Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-03-16

Paris. March 1e.-Undismayed by a
failure extending over twelve yearr.
the French detective police have again
started a worldwide search for the
! three children of Madame Sourdillon
who disappeared in 1899 and who are
believed to be now living in the United
States. The case is SO appealing and
pathetic In its nature that the police
have asked the newspapers Of America
to assist In finding some trace Of the
! missing children, the oldest of whom
If living, is now a young woman Of is
years
Madame Sourdillon has spent her life
and her fortune in an endeavor to find
| her children. She is the daughter of
| Charles de la Sale, a surgeon Of the
French navy. who for distinguished
and gallant services was presented
with sword by the city of Brest
| Mademoiselle de la Sale married nine
teen years ago Caesar Louis Sourdil-
Ion, who was then a Partisan journal
ist. In 1888 she obtained divorce on
! the ground of cruelty and abandon
| ment. The decree provided that the
husband be permitted to see their three
children one day a week. On April
Is, 1899, Madame Sourdillon's maid
took the children-Louise, aged Q;
Berthe, 4, and Charles ITO the house
of a common friend. only to return to
say that they had been taken for a
walk. Since that day Madame Sour
dillon has never seen her children.
At once the grief-stricken mother
began a search to which was devoted
all Of the keenest detective instincts
of France. England and other Euro
pean countries. Finally the children
were traced to England and then to the
United States. Every French consul
or diplomatic representative in Amer
lea was at once notified. The trail led
to San Francisco, then to San Diego
and Los Angeles. At Denver all trace
was lost and for years nothing has
been heard
Formerly a woman of considerable
wealth. Madame Sourdillon has ex
pended her entire fortune in her search
and is now earning her living by con-
Quoting a pension. She still believes
that she will find some trace of her
children. and the French authorities
join with her in her expectation that
the publication of the facts thruout the
United States may crown her years
efforts with success.
The death of Jules Lefebvre. the cele-
brated French portrait painter. has
been followed by many anecdotes of his
interesting career Despite his sue
cess. Lefebvre remained what he was
from the start-a man Of simple and
charming manner On one point alone
was he firm and intractable He de-
tested utterly any form or attempt at
bargaining.
One day. so the anecdote goes. an
American Of wealth called to see him.
Il would like" the American said TO
the artist "a full-length portrait of
myself. How much. if you please. Will
it be!'
Twenty thousand francs" (abou'
$4,000, replied Lefebvre
Very well. But If ask you to max
two portraits instead OF one-that 4
one Of my wife and one of myself
suppose your price viii be different
Certainly" responded the artist.
and how much will it be?'
Lefebvre reflected a moment ther-
said simply: 1T will be forty THOUSAND
francs"
The American paid.
The approa ching dedication Of :
monument to Champlain on the border
of the lake which bears his name and
to which France will send a spec;ni
delegation with a beautiful bust ny
Rodin. has created considerable inter