The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-03-21
AN END TO FoRREARANon.

Mr.. Potter at Last Decides to Sue for
Divorce From His Actress Wife.
From the Baltimore American.
1t is rumored that Mr.. James Brown
Potter is about TO sue for divorce from his
wife, the society star who started out to
elevate the profession OF acting.
Mr.. Potter will not deny nor confirm
the rumor, but by those who know what
the relations between Mr.. and Mrs. Pot
Ter have been for the past few months the
report is regarded as not altogether with
out foundation. There have been many
expressions Of amazement Of late OF the
way Mr.. Potter has continued TO idolze
his wife. although she had disobeyed him
and had, in going professionally upon the
stage, run counter to the advice OF all OF
Mr.. Potter's friends and her own. When
the society actress made her first appear
ance, the public waited to hear that
legal separation had been sought by one
or the other Of the parties, knowing how
strenuously Mr.. Potter had protested
against this procedure on the part Of his
stage-struck spouse.
II was known that while he was an en-
thusiastic supporter OF his wfe's amateur
ambitions, he was just rs enthusiastically
against her indulging them in n profess
sional manner. Indeed he invoked the
power, and 1t is no uncomfortable one, Of
his entire family, including its bishops and
other dignitaries, to dissuade her from this
step.
But after she had taken II he stood by
her, and. while evidently anxious TO dis
courage her and induce her TO relinquish
her theatrical schemes, he did not permit
any criticisms OF her TO be made in his
presence, and gave her very valuable
countenance by continuing ON friendly
terms. lie could not make up his mind TO
abandon her while she was still poor and
making iruitless efforts. But CLEOPATRA"
put an end 10 all that Financially II has
been n great success, aud Mrs Potter has
made money and will undoubtedly make
more. That makes II certain that she is a
definite fixture upon the stage. Her hus-
band feels that she no longer needs him TO
stand by her. She has money Of her own,
and can do without him and all possibility
OF her eventually abandoning her career
and returning 10 him is at m end
This puts him In very different posi-
lion, not In the ewes OF the world, perhaps
but in his own, and the clivalrous feelings
which prompted him to stand by her 80
--Song rs she was unsuccessful have no
longer rlisOn IL etre. SO, under the cir
cumsiances, the world can understand his
contemplating a divorce. This is rather a
new view TO take upon Mr.. Poiter's atti-
tude but II IL Is true one, IL Is greatly to
his credit. and IL really seems TO explain
the apparent contradictions Of his conduct.
II is said that the plea for divorce will be
made on the ground OF descrtion and in
compatibility, and there will be no defense
made, the divorce being allowed to 90 by
default.
Last summer they lived together at
Tuxedo, where kyrlo Bcllew visited the
family and stirred up the trouble, which
was fully referred 10 IN the papers at that
time. Then il was that Below persuaded
her TO bring out this season the play Of
Anthony aud Cleopatra over the pro-
test and pleadings Of Mr.. Potter. IL Is
said that when the highly sensational in
cident Of the first nights performance Of
the new play took place, Mr., Potter was
nm interested witness IN one Of tho boxes,
and seeing that his wife had passed the
lines that he had drawn, he there anil
then determined to obtain legal separa.
ton. At the subsequent presentation OF
the play the incident made 30 objection
able was omitted. Various reasons for II
were given, Mn. Potter declaring that IL
presentation the frst night was an acci
dent, andolhors asserting that Mr.. Potter
had threatened divorce proceedings II the
incident was repeated. Upon Mrs. Pot
tcrs promise that the performance woulC
be cut Of iis Objectionable feature the hus
band relcnicd for the time being. bu
there were many who then said that h'
would some day seek the Divorce Court