The Omaha Sunday Bee Magazine Page
t
Copyright, 1913. by the Star Company. Great Britain nights IteserYKl.
The Sequel to the Classic Inquiry, "Why
Do Beautiful Women Marry
Nat Goodwin?"
Eliza Wethersby Mrs. Goodwin
No. 1.
WHY do petticoats do these things to
Nat Goodwin? meaning tho same
party Immortalized by that other
question, now a classic: "Why do beautiful
women marry Nat Goodwin?" Examination
of tho records in the light of recent events
shows that marrying him is really tho leaBt
that petticoats havo done to Nat Goodwin.
For example, at this moment he is being
sued for $25,0.00 on account of a petticoat
for alienating Its affections from Its husband.
But that is merely tho sequel to tho story of
how this same petticoat so appealed
to Nat Goodwill's well-known chi
valrous valor that ho risked, and
nearly lost, his valuable life.
They were abroad a chartered
launch off Rocky Point, near Santa
Monica, Cal. Nat Goodwin and
Miss Marjorie Moreland. She had
been a member '
of his theatri
cal companies
for several
years. She was
c o m p aratlvoly
young, and
more than com
paratively at
tractive. The
latest beautiful
woman vho had
-married Nat
Goodwin had
divorced him.
He was unattached, free to go tovth and con
quer some more.
Beyond tho rocky beach, where tho surf
tumbled and thundered, was a cliff on which
an old Indian's hut was perched. Miss More
land experienced a sudden deBlro to visit the
Indian. Captain Hydor, who was in command
of tho launch, forbade the young woman to
attempt a landing. No boat could get through
that surfllne and land a passenger alive.
Then up rose Nat Goodwin, with the light
of battlo in one eye, while the other rested
on tho fair maid In distress, and volunteered
to be her messenger to yonder red man. As
for the surf pooh, pooht Captain Hyder's
warnings were ignored. Goodwin Jumped Into
tho launch's skiff with a paddle In his hand
and headed for the breakers. Promptly the
breakers tossed him on tho rocks with the
skiff on top of him. Ho was badly injured, but
was ablo after a while to grasp tho lino
thrown to him by Captain Hyder, and was
thus drawn aboard tho launch and hurried
back to Santa Monica and to St. Catherina's
Hospital.
For several weeks reports from the hospi
tal indicated that Nat Goodwin would never
set foot upon the stago again. There were
serious internal Injuries, besides a severe
wound in tho region of tho pelvis, affecting
movement of the right leg. Beside his hospi
tal cot, and later besldo his bed in his Santa
Monica home, Miss Moreland kept constant
vigil.
Sho was still a gue3t at tho Goodwin homo
when she heard that her husband Charles
D1uAht-5'' a, S?!1?!?! of.D.a"lmo" Edna Goodrich
imu Biieu iter iiudi, ueumuuuiK $o,uuu lui
alienating her affections. Naturally she was
much distressed. Horo was Nat Goodwin
nearly killed In a chivalrous act on her ac
count, and now tho husband whom sho had
left four years ago because ho did not prop
erly support her, was demanding a lot of his
money also on her account. Well, anyway,
she had sued her husband for divorce.
Will Miss Marjorie Moroland, having freed
herself by divorce, becomo Mrs. Nat Good
win No. 6? Plsh-tushes and pooh-poohs on
both sides. But that will be another story,
anyway.
Strangely enough, in the light of subse
quent happenings, all tho influences of Nat
Goodwin's first serious petticoat experience
wero good and useful to him In his career.
During tho eleven years of his married life
with the beautiful and estimable English
actress, Eliza Weathersby, endlug with her
death in 1888, he advanced from an obscure
position to that of the foremost comedian on
the American stage.
Thai samo year began tho petticoat deluge,
upon and under whose foamy crest he has
been floated Into all sorts of complications,
difficulties and notoriety ever since. He mar
ried Mrs. Nella Baker Pease, the divorced
wjfe of a Buffalo (N. Y.) physician and society
man. Less than three years later these
things happened to Nat Goodwin:
Sued for divorce on the ground of abandon
ment. A sensational struggle between them for
possession of the handsome home on West
End avenue, New York.
The house besieged by Nat Goodwin and his
legal minions, in which bis wife had fortified
In Goodwin's company, and was said to havo
smashed and othorwlso destroyed' soveral of
his valuable gifts to her.
When Nat Goodwin married Maxlno Elliott,
in 1898, sho was an acknowledged beauty, but
had not yet gained nn assured pwBltlon on tho
stago. Ho took hor to Australia, whero sho
appeared as bis leading lady, with groat suc
cess. On their return to this country thoro
was no longer any question of her
professional status. Tuoy went to
London, whoro she addod high
social distinction to her reputation
as an actress. They took a hand
some residence not far from Lon
don, whero Maxlno Elliott soon bo
camo a celebrated hostess. Then
these petticoat things hnpponcd to
Nat Goodwin, according to his own
published confession:
"Ono of these 'saphonds' (a swag
gor member of tho Guards) was
persuaded to visit our humblo from
Saturday to Monday. He camo, ac
companied by ono of tho present
Dukes of England (whoso father,
by tho way, died owing mo a paltry
$2,000 borrowed on the race track
at Deuville, Franco.
"They all came down on this par
ticular Saturday in
cotijun ctlon with
Mine. Melba and
Haddon Chambers.
We hod a lovely
time that la, I pre
sume they did, aa
Maxlno insisted on
my entertaining tho
guests with my sup
posedly funny sto
ries. Generully, af
ter telling each story
my portion of the
feast was either cold
or confiscated by the
butler.
"Vory little at
tention was paid
to me, anyway.
ploasant romarks about rach other. They
wore not divorced until 1908. But already
other petticoats woro looming to tho foro.
Two of them woro so potont In 1906 that Good
win planned to ovndo tho direful rcsultB of
professional Joalousy by prosontlng "Tho
Gonulus and tho Modol," with two loading
ladles Miss Alexandra CarllBlo and Miss
Ednn Goodrich. In London Miss Cnrllslo had
won a triumph in a Maxlno Elliott part.
And now look what sho did to Nat Good
win actually let him pick Edna Goodrich for
his No. 4.
They married, and they parted. Sho said
Nat Goodwin had too many chins. Thou sho
proceeded to do to him as follows, to wit:
Sued him for divorce, alleging that ho had
played Romeo to tho Juliet of Miss Maud
Lannon in the "Tent Llfo" at Dolmar Garden,
Mrs. Goodwin No.
Whose Financial Settlement with
Mr. Goodwin When She Was
Divorced, Took Away
Much of His Property.
herself with her legal minions and plenty ot
provisions.
Doors broken down, assaults repulsed by
both parties, police court inquiries.
Nat Goodwin divorced, after naklng a hand
somo cash settlement on wife No. 2.
Between tho dates of this divorce, 1901,
and his marriage to Maxlno Elliott, 1898,
there was no lawfully constituted petticoat
guardian to protect Nat Goodwin from tho
voluminous swirl of petticoats entering neces
sarily into his professional and social llfo. As
results, direct or Indirect, wero these dis
turbances ot his physical and nervous organ
ization and of his finances:
While Mr. Carter de Haven was sitting In
a box at the Victoria Theatre one evening Nat
Goodwin suddenly entored, unbidden, and
stole Mr, De Haven's gueflt, Mlsi Flora
Parker. Before departing with that lady to
see her safely homo, Goodwin Btartled tho
audience by promising to "lick De Haven
good" if ever he met him In tho street. Re
covering from his daze, Do 1'aven hurried
uptown to Miss Parker's residence. He was
Just in time to find Goodwin leaving. Though
a good many sizes smallor than the celebrated
comedian, he challenged him to mortal com
bat then and thero. But Goodwin, having a
more important engagement elsewhere, got
into hln automobllo and drovo peaceably
away. However, when Miss Parker heard of
thin outcomo she tore up hpr contract to play
Maxine Elliott Mrs. Goodwin No.
Whom Mr. Goodwin Was Un
fortunate in Losing.
only when reciting anecdotes, and the
first of every month, whon the bills became
due.
"The guests expected Melba to sing. She
didn't. So they strolled about tho grounds In
pairs, Being on particularly good torms with
the butler, I selected him for my companion.
When we chanced to stop before tho open
window of the drawing room I happened to
overhear the remark:
"'How could you possibly havo married
such a vulgar little person?'
"Being terribly self-conscious at all times,
I said to my butler:
" 'Louis, that's me that chocolate soldier is
referring to, Listen, and we'll have a war
rior's opinion of a Thespian.' Wo heard the
following dialogue:
"She Do you think him vulgar?
"Ho Not necessarily vulgar, but an awful
accent,
"She Well, no one ever accused him of an
American accent; be was educated in Boston.
Don't you think him rather amusing?"
Everybody remembers how they drifted
apart, with charming apparent amiability and
Mr. Nat Goodwin Who Has
Had Such Unfortunate Ex
periences with Beauti-
f ul Women.
St. Louis. Howover, hor sister,
Miss Julia Lannon, also a membor
of tho Dolmar Garden chorus, testi
fied that she was proaont all the
time and nothing of tho sort happened.
Demanded one-half of all his
earthly possessions under a trust
deed oxocutod in England threo
months boforo tho marriage by way
of proof that Nat Goodwin lntonded
to "stick" this time.
Compelled hlni to "sue to break
3 tno trust deed, which othorwlso
would rob him of half of his income
for life.
Divorced him and got a settlement
In full, amounting to $150,000 In cash and
sr.no 000 In rwil cbtutu.
During the Edna Goodrich regime many
things happened to Nat Goodwin which, per
liaDB otherwise ho would havo escaped,
When the Goodwln-Goodrich publicity was at
its height a young man calling hlinsolf John
E Goodwin suddenly declared himself to bo
the comedian's long lost son. But Nat Good
win objected strenuously, and tho objection
seems to have been sustained.
When ho attempted to act as a peace
maker between his chauffeur and a ninety
pound Jockey named Miller, tho Httlo Jockey
never gavo him a chanco to talk peace at all,
but presently walked off with all the honors
of war.
However, It Is a pleasuro to record that
when Miss Avencllo Ferguson, n very pretty
bather at Santa Monica Reach, vaded out be
yond hor depth and shrloked loudly for help,
It was Nat Goodwin who dashed through tho
breakers and brought her. safoly ashore
clasped to his manly bosom. Alas! Nat
Goodwin was too well known at Santa Monica
.,r nv.nfo in nlav tlio tnndost lipro
Miss Marjorie Moreland, tho Beautiful Actress for Whom
Nat Goodwin Risked His Life to Deliver a Message.
Partial List of Casualties
and the Beauties Involved
Eliza Weathersby regime:
From obscurity to wealth and fame.
Nella Daker Pease, wife No. 2:
He is charged with abandonment.
Lays slcgo to his New York house, which sho has fortified and pro
visioned. Sorties and assaults police court inquiries.
Handsome cash settlement- divorced.
Miss Flora Parker interlude:
Stole her from Actor Carter do Haven's theatre box.
Audience hears him promise to "lick Do Haven good."
Gets opportunity, but rides away in his automobile.
Miss Parker tears up his contract and destroys his prcspnts.
Petticoat causes unknown:
Fist and champagne bottle combat with a Philadelphia critic.
Ordered to pay a Chicago playwright $10,000 because his play,
"Ambition" is so much like the other's "In Congress."
Maxine Elliott, wife No, 3:
Ills wife becomes an English hostess at his expanse.
Captures as a noble guest an English Duko whose father died owing
him $2,000 borrowed money.
EntcrtainH Melba but she won't sing.
lias to tell his guests funny stories. while the butler confiscates his
food and drink.
Promenading with his butler, overhears guests call him vulgar, but
amusing.
Drifted apart divorced.
Alexandra Carlisle Interlude:
Lets him make a London star of her.
Lets him pick out Edna Goodrich for No, 4.
Edna Goodrich, wife No. 4:
Makes a trust deed (pre-nuptial) giving her an equal share in all his
wealth. ,
Married divorced she says he has too many chins.
Miss Maud Lannon interlude:
Divorce complaint says she played Juliet to his Romeo between
chorus performances at Delmar Garden, St. Louis.
Miss Julia Lannon as witness:
Sho was thero all the time, and Maud and Nat did nothing of tho
kind.
Divorce granted he sues to break pre-nuptial trust deed.
Wife No. 4 goes free with $615,000 of his property.
Beaten up by a ninety-pound jockey Just for trying: to act as peace
maker. Miss AvaneUe Fergusoninterlude:
Involved in much needless publicity because ho rescued her front
drowning at Santa Monica beach
Miss Mariorie Moreland ? ? ?
Nearly killed in a dashing deed of chivalry for her sake.
Sued by her hushand, who wants $25,000 compensation for her
alienated affections.