South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-22
LOOe Of Alfonso, King of Spain TOR Nile Xix,
Opera STAR Told in Letters Written to America
BY HENRY G. WALES.


'Au revoir. my love; think Of me
thy devoted and anecuonate
rvitor. as being thy lover is not
umble enough for me before thee
Such a fareweu message might
4 Ell quicken the heartbeat Of any
in who received it. even though II
rere penned by the most insignia
ant Of men. But signed as it was
it'll the royal AUTOGRAPH Of Alfonso
-, kins Of Spain. it created the
deepest emotion in the breast OF
lille. GencvieVe Fix, risen from "a
mple Breton girl % prima donna
J. the royal opera house in Ma
rid
Eor she-who had passed a lux
ri1us, g0Ideu-bejeweled year as
ne soul affinity OF the scion of the
i ouse OF Rourbon-had not believed
hen she fed precipitately from his
rms in the little chalet outside Ma
rid that be loved her truly am
hat he regarded her more deeply
han as "a wonderful beautiful play
|hing with which ne might pass his
me when il humored him
Mile NX has since come 20 the
United States and has become the
ride OF Prince cyril Narischkin, "a
|hird cousin OF the deposed car OF
Russia The prince was but recently
divorced and his bride was formerly
he wife Of a Spanish nobleman
|vhOm she divorced.
81 must leave YOU" she had told
King Alfonso last spring at their
Farewell meeting In the dainty villa
pear the capital, where he had in
Ftaued her. 81 cannot continue
thus. as Madame POmpadour or a
Countess Dubarry. Ny future lies
before me elsewhere"
IL was rot until after she had left
him-left his country and gone 70
the French Riviera-that his ada
.nantine will broke down, crushed
Under the weight OF his love. and
hat he poured out his soul 10 her
IN a series or letters which reflected
with terrible accuracy the tragedy Of
his heart. the desperate yearniny
be had for her and the gnawing
that filled his days
and nights.
81 remain here all alone. with
my heart filled with remem brances
of thee and my sole thought
IS always of tomorrow manana
faith a man wishes for
nothing. Now, L have faith again.
blanks TO thee Thou hast soul
SO adora Bile, and I begin TO under
stand 10 so fully that it pains me
grievously that social conventions
prevent my prOclaiming openly my
sentiments for thee If love were
rree TO do as it pleased men and
women would not consider remain
ng with one another unless they
really loved"
Mile. Vix has with her in Amer
lea all Of the magnificent jewels
bestowed upon her by Alfonso, for
bis agents ransacked the gem marts
of the world seeking diamonds,
pearls. rubies. emeralds and
iapDhires for the actress.
II was midnight on March 20,
1916. at the premier performance
Jf That's at the royal opera house
IN Madrid that season that the king
lrst cast eyes on Mile. Vix, the pu-
pin of Jean de ResZke, direct from
he leading conservatory of Paris.
The audience rose to its feet,
here was the customary ripple Of
applause as the king came in+o
flew. But the king did not respond
with his usual salute. He gaZed fix
eddy at the new prima donna-the
French girl who held the center Of
the stage. delivering the title role
Df That's" his favorite opera.
And she-she had broken all pre-
rodents by failing to stop in the
rendition Of her role TO bow 10 the
royal box r<hen the king entered.
Perhaps she did not know Of the un-
yritten law which required artists
as well as audience to greet the
Of the land.
$50 that is Mademoiselle Vix," he
At the intermission the king. &C
by an old and trusted
also an officer in the
royal guards. unostentatiously left