New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-13
SHE NEEDN'T WEAR TIGHTS.
LILLIAN RUSSELL MAY SING IN asADH."
HER CASE IN THE SUPREME couhr-cohHS-
spoNpENcE WITH MR.. DUFF.


the actress, swept into the room ana 'ooA : seaA
near her counsel A. H. Hummel She piucked q
noseeay from the large bunch OF flowers ha' a'io"e
the breast of her long, close fitting seaist'h o'
and fastened them In his buttonhoie, a. y "
courage him In the effort which he was about " ueA'
in her behalf jaunty hat and featner' "o"s
colored gloves and gray gown OF rcn maeor'a' 80
pleted her cos The object OF her coun'0,' -
which no was completely successful was W ne.o
the temporary Injunction dissolved by which she wss
restrained from fulfilling her engagement Win huoo'pn
Aronson to appear ut tho Casino as the Princess :"
Nadjy' on January 81 and thereafter.
The Injunction was obtained by James O. pun, tno
proprietor of the STANDARD Theatre, who aegen 'na
by contract made with him she was engaged a. ,no
star Of his troupe for the remainder OF the
present season at $500 week. and that her agree
rnent with Mr. Aronson was IN violation OF this con-
tract Mr. Duff was present and was consulted uo"
time to time by his lawyer, Henry Thompson. n.,'
Thompson stated tho terms OF tho conTao', WIN
which he said Mr. Duff had fully complied until no"
In the middle Ut the season she had deserted MN.
It was impossible obtain an actress OF equal men'
and reputation to take her place for the rest OF tho
season. and she had right to transfer her prestso
and skill TO a rival theatre. He conceded tnat
specific performance Of the contract could not DO
enforced but 1t sought to ent her from sp-
pearing elsewhere
To this MIR. Hummcl responded by reading afidayits
BY the actress and others, setting forth that the
reason she had refused 70 appear In The queens
Mates under Mr. Dufr's management was that ne IN
sisted on her wearing tights in that opera she had
caught cold In this airy costume. and II she connueu
to wear IL at the Standard Theatre IN cola
weather It might cause the loss Of her voice and
endanger her life In this she YVES corrooorstcd ID
afidavits by DIR. Charles F. Roberts and Dr. cyrus
Edison. The story OF the disagreement about tights
was told in the following correspondence, which was
embodied In her aihdavit:
Standard Theatre 1885 and 2s7 Bros az ,s,ss
New-fork, NOVEMBER oo, 1000
Miss Lillian Russell: -
In your letter Of November ~ addressed TO me IN
taxing rest Tor two weeks after Saturday night,
Without qaeson my Views or ASKING MEX VOC have
abse ted yourself fom the performance o. ny con
pany Without my iplnon I 70 carry out tho pro-
panme to the end arrang by yourself ana
propose wearing tights any urhcr 10 the part OF
AnH I ad 'Iss Soa say ' IN add ton to what i've al
ready written in my former letter. ca the aIs point,
Of Of s4 ss1'in queens IS = Mate without
70 do 60 you have a,sA me- G xhIoS sSn,
ans no S clause giving you the right to discontinue
playing when You feel so Inclined AS your con n
Of s Choose TO sc with the
eccontrcity. should be ef' without east: a case
playing IS one thing, bu acting from mere caprice IS
quite another On the second point TO the change
Of pa yoq % ucsS sss Hf pn
out tie necessity Of tights being worn IN the cadct
feet Willingness and II thought at The tlmel almost an
eagerness to them. So you see the objection
100 nights and again your objection bears the
sembance Of caprice, and am forced TO dsasrce WIN
you by adhering 10 the present costume. which. as you
know, forms an important part Of the plot OF the
opera -
contract with me Is for fbe season Of 1885 and 1885,
and by It's terms am called upon TO give Two weehs.
ordinary course Of events, win be given some time In
May. From your present action, should surmise
Contract in which case you Of course understand 10
Will be necessary for you remain in retirement for the
Saye thought better Of It and are prepared to eon
the company and carry out the requirements OF your
the other members q the company pleased
to hear a., from % In ay Toa Intend 70 DO
so that there may be no possibility Of any mlsnder-
standing between US. J. c. DUtF'
She replied to this as follows:
me, and in reply viii state that il IS quite impossible
for mo no appear again in 1g SsS DUR DUR
5 safety put when he cold weather came SsI. con ON
not time nd ySs my sa s sns
will prove to You that what you call caprice Is
most serious affair for me. Ny voice and my health
are my, all, and cannot tribe With them II Is
company in PhiIadelphia Without your approval for
IN x s on s yoa had o.
jectons, you would naturally have stated them You
engaged another 70 iii my place, who did with en-
tre satisfaction 50 the papers have said which
Mr. Duff, there are three alternatives for you
The first you could alter the costume Of the tights so
that can appear again in "The Queens Mate with
safety my health second, 10 pay me half salary
TO wait until you produce new opera, or TO release me
from my agreement, which you said you would do any
ina I felf
''"N'' ''' mo A'''" '' LILLIAN RUSSELL
To an allegation in the plaintiffs papers in regard
to Miss Russems financial responsibility, she responded
in her affidavit as follows
Tho statement Of the plaintiff that he is able of his
own knowledge TO say that have no means of my own
except the weekly salary which he paid me, ard that
not able to respond In damages TO any uagmea,
law Is wilfully false and untrue, as is his additional
statement in regard to Judgment which p ne alleges
schaux In answer TO both these untruthfu sworn
statements ] aver that have means OF my own as
in tho Second National Bank Of this city, amounting
to thousands Of dollars. have tewelry consisting OF
sonss and Jewels worth not less than $4,000
have an extensive wardrobe worth at least $4,000
W vna ny ST. where now reside and where
have lived for the last two years, is worth not less
am Indebted to nobody, and have no liabilities
OF any Kind character or description whatever nor -
there any Judgment IN thVOr Oh fauhc ~
OF any person existing against me, az said plaintiff
must have well known at the time that ne maze sald
uncallod for and untruthful sworn statement During
my entire as an artistic on the stage, having
been prominently before the public for the last eight
years state that have never appeared during the
cod weather in tights. ] have worn them during the
summer season and during the mild weather only ana
aver mat were to appear and perform on the stage
at this season OF the year in tights and IN me scanty
costume proposed and required by SAID paintln, !
sbonid endanger my lifc and as / am advised by my
ply sicIau and as verify believe would ruin and
| lose INV voice thereby, and become professionally
As IS sworn to by the plaintiff, t Is HIS Intention
% nortjnne 10 perform the opera QUEENS Mater In
uh,ch tbe role which performed while In the plain
tifs company required tights to be worn and relying
| on bs statement 10 that no other opera would
be- reformed during the remainder of my engagement