TIIE OMAHA' SUNDAY BEE, JUNE 9, 1907.
Gossip About Plays, Players and Playhouses
ILKNCE mora or Ipss ominous per
vades the theatrical circle of
America Juiit at present. It I
early In th "silly eason," too
early In fact for very much to bo
doing, and beyond tha Bummer tour of
omt of tha mora energetic star not a
great deal la on tap to attract attention.
For tha flrat tlma In several year tha man
ager ara saying but llttla of next season'
plana. Maurlca Campbell la about tha only
one who haa a deflnlta announcement to
make. Ha positively announcea tha ap
pearanc of Henrietta Croaman aa Pilgrim
In "A Christian Pilgrim," which la built on
pilgrim' rrorT." It la to be an alle
gorical arrangement, with Mis Croaman
personifying humanity In her role. Thla
play haa been In Mr. Campbell'a possession
for two years, and ha and his estimable
wife hava worked on It until they hava
gotten It to a state of perfection tha war
ranta Ita production. Beyond tha bare
statement no details ara announce), but
sufficient of novelty attaches to tha Idea
of "All-of-a-8udden Peggy" or "Mistress
Nell" or '-Sweet Kitty Bellatrs" disporting
herself In a role no aarloua aa that of Bun
yan'a Immortal hero. Rosalind, Bans-Gene,
Viola and a long lint of rollicking heroines
will ahaka their aldea with laughter at the
Idea. But Miss Croaman I In earnest, and
will give tha part a serious trial at least
before abandoning It,
About tha only other meat loft out for
tha public to feed on is the talk of vaude
ville stirred by tha activity of Klaw &
Erlanger In thla field. "Progressive"
vaudeville la their game, the "polite" va
riety being left for rivals. Bach aide la
making mora or less deflnlta assertions,
and each la apparently aparrlng for an,
opeping. Out of tha altuatlona grow a deal
of uncertainty that Is giving mora uneasi
ness to tha managers of theaters than any
thing else. It Is quite likely that a mora
general activity and a more generous treat
ment of theaters outslds of New Tork and
Chicago will come from tha condltlona
that ara now being stirred In the east.
Matters could scarcely be worse than they
wars laat winter. The "scientific booking"
apparatus of tha syndicate evidently slipped
a cog, and soma of the results produced
were queer, to aay tha least. In shifting
tha companies that were on tha road the
man who laid out tha route did It In such
a way aa to puzzle all handa. Absence of
deflnlta statements at this season may ba
an Indication that later In tha summer
soma news of real value will coma out
from New Tork, where all activity is can
tered just now.
0
Cecil Owen and Dolly Davis ara com
fortably Installed at tha Jefferson theater,
- Portland, Ma., for tha summer, and are
doing very well there. A letter from Mr.
Owen brings word that ha Is In good health
and la enjoying his work Immensely. His
engagement In New Tork was cut short
by tha sale of tha theater at which ba waa
playing and the disbanding of the com
pany. Ills opening bill at Portland was
"Leah Kleschna," and here Is what tha
Portland Preaa aaya of his work aa Paul
Bylvalne: ,
Mr. Owen, the leading man, waa seen
aa Paul Bylvalne, who la a somewhat
preachy young man with a reformer's head
and a real heart. In a quiet, impressive
sort of way, ha dominates a number of
scenes and In the third act rises "to a
burnt of real feeling when he declarea that
Leah shall not become forfeit of the law.
Mr. Owen'a work la finished throughout,
and ha handlea himself with that certainty
which is pleasant to watch. It Is the sort
of work which leads you to belleva that ha
may alwaya be depended upon to' do the
right thing In precisely the right way at
exactly the right tlma. Ha haa good looks
and an excellent voice, his enunciation be
ing well nigh perfect and apparently un
studied. Miss Lorn Elliott Is In a stock company
at Richmond, Va,, for tha summer, and
writes that ah Is enjoying the work, al
though her health continues poor. Miss
Maria Pavey la resting r- Philadelphia,
where Miss Carmontella la playing with a
stock company. Mlsa Pavey was taken
sick while traveling through Canada dur
ing tha spring, and haa had to decline all
offers of summer engagements. Miss Maria
Pettea haa made hereof as much of a
favorite at tha Lyric In Lincoln am aha
waa at tha Burwood here, and since Mr.
Albert Morrison has joined the company
the engagement la proving a gTeat success.
Coaalnaj Events
Manager Woodward haa decided to entor
tha spectacular at tha Burwood, and will
present Miss Lang In ths most notable and
extenslva production ever offered on the
ataga at that charming theater. Begin
ning on Sunday at a matinee and running
through the week. "The Holy City," a
drama of a deeply religious nature, will ba
offered. This play waa produced at Kansas
City during the winter and was so popular
that It ran for three weeks at tha Audi
torium there, with Miss Lang In tha role
of Mary. It Is a story of tha tlroaa at
Jerusalem prior to tha crucifixion, and ha
all tha romantic Interest of ft strong heart
story together with tha reverential aspect
of tha sacred theme. It I written with
great care, treating the topioa with tha
utmost regard for tha sanctity of tha story,
and In this respect resemble "Ben Hur,"
"Mary of Magdala," "Quo Vadta" and
other drama on tha same subject. It pre
sents tha leading characters of tha day,
but shows them In their human relations,
their family Mf and tha conditions under
which the apostles really lived among the
Jews who were hostile to tha new doc
trine and It teacher. Tha character of
Mary la drawn with great skill and deep
eat sympathy, while Lasarua, Barrabaa,
Judas, John, Marcus, Calphaa and others
who figure In the Bible story are Intro
duced In tha play. The soenlo and electric
effect are remarkable and require the most
extensive array of stage paraphernalia
ever set up at tb Burwood. Manager
Woodward haa prepared with unusual car
for the production, and expect to eour
warm popular endorsement for the drama.
It will be seen first at ft matinee on Sunday
and on each evanlng during the week, with
other matinee on Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday.
. The week at the oy& theater will be
given over to the presentation of two of the
'choicest opera In the repertory of the
Beggar Prince opera company. The first
' of these, to be offered on Sunday evening,
will be Fm Dlavolo." In wrhlch Mr. Felsch
will have a splendid chanoa for bla talent
at a oomedlan. while Misa Baton and Mr.
Roach are set down for good role. The
humor of this splendid old favorite hat
never flagged, but la aa freeh and enjoyable
a If It had been bat Just conceived. The
bedroom scene I one of much Interest,
also, and tha management la preparing for
aa appropriate production. "Fra Dlavolo"
will run till Wednesday evening, with the
usual matinee on Wednesday afternoon.
On Thursday veiling the bill will be
changed to Flotow "Martha," which waa
to hava been presented last week, but waa
postponed en account of tha break tn the
week, due to the engagement of Mlsa Bar
ry more at the theater. Tha company la
doing splendid work la the productions un
dertaken, and la drawing good houses, the
public Interest Increasing steadily.
A
For four rights and two matinee, start
ing with ft matinee today, the Elmore Stork
company will present "Nettle the News
girl" at tha Krug theater. There will be
I
the usual Wednesday matinee. Starting
Thursday night, with the usual matinee
on Saturday. "A Little Outcast" will be
the attraction for the remainder of the
week.
A STATE THEATER'S TROUBLES
Demanala of Aetore, Dead Head aved
Other Theater ' the
Coined le Franealse.
PARIS, May SI. Jules Claretle haa been
unburdening his soul to the reader of
Le Temps on the trials that fall to his lot
as director of the first State theater, the
Comedle Francaise. Tha occasion that
called forth three columns of woe waa the
opening of yet another open air theater
In France, at Perigueux.
The connection at first sight Is not ap
parent, but M. Claretle Is no doubt Judlng
by his experiences with the other half
dozen open air theaters when he fears It
will mean another demand for the service
of Ms actors. For, he says, It Is under
stood that these theaters of nature cannot
exist without tha assistance of the Comedle
Francaise.
There are graduates of the Conservatoire,
there are unemployed artists of talent,
there are the companies of the Odeon, of
the Theater Sarah Bernhardt, all of which
close In summer, who would gladly assist
these open air theaters. But, no, before
art Impresario will risk his money at an
open air theater to entertain the visitor
of the water places and health resorts
near by, he must secure actors after whose
names ran be added the words of the
"Comedle Francaise,"
It la no rare thing, M. Claretle continue,
for some delegate of some committee to
enter the office of the Comedle and an
nounce: "We want two artists for such and such
a date."
"But we don't know what we may be
playing here on that date."
"Arrange it how you like, but M. X. at
taches the greatest Importance to It."
M. X., of course. Is a man of gTeat politi
cal power and strong In his support the
delegate might reasonably make a request.
But not ft bit of It; he makes ft demand.
This demand Is really baaed on the argu
ment that a the Comedle Francaise re
ceive ft government grant, it should be of
service to the comrr.uiil'y In general. But
M. Claretle pour scorn in this grant, he
calls It ridiculous as compared to govern
ment grants abroad; $,000 ft year may have
seemed Important when M. Thiers caused
It to be voted, but what is It to a theater
whose year' expenses amount to $400,000
before the year begins T
Authors are another source of worry.
One wrote to M. Got: "I claim from Claretle
that my piece be put In rehearsal. Every
French citizen has the right to be played
at the Comedle Francaise." All bearer of
manuscript to the Comedle expect to be
played there, all actors expect to be en-
gaged there, even or especially those who
speak ill of It.
Furthermore all, or nearly all, the spec
tators seem nowadays to count on enter
ing without having to pay. Regnler, tho
actor. In his history of tha Comedle states
that at that time one-fifth of the popula
tion of Paris went to the theater as dead
heads, and M. Claretle is sure that the pro
portion is now even greater.
Then come the semi-dead heads. Each
day brings Ita request from some associa
tion with members numbering thousands
that these shall be admitted at half price.
Tet another source of trouble springs
from the actors. These aa socletalres or
members of the Comedle often make less
money than they could do at other thea
ters, although It must be remembered they
have ft pension when they retire.
"I lose flOO a. day by playing at the
Comedle," aald M. Coquelin, the elder,
nee.
This leads to demands by the best ar
tists for leave to go on tour and so make
their earnings more nearly approach what
they might be making at other theaters.
Every other actor or actress says to him
self or herself, "I, too, am losing money
by remaining at the Comedle. I, too, could
find my 'Cyrano de Bergerac' somewhere."
Of course the rules of the Comedle for
bid these tours, but to enforce the regula
tions would only bring about the resigna
tions of the first-class performers, and then
authors and public would follow the de
parting favorites, whose places the theater
would find it hard to fill.
When M. Mounet-Sully made his first
success at the Comedle the manager of the
Porte St. Martin theater made him a splen
did offer for an engagement. M. Mounet
Sully thanked him, but explained that he
was proud of having entered the Comedle
and had received the director' promlae of
being admitted as a socletalr In ft ahort
time.
"Well," replied the manager, "I will as
sure you ft position equal to ft socletalre's."
"For twenty years T" '
"For twenty years."
"But after that I shall have ft pension."
"AH that the Comedle can do for you,
the Port St. Martin will do. I will Insure
you your pension. Come, sign."
But M. Mounet-Sully did not sign.
A remedies M. Claretle proposes a
higher rate of pay for his artists and a
strict rule that In no circumstances should
they appear on any other stags. For this,
of course, he want a greatly Increased
government grant.
He quote an anecdote of Napoleon III,
who asked the then director why Duma
and Sardou wrote for the Gymnase and
Vaudeville, but not for the Comedle. '
"Because, sire, glory Is ft very tflne
thing, but bread Is a' very useful thing.
At the Vaudeville or Oymnase author re
ceive 15 per cent, but at the Comedle only
10."
The emperor turned to tha head of the
State Theater department and aald:
"M. Douce t, prepare a decree raising the
right of author to 18 per cent. At the
Comedle literature should be paid better
than anywhere else." '
If that la true for author, asks
Claretle, why should It not be true for
actors T
FREB THOUGHT ON " THIS STAGES
Pluise of the 'French. Mortal State
Plctared on the State. '
PARIS, May & Two pi ay a are now run
ning In Pari dealing with the discord and
unhapplneea brought Into French family
life by the present-day struggle between
free thought and Christianity.
Paul Hyacinth Loyson Is the author of
the first, which la being played at the
Theater Antotne. He la the eon of the
famous Pere Hyancinth. whose deposition
from the Roman Catholic priesthood and
whose marriage to Mrs. Merlman, daughter
of Amory Buterfleld caused some stir about
forty years ago. Paul Hyacinths Loyson 1
thus half American and In addition ha
married an American, Miss Laulra Jayne
Bucknell. - He hope In ft few year to k"0
to lire In America, because he thinks life
there more Interesting and the condition of
affair areated by the existence of great
millionaires Is suet that It offers great
opportunities to the playwright.
HI play "Ames Lonemles" (Souls at
Strife) la baaed on ft book by Henry White,
the uresent ambassador of Paris. Daniel
BervaV ft celebrated sctenlst and .free
thinke returns home after ft two year
rnuwion broad. He finds his wife, daugh
ter, his feted father and mother all under
the domination of the church, thanks to
the Influence of Abbe Oodulle, who ha
been made resident In his house.
The play turns on the struggle between
Serven and his wife to win the conscience
of the daughter. In the end the father
wins, but at the cost of 1)1 daughter's life,
for she, worn out by the constant strife
at home, die after telling her father that
she haa lost her faith, and on her deathbed
she proclaims that the only goal and com
forter and savior of life la love.
The second play Is "The Hostage" at
the Odeon, written by Oabriel Trtaroux.
The hostage Is the daughter of a freetbtnk
Ing prefect, whose ambition Is to be ap
pointed governor of Algeria, and ft mother,
who la a devout Catholic.
The father learns .that hi daughter Is
In a few days to be confirmed and attend
her first communion. To permit such ft
thing would ruin all prospect of promo
tion for him. Violent discussions between
husband and wife follow and aa In Loyson'
play, tha daughter dies, this time sup
posedly from typhus fever, but really
from the strain on a mind too young to
bear tha contradictory teaching of her
father and mother.
The two plays undoubtedly describe the
present day situation In many a French
family. In one Instance this I so notori
ously the case that the facta have been
published in the paper here.
M. Jaures, the socialist leader and ft
noted freethinker, Is the father of ft daugh
ter. Her first communion some time ago
nearly cost M. Jaures the leadership of
his party; In fact. It was greatly due to an
eloquent speech by M. Briand that the
matter waa allowed to drop. i And now
the daughter wishes to enter ft convent.
If she persists In her determination It will
certainly prove ft great source of embar
rassment to her father.
THEATRICAL SEASOX IS LONGER
More Work for Aetore In Summer
Than Formerly.
NEW TORK, June B. Actors have the
comforting prospect of an ever Increasing
theatrical season, in spite of the complaints
sometimes made that the time of employ
ment grow yearly shorter and the salaries
smaller.
Richard Mansfield astonished his col
leagues several years ago by booking a
season that continued until the middle of
July. He arranged this by avoiding the
northwest until early summer and then
spending almost two months playing In
the cities along the northern Pacific, In
which the weather is so cool that the
theater are kept open all summer.
The Increase In the length of the season
Is shown by the plans of theatrical com
panies thl year. Ethel Barrymore has
started out on a tour of one night stands
that Is to continue until the middle of
August. She Is to begin acting again early
In September. Maude Adams will not
stop acting this year until the end of July
and will begin again In September. These
a,re a few of the more notable Instances
of companies that will be busy for the
greater part of the summer. There ure
more and more of them every year.
t Formerly the actor who wanted tp find
employment all summer had only the stock
companies to look to. Work In the travel
ling companies 1 much less exacting, as
there Is no change of play.
Two New Tork theaters expect to keep
their doors open all summer, and as one
of them succeeded tn doing It last year,
they may carry out their plans. The great
Music and Musical Notes
HO will not remember with rare
w
pleasure Mary Munchoff's song re
cital on Thursday night? Her art
is like some fragrant breath from
an enchanted gr6ve exquisite and
Her personality but heightens
ma
ethereal,
the effect,
Would that Americans heard
more of such singing.
Unfortunately very
few people are endowed with a genius for
work, as well as a great gift. Miss Mun
choff has the brain as well as the voice.
Her life and work In Germany must be a
constant delight to her. Sho Is surrounded
with Interesting- people and breathes the
atmosphere of' beautiful happenings ln
music and all ths other progressive arts.
No wonder she grows! Continued good
health and fair fortune to nor. May she
come back often and tell us of her life ln
the great world and let us hear the added
fruit of her labor.
On Monday morning at the Elk hall Mr.
Duss very kindly and generously gave a
lecture, illustrated by the band, upon mod
ern orchestral effects accomplished by other
means than strings ln other words, using
the brass and reed instruments of the
band; also including expert performances
upon instruments not generally credited
with the greatest artistlo achievements.
The band certainly did perform some won
der. They gave the Raff cavatlna, Pad
erewakl's minuet, a Salnt-Saena number and
Massenet' "Sunday Morning," also Cham
lnade's' "Flatterer," all most musical things
for a brae band to play. No doubt very
difficult from the standpoint of the expert
and to the audience, they were interesting
and very well done.
Mr. Pus Is the most frank and engaging
egoist. He says over and over again, "I've
tudled it all out and I know." He thinks
hi band Is the very greatest band, and
that he know more about instrumentation
than anyone else, and be gives the great
orchestras of the country particular bally
hack for being noisy. It Is all very Inter
esting and he has a right to hla opinion.
He la so very violent one wonders if he
Isn't Just having a' little fun with himself.
It 1 Impossible to take all h aay seri
ously. The playing of his band speaks tha
greatest word In his favor. The lectures
form a diversion they are entertaining.
However one may regard Mr. Duss In the
field of lecturing, his band does most
artistlo and satisfactory work. He adhere
strictly to hi creed of no noise.'
'
At the Bchmoller It Mueller auditorium
Tuesday evening, June H, Mr. Borglum
will give an Invitation pupils' recital. His
advanced pupils, Mrs. Olds, Mlsa Meek,
Mis Davis, Mr. Strawn and Mr. Berry
man, will play, assisted by Miss Qoets,
soprano, pupil of Miss Bishop; Miss Moses,
contralto, pupil of Mr. Ellis, and Mr.
Havllcek, pupil of Mr. Cuscaden. Accom
panists, Madame Borglum and Mr. Strawn.
Saturday mornlngTf une S, the Effa Ellis'
Illustrated Muslo school .gave a muslg
test.
$
At the commencement concert of the
Nebraska Stat Normal school Cowen's
beautiful cantata, "The Rose Maiden," was
presented. Miss Virginia Mercer sang
"Rose Blossom," Mr. George Johnston
"The Forester." Mrs. Bteadman had the
line of the gardener' daughter, Prof.
Porter was the baritone. The soloist were
supported by chorus of fifty volets.
Musical: how, much Ilea ln that! A musi
cal thought la on spoken by a mind that
ba penetrated Into the Inmost heart of
ths thing; detected the Inmost -mystery
Of It, namely the melody that lie hidden
In It; the Inward harmony of coherence
which la Its soul, whereby It exists, and
baa a right to be. here In thla world! All
Inmost things, we may say, are melodious;
Increase tn the number of towns In Canada
and the Northwest that offer good theater
to visiting companies will make It possible
within a short time for many other actors
to find work throughout the whole season.
In the same way the musical artists are
benefltlng. Longer tours are possible for
them, aa there are many new cities with
money to pay the gTeat artist and the
desire to have the best.
AlthmiBii tb- .rti.t. n ww-.iv.
antees ln the larger eltlea, they are able to
draw audiences that make the receipt
large. Nowadays when a alnger start out
on ft tour he trie to
sing as many time
By appearing four
ft week a possible.
times, - say, and ' making a net profit of
$8,000 a week, more I realised In the long
run than In singing twice to large guaran-
tees and having to Jump all over the coun
try to get them.
Divorce Question in America
(Continued from Page One.)
sluts that one can be divorced for anv
cause, from baldness to inclemency of the hopelea Insanity of the husband after mar
weather. If he knows where to lodge hi rlR"e. ,
complaint. While South Carolina refuses A marriage may be annulled for physical
an absolute divorce under all circumstance Impotency, relationship within the pro-
New Hampshire recognizes fourteen causes
therefor.
In Connecticut resided
a certain Mr.
Haddock, who, under a recent decision of
the federal supreme court, when In Connec-
ticut Is. by decree of the Connecticut courts,
lawfully divorced from his first wife, who
still live ln New Tork. and legally married
to a second wife living with him In Con
nectlcut. But the moment Mr, Haddock
crosses that Imaginary line that divides
Connecticut from New Tork. this Dr. Jekyll away wlth BUCh canda' as have accom
Is. In the twinkling of an eye. transformed Panle1 administration of the divorce
tntn . nutHmnni.! xt, ir wh. i. .tin Haws of South Dakota, for no divorce ao.
the legal husband of the New Tork wife.
A h. rv,.,.H,.f rf . i.
law, required to divorce Mr. Haddock, so years have a" aftpr ,ne cau" of aet,on
the courts of every state of the union are re- "ro8e- If the Pontiff has moved from en
quired to grant the divorce when a statu- other state he cannot begin action until after
tory ground therefor has been established abona reldenee of two years, and can
by the evidence. Tet. under this decision ofta,n vopc for no cause which was
of the supreme court, unless the defendant a fcnd for divorce In tho state where
appears In the action or Is served with h cauee of actlon aro'e- Thl" wtn
process in the state In which the action Is e"y prevent a resident of New Tork.
brought, every other state may refuse to toT example, from coming to Wisconsin to
recognise such divorce, a did New Tork in fcure a divorce for any other cause
the Haddock case. han ad'"tery. ong as New Tork ad
Let Mr. Haddock travel across the contI-N hfTe to lt8 Present law.
nent, he may find that ln one state he Is The act a,BO Propose to remedy the
the lawful apouse of his second wife; In chaotic condition arising from the rule of
the next, of hla first wife: ln the next, ,aw applied In the Haddock case, by pro
hls second, and so to the end of his Jour- Win that full faith and credit shall be
ney. The lawful wife ln one state be- lven to all decrees entered by the courts
come the husband' mistress tn another; of other Divorce shall be denied
children legitimate In one state become the where the "ult waB brought by collusion
offspring of an Illegal union In another. or where the plaintiff haa procured or
The condition of such a spouse is worse connived at or condoned the offense
than that of the Roman matrons of whom charged.
Seneca speaks, who reckoned' their years No cae can be heard before a master
by their husbands rather than by the con. or referee, but must be tried In open court,
auls. Under existing conditions one should A disinterested attorney may be appointed
never think of marrying one who ha been to defend actively nH uncontested cases,
divorced until a careful abstract of that No decree shall be entered upon any ad
person's career has been examined by some mission of the defendant, thereby pre
lawyer skilled tn matrimonial law and the venting parties who agree to separate
title to single blessedness declared free and from making a case by false, unsworn ad-
clear of all Impediments of whatever na-
ture. ,
Arcnoisnop Messmer, speaking or present
conditions, recently said: "The difference
between the Mormons and the every-
day American Is one degree. The
Mormon has several wives simul
taneously, while many who criticise
-nvT8?1"1' haVM BSTf T"
.uccessively." It 1. a question of Intensive
naturally utter themselves in song. The
meaning of ong goes deep. Who I there
that, in logical words, can express the
effect muslo has on usT A kind of Inarticu
late, unfathomable speech, which leads us
to the edge of the infinite, and lets us, for
moments, gaze Into that!
Nay, all Bpeech, even the commonest of
speech, has something of song In it; not
a parish in the world but has Its pariah
accent; the rhythm or tune to which the
people there sing what they have to say.
Accent is a kind of chanting; all men have
accent of their own though they only no
tice that of others. Observe, too, how all
passionate language does of Itself become
musical with a finer music than the mere
accent; the speech of a man even ln seal
ous anger becomes a chant, a song. All
deep things are song. It seems, somehow,
the very essence of us, song; as If ail the
rest were but wrappages and hulls! The
primal element of us; of us, and of all
things. The Greeks fabled of sphere
harmonies; lt waa the feeling they had of
the inner structure of nature; that "the
soul of all Its voices and utterances was
perfect music. Poetry, therefore, we will
call musical thought. The poet Is he who
thinks in that manner. At bottom, it turns
till on power of Intellect; It J a man'
sincerity and depth of vision that makes
him a poet. See deep enough and you see
musically; the heart of nature being every
where muslo, if you can only reach It.
Carlyle.
The Bohemian singing . organisation,
"Lyra Choral Society," will present Itself
again ln its annual concert next Sunday
evening, June . at the Bohemian Turner
hall on Thirteenth and Martha streets. This
society consists of twenty-five active mem
bers and haa been in existence for four
years, during which time lt ha attained
first position among the Bohemian societies.
It takes an active part in nearly every
entertainment given by prominent Bohem
ian lodges, furnishing choral vocal selec
tions, from Bohemian masters. We have
seen the Lyra Choral society ln several
concerts, and In each one lt has presented
to muslo lovers of Omaha ome prominent
virtuoso. Two years ago lt Introduced Mr.
Wiltsek. who has thereafter resided In
Omaha for several months; a year later lt
presented Mr. Machek of Chicago, a man
ager of a prominent violin school ln said
city, and last November it presented Mr.
Molser of Wllber, Neb., who at that tlm
had Just arrived from Europe from his
studies, and who now holds a position of
professor of muslo at the college of Muncle,
Ind. And thla year again the Lyra Choral
society will present two talented young
artists of our city, Miss Mamie Meek,
pianist, and Master Charles Hnvllcek,
violinist, who will make their debut before
the public at the Bohemian Turner hall
next Sunday. Miss Meek Is a pupil of welt
known Prof. Borgum and haa selected for
her debut the "Scherso In B fiat minor"
from Chopin. Master Havllcek Is a pupil
of our violin Instructor, Prof. R. Cuscaden
and has selected Wlenlawskl's "Souvenir of
Moscow" and Hubay's "Carmen" for hla
debut. The society Itself will this time
present several new choral songs, namely
a beautiful song called "Harvest Home,'
a waits a la capella "Call to a Dance,"
a selection from the opera "The Bartered
Bride," a men's duet from the same opera
and "National songs" by the men's choir
of the society. The society has been pre
paring Itself for thl concert for several
months, and will no doubt furnish one ot
the beat musical entertainments.
The Bellevue college conservatory of
muslo will give their closing pupils recital
for thl year in the Presbyterian church,
Bollevue, Tuesday evening June 1L
lUJtf LKS.BATE3X
or extensive marriage, of polygamy on the
Installment plan.
So serious are the evil that arise from
existing divorce laws that all but four
"letes of the union South Carolina, Kan-
" Mississippi and Nevada have co-oper-
atd ln drafting a uniform divorce law
"hlch I to be presented to the legislatures
l y-one representee at me
congress by which the bill was drafted. If
adopted by the various state this law will
brln ordor out of cha"- MoBt ot tne
,,atea have adoPte1 uniform law upon
tna UD of promissory notes, checks
" us nope mat tne states
", b dy to protect their daughters
Under tha proposed uniform law, divorce.
f"'"1 i"8 bond" of matrimony or
tium urn snu uoaro, may De granted Tor
adultery, bigamy, willful desertion for tVo
years, habitual drunkenness for two years,
conviction, sentence and continuous 1m.
prlsonment for at least two years, or ex
treme cruelty, "such as to endanger the
life or health of the other party or to ren
der cohabitation unsafe." A divorce from
Ded nd board may also be granted for
fllblte1 degrees. Insanity of either party
Deiore marriage or when the party bring
ing the action was below the age of con-
nt (1 yeara for tn" w,fs an1 M 7
for ths huBban1. unless such marriage has
been confirmed after arriving at the age
of con8pnt- A marriage Drought about by
frud' force or Coerclon- or on contracted
by a person having a husband or wife llv
ing, may also be annulled.
The act will, when generally adopted, do
eccp fr ,yry or bigamy com-
mltted In the state) can be begun until two
missions of guilt.
Important a ts the adoption of a unt-
form law, there ts greater need for reform
m the administration of our divorce lawa.
Unlike all other law suits, the divorce ac-
tlon ia mm In which h. mnt i. off.
eager that the plaintiff shall recover Judg
ment, for that judgment will release htm aa
tha Palntl "om the marriage
bonI A, a cnseIUM10Ji n from to W
per cent of the cases the court hear only
the story of the spouse thaj bring the
action. In lxty-one of the sixty-tight
cases ln which the divorce waa granted in
Dane county, Wisconsin, In 1906 and 1908,
the defendant did not present his side
of the story, his attorney did not sub
ject the plaintiff to the test of cross-examination.
In order that the court may arrive
at the truth of any matter, lt is essential
, that both sides be heard. But In the
average divorce action the court has
little or no protection from false and
perjured testimony. In fact, the trial
Judge becomes little mora than part of a
Judicial machine to put the stamp of legal
approval upon the separation.
I venture the suggestion that there
are few husbands or wives with an
Imagination strong enough tomagnify a
rufflclent number of time some family
unpleasantness and a conscience elastic
enough to permit them to give such mag
nified ills under oath, who could not secure
a legal separation If neither the other
spouse nor any one representing the pub
lic opposed the application. Must we not
conclude that it is the duty of the public
to adopt such procedure that all of the
facts shall be brought to the knowledge
of the court T
The parties too often have no interest
In the matters that most concern the pub
lic. It Is my experience that divorce ac
tions are rarely contested, except where
there is property subject to division be
tween the parties Old ' Hammond In
"News from Nowhere" observed that all
the cases that came Into our nineteenth
century divorce court were matter of
property quarrels. Far too many parents
are ready to give up their children If
they may have In return therefor cattle,
horses, household furniture, lands.
In the divorces granted In this country
from 1867 to 1888 the custody, the training,
the future, of 2C7.739 children were deter
mined by the court. No stste hss fully
performed It duty ' until It ha done all
In It power to protect the children of
these unfortunate homes. This duty will
never be performed until the public put
before the court all the facts that shall en
able lt to determine which parent can best
care for and maintain the children of the
marriage.
In Wisconsin and tn most of the states
of the union a divorce may be granted
without the other spouse knowing that an
action haa been begun. If the plaintiff will
take oath that she does not know where to
find the defendant. So far as the fscts
appear In the federal report on divorce,
nearly one-third of the divorces (8,W4 out of
29,CS) were granted without personal ser
vice on the defendant.
Where the papers are served on the de
fendant personally, a divorce may be
granted as soon as the time for answering
expires (twenty days ln Wisconsin), If
the defendant does not appear to contest
the matter. If he appears, he may stipu
late that the case be heard at once and
elect to make no defense to the action. So
It is possible for a husband and wife
to quarrel as they leave a late breakfast,
each to hurry to a lawyer, who will put
the matter through the necessary legal
'forms early enough to permit each apouss
to dine lu peace and begin to build castles
In the air for some new matrimonial ven
ture. These are the conditions that bring the
administration of the divorce laws Into
disrepute. Thl Is the Held where the leg
islature may do much to eld In the solu
tion of the divorce problem. The law
making power should provide that no di
vorce be heard until soma disinterested
lawyer representing the public has investi
gated the case, participated In the trial,
and presented the facts as he finds them
to be. Eleven states (Colorado. Georgia,
Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana,
Michigan, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Wash
ington), have already protected the right
of the publle in thl way. Letter from
lawyer and Judge, a well a tha statle-
AMrFET.
BOY D'S
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This Afternoon
Thursday
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T1IIS AFTERNOON ALlt WEEK
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TODAY AJTB BTEBVY SAT
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Daily, at a and 7 P M. Tlinrs OMAHA BAWD. The best band engaged
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MAX LAN DOW
CONCERT PIANIST.
formerly teacher of finishing class, Stem Conservatory, Berlin
and his assistant, Jean Borgen, pupil of Karl Klindworth,
(Uzf), will teach during summer
Studio: Arlington Block. 1 Dodge Street, 1511
tics of divorce, show most beneficial re
sults from the enactment of such laws.
Let me Illustrate the need of some such
"next friend" of the court by a leaf of my
own experience: A wife who had sworn
that ahe did not know where her husband
waa, came Into court, without giving him
notice other than that published ln a news
paper, and told such . a tale of absolute
want of food and clothing for herself and
her two little children that ahe was clearly
entitled to separation. Hardly had the
Judgment been signed when the husband
appeared and produced proof thai the wife
knew hi exact address. The Judgment
waa set aside and the defendant permitted
to defend the action.
On the trial the husband produced let
ter In the handwriting of hi wife, writ
ten at the very time that he swore that
he and her children were destitute. Let
me quote from one of her letter. Tou
will remember that she and her children
were hungry. She write: "We have had
all kind of fruit and vegetable for over
1 a month, except melon and pear, and
last week we had . plenty of thorn. Our
neighbors out in the country bring ua a
sack or two a week. . There 1
one crop after another, ao that there 1
always plenty." Tou will recall that her
children were ln the most pitiable condi
tion so far aa clothing waa concerned.
Listen to her letter again: "She (the baby)
bad three bonnots given her, one white
mull, trimmed with lace, one white em
broidery, one white china silk, and the
lady next door Is making her a tatting
cap." Whatever may have been the con
dition of the rest of her little body, there
waa certainly no reason why her head
should hav been uncovered. The letter
continues: "Alva (the boy) don't do much
but wear out his clothes and eat. Ha nas
a half of melon and spoon, and helps
himself whenever he wants to, and that
is most all the time between meals." Cer
tatnly there seems little reason why that
boy should hav been hungry. The letter
continues: "It is beautiful here. I would
like to come and see you all, but would
never be satisfied to live there (In Wiscon
sin)." Tet within one year from the time
that this letter was written aha left her
husband ln the land flowing with melons
and tatting capa, telling him that aha was
going to visit her people, came to Wis
consin, started a dlvorc action, swore
that she had lived in Wisconsin one year,
and actually secured the Judgment of di
vorce before her husband learned of her
sudden change of heart. Had the publio
been represented In this action, tha facts
could readily have been presented to the
court, and the court would not hav been
misled Into granting that divorce.'
We have no means of knowing the num
ber of Improper divorces granted where
the whole truth has not been disclosed to
the court. If every divorce action had to
pass the scrutiny and examination of some
lawyer representing the public !or. few
aqtions would be begun unless the platntlff
believed that ther was a meritorious cause
for divorce.
Divorce should be attended with more
serious consequences. One may take a
holiday excursion into matrimony and re
turn to single blessedness simply by pay
ing lawyer' feea and alimony. Our Purl
tan ancestors were wiser than we. In 1680
the general court of Massachusetts, in
granting the wife a divorce, "centansed"
the husband "to be severely whip at the
post." This sounds quite like President
Roosevelt.
Home-bresklng is a more serious offsnse
against society than house-breaking. We
pursue the burglsr to the farthest limits
of the country, but we turn the man who
destroys a home out on the world unpun
ished, if not encouraged to repeat the of
fense.' If imprisonment at hard labor fol
lowed proof of breaking a home as cer
tainly as it follows the breaking of a
house, uncontested and Improper divorces
would be less common. It is time that
society came to recognize that It haa some
Interest ln ths home, some duty In regu
lating Its formation, soms right to say'
when lt shall ba destroyed, some power to
punish those guilty of wrecking It.
The fundamental causes for the evils of
our divorce system are deep in the im
perfections of our social system, especi
ally tn false sentiments regarding mar
riage and the family. The solution ot the
problem will be found In the slow process
of education. We must put aside false
modasty and deal frankly and unflinch
ingly with the fundamental relationships,
duties and responsibilities of the family.
Ws can never solve the problem until our
children go from the noma and tha school
a ful'y equipped fer the responaioUltl of
AM HKMKSTS.
"STess, Mgrs.
opnrt A CO.
tJSZ?
MAVTA
JTXOHTS, B5e, 35a, SOo
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A
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THIS WEEK AT 4 AJfD P. H,
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Starting- Thursday Balance of Week
A limi OUTCAST.
the family aa for the other dutle and re
aponslblllties of life. They must bava an
understanding of the unselfishness, the
patience, and the loyalty, through sorrow
and sickness, ill fortune and fading fair
ness, and the clash of temperments, which)
the marriage bonds requires. More than
this, they must hav a character that shall
be equal to all tha duties and responsibili
ties that arise out of the relationship"!
The divorce problem ia one of practlSj
Importance to each of us. The Inmate ot
these broken home fill our hospitals, alms
houses and prisons; they spread contagion
and disease; they endanger the future
tihvsfcAt. TrtAntal and moral welfare. ' of
every child ln tha land. Organized vlce.
hui inaiva tune iiMuwuy 04$ aiii.k wuuio-
some domestlo life. The evil of the saloon,
the brothel, the almshouse, and the prison
shrink to small proportions when the con
ditions of the family and of home life are
generally sound.
No nation has wltlistood the test of
time that did not regard the marriage tie.
When Rome reached that stage where its)
Jurist were ln doubt whether the per-
formance of a second marriage ceremony
did not of Itself dissolve the first marrluge
lt fell from Its place as mistress of the
world, broken by the Indulgences and vice
of the people of the east. "That which
makes a people Is domestlo life. The loss;
of it degrades a people to a horde."
The problem of the family, of marriage
and divorce, can be solved only by study
ing them In their relation to economic and
social conditions. To solve them thera
must be a rational study and understand
ing of the facts of life. The family and It
related Institution should be subjected to
the same careful, scientific examination a
are the facts of modern political or Indus
trial life. The promotion of the social well,
being and the welfare of the family and
of lt member are the criteria by which
to test the solution offered for the dlvoroa
problem.
Alt of us believe that marriage ahould ha
a lifelong union; that the Ideal relationship)
la one that shall keep husband and wife
together ln sickness and ln health until
death doe them part. But when the mar
rlage vow are violated every day, whea
the married life becomes a living lie, wheq
the home fails entirely to secure the dlvlna
purpose for which It was created, then,
for the aake of children yet unborn, for
the protection of ourselvea and our homes,
for the future welfare of the state, w
must sever those ties that bind huso
band and wife to a bondage more
galling than the galley, that eon
demn little children to live ln the
blasting Influence of these so-called
home, foul with corruption, where lust
poisons, brutality rules, and hate usurp
the place of love.
It Ur easier to call divorce an evil than
It la rationally , to discuss tha problem and
work out a solution. Bad divorce laws,
laxly administered, do invite crime audi
dornestio Infelicity. But drastio dlvorc
legislation may ba as Immoral and lead
to even more disastrous consequenoea to
society and to tha individuals most oon
cerned. A wise dlvoro law, properlyjk
administered. Is not a menace) to aoouifl
morality. Cases come to th court avarjjr
day where divorce Is a social duty.
If you feel that divorce should not b4
granted, go alt In the court-room and
listen to the tale told by these wretched
men, women ana cnuaren; soon wui youl if
repeat, with Carroll D. Wright, 1 d
not believe that divorce la a menace tv
the purity and aacrednesa of th famll.
but I do believe that it Is a menace to
the Infernal brutality, of whatever name,
and be It crude or refined, which at time
makes a hell of th holiest human relations.
I believe the divorce movement finds it
Impetus outside ot laws, outside of out
Institutions, outside ot our theology thai
It finds Its Impetus In the rebellion of the)
human heart against that slavery whlcbj
binds In the crueleet bonds of the crueiea.
prostitution human being who have brt
their foolishness, by their want of wlsdont
or by th Intervention of friends, missedf.
the divine purpose as well as the civil pur
pose of marrUge. I believe the result will be)
an enhanced purity, a sublime sacredness,
more beautiful embodiment of Lamartlme'g
trinity "th trinity of the father, tha
mother, and the child" to preserve which,
"in all Its aacrednesa society must tak
th bitter medicine labelad TM vorce,' -Ev
Roy Stevens, Judge ninth Judicial cir
cuit. Wisconsin, tn the Outlo .
'4