian supper in Paris in
1895 that she met the arbiter Of her fate,
the musician and composer LeoncavallO,
from whom the tragic end of the girl who
worshipped and loved him only drew the
remark, 81 never knew her."
To see the famous composer was TO love
him. There is every reason to believe
that Alice Moffat was led to think that
her unwavering love was returned. Let
tiers and photographs testify to this end.
Among her effects there should be a
valuable diamond and pearl 1ocket given
by the musician to the girl shortly after
the beginning OF their acquaintance in
token of. the feeling that existed between
them.
That she considered Leoncavallo her ac-
cepted lover is shown by the following let
ter, which was written by Miss Moffat
to a girl friend In this country. The
letter said
my Darling V: cannot begin to tell
you OF the sunlight that has come to me
and you cannot know Of it. for you have
never met him! 1 often think how good
it IS in an artist-a genius. for he Is poth-
ing sort Of the mark. to care for one who
diocrity that you know has overwhelmed
me.
'I thank the good God every night OF
my life that It Is so. You should
have seen his triumph last night. Ny
heart went wild with applause.
am not worthy to stand beside him."
Her beautiful blind confidence was short
lived. Her hopes were blasted. All her
affection had been bestowed upon a man
that the blow fell that shattered her
life. Broken hearted she wrote to her
friend as follows:
'I cannot tell you, little one, of the
darkness and CLONE in to which have
plunged by the terrible news Heoncavallo
God knows IL would not, could not have
mattered IL 1 had our love was born
in Heaven. and even though 1 knew It
could only end in that other place, 1
should not have hesitated. The end-God
Knows leap into the unknown dark
to the end"
This blow broke the young American
girls heart. She had given the gifted
composer her whole being-in vain
From this time letters became less and
less frequent, and finally ceased alto
gether, the last one, dating from Rennes,
Frame. in April, 1899. contained only the
news that the brokenhearted girl. still
cllnging to her one great affection. was en-
route 10 Paris to be near its object.
From the time of Leoncavallo's mar
rage until death brought an end to her
sufferings she was a changed girl. She
wandered aimlessly from city to city with
the object of being close to the idol she
devotedly loved. Everything was forgot
ten when she was near Leoncavallo.
For some time nothing was heard OF
Miss Moffat either in New York or Phiia-
delpha. She disappeared entirely until
a cablegram was received by the World
on Friday. July :. that she had taken the
last step and had ended her hearts troub-
les by suicide.
She had followed I.eoncavallo to Paris.
and there, despairing, she made a final
resolve to end her sorrow with her ex-
istence and accompanied by her maid
went to Geneva. She registered at an inn,
giving a false name, and spent her hst
hours weeping before the photograph Of
the composer Of Il Pagliacca."
She remained in her room without even
opening her door TO her maid, who car
ried her meals to her. and toward night
fan began writing a last letter TO Leon
cavallo which was found unfinished upon
the table.
BY her side was bottle which had been
filled with laudnum. II was half empty.
The young woman died after half an
hours frightful agony, gazing upon the
face of the man she so dearly loved.
4 letter which was written family in