New-York tribune., 1908-01-26

r7ivation During the last few months Of her
lie she was compelled al times to sleep in the
open air when unable tc pay for a nights lodg-
:rs The immediate cause of death is set down
a. asthma. complicated with heart disease.
-'Ouida" had a passionate fondness for dogs
end up the last surrounded by many OF
tbera. depriving herself OF even necessary food
in order TO feed them.
The Minister of instruction. had sent her on
several occasions recently cor siderable contribu
tions which had been subscribed for her aid
Louise De Ia Rance. known 10 the world OF
fiction readers by her pen name "Ouida." Was
Of English birth Her father English and
h+r mother French. She born at
Bury St Ednaunds IN 1910. Her youth spent
in that place and in France. and at the age Of
twenty she went TO London With her mother and
gisndmother. her parents having separated. While
young she began TO write stories. and she adopted
the ~Ouida. which her childish
mispronunciation Of Louisa Her first novel was
granville de Vigne" which WAS published III
'Col5urns New Monthly in 1850. II was issued in
book form 1853 under the title Held Bond
sge.- For thirty years her pen was active in the
production Of three volume novels, short stories
and essays. i number o. plays nave been founded
or the scenes in her fiction
The best known Of these Is perhaps Under T~"
Flags which published book in 1861 and
dramatized by Paul NJ. Potter recently
Moths" novel OF Russian. French and English
lie which appeared in 1854 has also been put on
the stage. Mile. dc Ia Ramee was familiar with
the life nearly all continental countries and
equally home il speaking and writing English,
French. Italian and German. and read other Ian
euages. For many years she made her home 1T
Florence where she was known THE Lady of
the Dogs" from he fond.ess for her canine
friends.
In all there were forty-one works which bear
the name OF "0ulda" Among the best known of
these. besides those mentioned. are "Strathmore,"
-Chandos,'' ''Tricotrin.- ''Tolle Farine' Two
Little Wooden Shoes" Friendship In Marem-
ma -PascareI, Puck ~Ariadne, the story Of a
Dream" - Dog Of Flanders. Toxin an Altru-
ist. Wanda - THE Silver Christ and Street
Dust "Bmti' is a story for children and Two
Offenders volume Of short stories. collection
CT varied opinioss literary and otIe~ topics
titled Views and Opinions" appeared in 1875 and
similar volume called Critical Studies" in 1909
one authority says Of her fiction: Her novels /
though tawdry in sentiment, exhibit picturesque
power and striking dramatic effectiveness An /
other writer says 'Distinctively French as 10 the
Of morality SET forth in them, md. from a |
literary point Of view gaudy and full OF defects In
st-le Ouids's books show vIg0r anc certain /
power of charact"- drawing. combined with an /
originality ana dexterity in plot and treatment /
which account for their popularity
Sill another view OF her books is the following:
Muscular heathenry, nature worship and an en-
cyciopadic ignorance are the prevailing notes OF
these books, which remind one Of scene painting
4
20 about them a glamour and glitter, and withal
singular sarneness- One wearies of their brown
hariots and biase arfstocrats; one ceases even to
be amused with their classical and cosmopolitan
malaprOpisms'
Last year surprise caused by reports mat
Nile. de la Renee living in poverty at Flor
ence and in lack OF the necessar1es OF tx
hienoe- The British government put her name 1
on The civil list, with pension of $40 year A
London newspaper published pathetic account OF
her situation il stated that about three years
$50 the novelist lived IN a handsome VITA AZ 81
AeeSio Lucca- Among her eccentrlcities WAS Inc
care Of large number Of dogs. and At one time
- Gathered all the dogs of LuccA and fed them
msst. milk and bread when she ard her house
b"d had nothing When finally eJect"d
ron the villa by the proprietor she brought suit
Aha Won her case in three courts but Inc cN-
fensts acre that she took smaller NIld-
ehe WIS unable TO manage her financial AFFAIRS
ana al she and her maid went three
Gays without food In her more affiuent HE IN
J iofence she had many thirty dogs ana
many horses. but when reduced 20 want she kept
only three dogs her constant companions. In
hsr olo axe the loss Of the sight Of one eye ana
iesfness added TO her distresses. While the age
n ouida' a matter OF dispute among those
no have written OF her career. the books OF rel