The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1883-05-01
BOSTON IDEAL SCANDAL.
A Too Close Intimacy Result
ed in the Discharge Of
Two Members.
A Woman in the Case Makes q
Denial and Gives Her Version
of the Affair.

The Boston Ideal Opera company, du-
ring the earlier part Of the present season.
became scandalized ON account of the in
timacy said to exist between two of its
members, Miss Mary Beebe, one of the So
pranos. and C.. ID. Wheeler, the business
manager. As matter Of course nothing
Of q scandaious nature could be tolerated
in q company posing before the aaimiring
public IS "the great moral show" and con-
sequently, Miss Beebe and Mr.. Wheeler
were discharged. So sudden dismissal Of
two of TIE most prominent members OF the
company, naturally caused much comment
and remarks nave been made. and articles
Published, derogstOry to the character OF
Miss Beebe, apO limiting that the company,
was not, after all, SO exemplary in its NOR
ais as il claimed to be. A representative
of the Herald was Yesterday detsiled to as
certain the true inv ardness of the affair.
Learning that Miss Beebe was stopping at
the Chicago European hotel, the reporter
senled to Miss Kuhns, Miss Beebe's old
friend and travelling companion Miss
Kuhn stao1d that Miss Beebe was complete
y prostrated by the scsndxlOus statements
made concerning her, and could see no
one.
"Was Miss Beebe discharged from the
company OF account Of an intimacy with
Mr. Wheeler" asked the reporter.
"Wr Wheeler was simply very good
friend of Miss Beebe's' was answered, and
no such intimacy ever existed between
them. The statements made against Miss
Beebe are wholly false, and only accounted
for by the fact that Miss Beebe's superior
ity as an artist made her the victim of a
jealousy that existed in consequence. MISS
! Beebe has retired from the Stage furever,
and will endeavor TO obtain a position i'm
some church choir in this city"
Miss Kuhn stated further, that at the
time of Miss Beebe's discharge, and for
several months previous, they were CON-
stantly together, occupied the same rooms
ut hotels, and that she had never observed
the slightest indications of any improper
relationship between Miss Beebe and any
gentleman. The company may do and say
what they choose" said Miss Kuhn, "we
shall take no action in the matter and have
nothing 10 say, except that Miss Beebe has
been grossly misrepresented."
1t has been stated that Mr.. Foster. the
advance agent of the company, attempted
to profit by the example OF Mr.. Wheeler,
and that when be found that his advances
met with no encouragement, he joined in
the cry against Miss Beebe, A call was
made ut the fremont house to see Mr..
Foster, but that gentleman had just started
to Cleveland. The reporter was infOrmedthat
Miss Ober would see bin, and was thus
enabled to learn the state of affairs direct
from TIT lips Of the IN snager Of the COM
pany. Il have refused" said Miss ODER,
Ito make . statement of this unfortunate
affair to any representative OF the press,
and since found il necessary u discharge
Miss Beebe have dobe all in my power
70 shield her from putllc exposure"
WAS Miss Beebe discharged on account
Of her intimacy with Mr.. Wheeler"
"She was. fonnd that she was dis
turbing element In our happy
family, and in Justice to all,
from the prima down to the orchestra ard
chorus, 1 was Obliged to discharge her !;
and in order to dissrm suspicion and spare
Miss Beebe, kept Dir. Wheeler with the
con pany month. Miss Beebe's salary
eas paid up to the 10Th OF March, at
which time her contract expired, and al
though still with us she WAS never per-
nitted to sing alter the date of her dis
eharge"
"Did you merely suspect that there were
improper relations existing between Miss
Beebe and Mr.. Wheeler, or did you have
proof OF its'
, IL never would have discharged them
had not known they were unfit to assO-
eiate With Other members of the company"
was Miss Ober's emphatic reply. There
is not family i'm this city who are hap
pier in each others society than We are,
and when / discovered, beyond the posi-
bility of doubt, that Miss Beebe had
acted improperly, conld not retain her
single day"
Miss Beebe was originally the prima
donna of the company. and during her Sec
nd season married r G. Haskell. of the
Boston boot and shoe firm of Canterbury
u Haskell. AS Mr. Haskell's family did
net fsncy theatrical connexions the mar
riage was net success Miss Beebe COM
plained of bad treatment ut the hands Of
her husband, snd besought Miss Ober to
rake her back into the company, which she
Gpally consented to do. But Miss Beebs's
conduct Was such that she had hardly q
risnd in the company, and the reporter
was assured that be might inquire of any
udividusi member and would fail to End
Dne who regretted her loss.
To sum up the whole affair, he manager
bf the Boston Ideal Opera company says
Miss Beebe Is not 6t to associate with her
people, and Mis Beebe states through her
friend, Kuhns that she has been gros,l
nisrepresented There are many people
familiar with the affair who think this lest
3 true, and who do not hesitate to say that
ester is at the bottom of the scandal, and
|at he deliberately set the stories sfoat
concerning Miss Beebe 10 injure her repu-
ation, aud prevent, if possible, her secur-
ny position in a choir in this city. Ii
even stated that Foster had boosted that
he would cause the thing to be published,
md that an article which appeared In a
porning paper yesterday was prompted by
him. If that be true, and there is little
eason to doubt it. Mr. Foster was engaged
very contemplate business.