The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-06-20
Have They Chosen Wisely?

Some Of Mrs James Brown Potter's old
time society friends are wondering whether
she has chosen wisely in deciding to separ
ate from her husband and give up the social
life in New York, of which she was so long
a conspicuous feature, for the stage. Many
of her friends and relatives, and particu-
larly those of her husband, hoped that after
n brief experience of theatrical life she
would become tired of it, especially if she
failed to meet with decided success, and
would go back to her husband and home.
They have been disappointed. Mrs. Potter
sailed for France the other day, after hay
ing signed contract for a year with the
well-known theatrical manager, Mr.. Henry
e, Abbey, and she will spend the summer
there with the understanding that she shah
return in the early fall to begin an engage
ment in New York Her husband will
spend the summer in Newport with his
wealthy relatives. 1t is understood that he
has separated from his wife for the reason
that she insists upon being an actress. He
and his family are too proud to continue to
recognize as a member of their family a
woman who earns a living upon the stage.
1t was agreed when Mrs. Potter started
upon her western tour, that If she did not
meet with pronounced success she would
give up the stage. The western trip was
not financial success, but Mrs. Potter,
wanted one more trial. She promised her
husband that if the short engagement in
New York, at the close of the season, was
not well patronized she would admit that
she was d failure as an actress, and would
retire from the stage forever. The New
York engagement however, was unexpect-
eddy great success, and this fact, together
with the desire of her father, who seems to
think that his daughter will have a career
second only to that of Mary Anderson, and
that like Mr. Ham Griffin, "our Mary'sn
stepfather, he will have the handling of
untold thousands of dollars, induced her to
stick to the stage and give up her husband.
The critics say that Mrs. Potter is by no
means great actress, and that her chances
Of becoming one are not very good. In
New York she has drawn good houses be-
cause the people were anxious to see a
woman who had figured so conspicuously
in the newspapers, but it is believed that
will cease to be an attraction, and that her
professional career will then come to an
end.
Under the circumstances. has she chosen
wisely9 That question cannot be answered
satisfactorily yet awhile 1t looks now as
if she has not, but she may develop unex-
pected dramatic power, and win both wealth
and fame. In the meantime it may be
asked whether her husband has chosen
wisely in determining to separate from her.
She is a woman of excellent family, and no
scandal has ever been connected with her
name. The profession of which she has
become member is an honorable one, and
there are men and women in it who are
received and respected by the best people
everywhere. Why, then, should Mr.. Pot
ter have thought it necessary to separate
himself from a wife who is in every respect
worthy of him, and who may one of these
days have to earn living for him as well
as for herselfi