The daily sentinel., 1912-03-18
Associated Press.


Paris. March 1S.-Undismayed by
failure extending over IL years,
the French detective police have
again started a worldwide search
Tor the three children of Madame
Sourdillon, who disappeared in 1899
and who are believed to be now liv-
ing 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 liv-
ing, is now 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 servi-
ces was presented with a sword by
| the city of Brest. Mademoiselle de
ia Sale married 10 years ago Caesar
| Louis Sourdillon, who was then
Partisan journalist. In 1889 she OBJ
| tanned a divorce on the ground of
cruelty and abandonment The de-
| cree provided that the husband be
| permitted to see their children one
| day week. On April 13. 1899,
Madame Sourdillon's maid took the
| children-Louise, aged 6; Bertha,
aged A. and Charles. aged Ito the
house of a common friend. only to
return to say that they had been
taken for a walk. Since that day
Madame Sourdillon has never seen
her children.
At once the griefstricken mother
began search to which was devoted
II of the keenesi detective instincts
II 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 America was at once notified.
The trail led to San Francisco. then
to San Diego and Los Angeles, Al
Denver all trace was lost and for
years nothing has been heard.
Formerly woman of considerable
wealth. Madame Sourdillon has ex-
pended her entire fortune in search
and is now earning her living by
| conducting pension, She still be-
lieves that she will find some trace
| Of her children. and the French az
thorities join with her in her expec-
tation that the publication of the
| facts throughout the United States
may crown her years efforts with
| success.
The death of Jules Lefebvre, the
| celebrated French portrait painter.
has been followed by many anacdoes
| of his interesting career. Despite
his success. Lefebvre remained what
he was from the start-a man of
simple and charming manner. On
one point alone was he firm and in
| tractable. He detested 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<iength portrait
Of myself. How much. if you please,
will it be-"
| Twenty thousand francs" (about
$4,000. replied Lefebvre.
Very well. But If | ask you to
make two portraits instead of one
that is, one of my wife and one of
myself, | suppose your price will be
different"
Certainly, responded the artist.
And how much will it be-"
Lefebvre reflected a moment. then
9"iu sihpis' IL VIII De loTty tnou-
sands francs"
The American paid.
The approaching dedication of a
monument to Champlain on the bor-
ders of the lake which bears his
nome and to which France will send
special delegation with a beauti-
tui bust of Rodin, has created con-
siderable interest in the district of
France where Champlain was born.
The explorer was born at Brouage.
about eight miles south of Roche
Tort. in the Department of Charente-
lnferieure. on the monument which
was erected in his honor in 1878 at
Brouage one reads that Samuel
Champlain was born towards
lS7o." 1t was from Brouage that
th" future founder of Quebec went