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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1905)
oJka J? d hAo Married A titer isters art ar ro 's The Strange Tangle of Mixed Relationship that Followed the fVedding. w .HAT Is the legal complication when a sister's nueband marries her brother's wife? The question looks simple enough at first, but the more It Is studied the more complicated becomes the problem, for It Involves two sisters-in-law who married the same man. both of them divorced, a man who Is the divorced husband of his brother-In-law s wife, and children who are m-phews and nieces of their stepfathers. The characters in this strange domestic comedy-tragedy all live In Nashua. N. II., and while the matrimonial tangle has Anally been settled In the courts, the romance behind It his only been revealed by another lawsuit over the possession of a diamond ring. The romance began fourteen years ago. when Abble Day and Llizle Bancroft were the two social leaders In Nashua society. Both were handsome, stylish girls, the daughters of rich parents. They had been schoolgirl chums and friends as well when they became young women. In time both girls fell In love or thought they did, which sometimes amounts to the same thing. But unfortunately both'girls fell In love with the same man. The young man who entered the romance was Charles Chandler, a young business man of Nashua. In time Abble iy married Chirles Chandler. Mule Bancroft, concealing h-r own love for Chandler, tried to console herself by marry ing Ahlile Kay s brother. Moses Day. The two girls remained steadfast friends, even after their marriage. Brilliant Weddings for Both Girls. Abble I my was married a few weeks before her brother. Iler wedding Is recalled, even to this day, as the must brilliant sorlal event ever witnessed at Nashua. Masle Bancroft was ono of the btldi maids, and as the two lovely glrla stood In the brilliantly decorated parlors it was hard for those present to decide which was the happier. A few weeks later Mosea Day and Llesle Bancroft were married, and their wedding was equally brilliant. For five years there was not a cloud over the domestic happiness of the two brides. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler lived for a time at Wells River, Vt., and Inter at Boston, where Mr. Chandler lost his own money and his wife's fortune by unfortunate speculation. They then returned to Nashua to live at the Chandler homestead. Adversity had also come Into the married life of Moses Day and Ills wife, and at the end of five years they, too, were rvlng In more reduced circumstances In Nashua. Both fami lies, however, remained on the best of terms with each other, as far as the publlo could learn. All the time, however, there was a secret sorrow In the homes of the two girls. Mrs. Chandler came to know that Airs. Day was dseply In love with Mr. Chandler, and that I lie love was reciprocated. Moses Day, too, learned that his wife cared more for his sister's husband than she did for 'him. Both wives tried to conceal what they both knew. JHoth husbands wfcrs equally secretive. J Climax at the Chandler Home. Then came the climax. Both couples met one evening at the Chandler mansion. All were trying to appear happy and unconcerned, but even as they sat around the card table In the sitting room they all showed the restraint they felt. Suddenly Mrs. Day pushed the table from her, started to ilse, and then, falling back Into her chair, began to weep silently, with her face burled In her handkerchief. Then followed one of the most dramatic incidents ever known In those secret romances of married life. Mrs. Chandler, with the Intuitive knowledge of a woman wronged. Instead of going at once to her sister-in-law's side, In an effort to comfort her, regarded her silently a moment and then walked across the room and stood by her brother's chair. Moses Day, With his elbows on the table In front of him, watched his weeping wife, more In sorrow than In anger. The silence In the room seemed to become intensified, and then Chandler knelt on one knee beside Mrs. Day and with whispered words sought to comfort her. There were no mock heroics, no hysterics, no tears, no re proaches. Moses Day knew from that moment that his wife was lost to him forever, and Mrs. Chandler knew that she no more had a husband. " I suppose this Is the end of .it all?" It was Moses Day who broke the silence. It was Moses Day whose strength of character was so great that It enabled him to rise above passion and anger, and enabled him to look the situation squarely In the face. " Yes. It's the end of all," said Mrs. Chandler. " I've known for a long time that my husband no longer loves me. I've fought against this knowledge, but It's no Use. It's all been a mistake, all through. I think It Is best to end the matter right here." Mrs. Day dried her tears and tried to throw herself 1(1 Mrs. Chandler's arms'but was gently repelled. ' I loved I can't Mrs. Day Admits Love for Chandler. " O. I've always loved him," she sobbed afresh, him when you married him. I couldn't help It. help It." There that night the whole miserable affair was discussed In all Its bearings on the future. But in all the' discussion Mrs. Day sat beside Chandler, while Mrs. Chandler re mained with her brother. It was agreed that they should separate, and that there should be no more scandal than the proceedings for divorce weuld reveal. The next day Mrs. Chandler left the Chandler home and took up her resVb nee with her brother. Moses Day. Chandler left Nashua, gnins to Boston. Mrs. Day also left her hus band's home and went to live with Chandler's need mother. Bo In twenty-four hours the two girls Who had been friends all their lives but who could be friends no longer actually exchanged hnm s. Of course, t!wre was talk without end. The Nashua gossips were busy week In and week out. but they could only guess at the true sit uation. At tho end "f a year and a half Mr. C h a r 1 es Chandler brought suit for di vorce, but his caee was thrown out of court. Then Mrs. Chandler entered a counter plea for di vorce and It was granted. Divorces Secured, Wedding Soon follows. Hardly hid the gossips flnishtd talking about the Chandler divorce than they had a fresh sensation In the suit of Muses Day for a divorce from his wife. It was granted, and a few 'days afterward Chandler and Mrs. Day were married. The divorced Mrs. Chandler moved at once to Brockton, Mass., where she became a saleswoman In a large dry goods store. The romance of her life would perhaps nevi r hawe been known outside of Nashua had she not sued the aged Mrs. Chandler for what she felt Was due her. She had taken care of the old woman for five years dressed her every morn ing, looked for her, put her to bed every night, waited on her, nursed her. And for this she asked $10 a week for i.'On weeks. She told her story In court and the Jury awarded her ..'. 4im. As a fitting end to this strange romance it may be stated that Moses Day has married a second time. His little daughter by his first wife lives with him. dieses i P?lil . ICS; J $ rsrx jstW iBjF'SjrB'sJas ictiL&ip 9 LCI iERTAINLY. I hope to paint 1.000 cat portraits! hy, before spring comes 1 shall have paintd Duo. And with a 900 record behind one. 100 more seems few." So says Mrs. E. M. Gardner of Pttma.i Grove. N. J., the woman famous for having already achieved Ml cat pictures. These pic tures, some painted on canvas, some on wood. some on cardboard, but most of nil on cloth and velvet por traits of cats on sofa cushions being a specialty with Mrs. Gardner have gone all over the United States and Canada. A number of them have penetrated to Japan and China Still others have gone to France and London. The devoted artist is now at work upon a collection of distinguished cat portraits that are to cross the Atlantic- ocean. From far and wide come requests for her work. Some of the Gardner portraits are so natural and lifelike that dogs have fought with and rent them, while astonished visitors to the Gardner studio have cried out in alarm to see thulr hostess apparently sit down comfortably upon the fam ily cat. One such visitor, being reassured on this point, looked questloningly toward another pretty pussy, luxuriously curled ' up In the corner of the sofa. " Do you know," Bhe said, mer- rlly, " I could almost fancy that cat was painted, too." And it was. C J Eye Most Difficult to Produce Mrs. Gardner works In oils always, and does her work with much careful attention to detail. She has most happily mastered the stroke that makes the eye of her chosen subject f-4 'i' "sjv g3 7v i X '- I WM:i Sjj the eye being rh most difficult feature of all to render paturally seem alive and blinking. She has also mastered the art or cat expression. All her cats wear a characteristle and Individual air. Black cats, tabbies, Angoras, maltese, Persians, common family cats, rare feline wonders, all are alike Interesting and charming to Mrs. Gardner, who loves all cats dearly. But every cat she paints, aristocratic or otherwise, must poastss some modicum of beauty In order to attract her. She loves test of all to paint a really handsome cat. I.ady Jule, the cherlBhed est of Francis Wilson, the eom edian; Tlx, the famous " f:i,KN) cat " belonging to M. A. New ton of Philadelphia, and known to travelers from all parts of the world: the handsome, dignified Black Judge, owned by Dr. Slaughter of Pitman Grove these, with hundreds Of others, have taken Arm hold of the affections of the woman who has Joy In painting their portraits. Roosevelt and Parker, the one alive, alert, exultant, the other dull, d Jected. languid, recently earned fresh laurels for their crea tive artixt an they hung in the smoking room of the Voting republicans' club of Philadelphia. In Washington, New 1ork, txihdon. and other cities have similar plaudits greeted " Mrs. Gardner's cats." Starts to Aid Church. f ha manner In which the woman who alma to paint 1,000 tat portraits slipped Into the work Is Interesting. This Is her story of how It came to pass. " I hsvo always been Interested In art. and the Instructors of my Connecticut girlhood said I had talent. But for number of years I made no special effort toward painting, and I shall always think snd say I was Inspired to paint eats. When, a few years ago, the Cooper Memorial church of Philadelphia was to be erected, I greatly desired to help. A financial rrash had restricted my income, so I painted a eat cn a Velvet cushion snd sold It. That was the beginning, and ver since I have been kept busy with cat painting. Ths ambition to paint 1.000 cats earns much later, and grew out of ths astonishing proportions my work had already at tained. Portraits In Demand 8.000 Miles Away. "Just a little while ago my cherished Tlx painting was started away on Its S.0io mile Journey across the Paclflo ocean for far away Tsu, Japan, while about the same time my Tabby Zeiss' portrait weivt to Shanghai, China. Every suoh Incident la followed by a number of requests and orders. so I have to work hard, always, to keep up with my engage ments. But I do not find the work too hard, because I love it, and because I think of the many things It will enable me to do." Mrs. Gardner has already given to charily more than il.AM) earned by the sale of cat cushions and pictures, and she hopes and expects to continue her good work In this direc tion for many years. Lives in World of Her Own. For rest and recreation, Mrs. Gardner plays with her own cats, which she Is perpetually studying in search of new hints and cat knowledge, writes simple poems, and enjoys life In her garden. " Working with God In My Garden," a favorite poem, has been many times treasured and copied by admiring readers. The lovely garden In which It was com posed Is Inclosed by wonderful hedges of honeysuckle planted by the artist-gardener eight years ago, when partial piiralys's of the optic nerve necesxltated temporary r- st from painting. These hedges, rising seven feet in the air, uml with a depth of loo feet, are rare and attractive. Flowers, like cats, thrive v eil with and for Mrs. Gardner, who does her best work in the little stuilio wing of the quaint family mansion almost con cealed by trellises of roses, lattices of lilac, and shrubbery " There Is Just enouuli of the world hi re to suit me." she says. " When I want Inspiration I look at the fiky." Added Inspiration Is now furnished by the fact that many of the last loo cats needed to make up the desired 1.000 have been ordered In advance. When all are finished the Moth specimen will be disposed of In special manner, and Mrs. Gardner probably will write a book about her cat paintings and experiences, alternating the more serious matter and pictures with suitable verses. Hundreds of enthusiastic ad mirers who continually visit her home to see her private collection f pirxonally painted cat portraits, have advised and requested this. Cuples of the bonk probably will accom pany the set of "royalty portraits " to be sent to the White bouse and to various crowned heads of Europe ere long. Exhibition at Pet Stock Show. Modest and uu assuming, Mrs. Gardner exhibits but sel dom, though often urged to do so. Her best exhibition prob ably will take place In Chicago, from Jan. U.'l to 'J. Inclusive, when the ninth annual poultry and pet stock show of the National Fanciers and Breeders' association will take place. The painted cats of Mrs. Gardner will be In fine company for n'any of the living feline aristocrats of America, with soma of the famous "silvers" of Mrs. F. J. IS. Champion, lute of Kngland, but now of New York, are to be shown during the c.iTiIng week at the Chicago exhibition. Some of the hund s'.ni.Kt " pussy prizes " have come to Chicago from Ladjl Marcus lleresfonl and Miss Winifred Beule of Kngland. Mrs. lliffstra, pnsldent of the Atlautlc Cat flub of Philadelphia; Dr. It. OtolenKui, secretary of file same club; and Mrs. James K Chllds of New Vork have sent handsome prizes as well. The cats will be on exhibition from Tuesday noon unt'l Friday noon, but the dogs, which will divide honors with them, will 1h' shown from Wednesday morning onward, and the pet stock and poultry exhlljjts will be In place all week.