The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1890-10-04
BLOT ON "A GREAT NAME.
Boucicault's Unmanly Treatment of Ag
Pol

Boucicault's Unmanly Treatment of Ag-
mes Robertson.
New YORK, Sept. 30.-Agnes Robert
ron, the first wife of Dion Boucicault,
the dead actor and playwright, arrived
on the Servia, last evening, and will at
once institute suit to recover part OF
the author-actor's fortune.
The actual separation of Dion Bouci-
cault and Agnes Robertson, which took
place in 1880, was only the elimination
of long series of troubles between
them.
Originally Boucicault met Agnes while
he was engaged in translating and stag
ing series of French plays for Charles
kean at the Princess Theater. Ills en-
gagement was begun in 1913, and ternl-
mated in 1851, by his running away with
Agnes Robertson, who was Mrs. Charles
kean's ward. For this oifense Boucl-
cault begged for the forgiveness OF the
keans, but was permanently discharged
from service by them, and made up his
mind to come to this country.
His first venture here of any serious
import was his running theater IN
New Orleans. 1t did not pay, and he
then came to the conclusion that the
most profitable thing he could do was
to make ''star" of Agnes Robertson.
The first intimatlon gwen OF Bouci-
cauit's singular demeanor toward Agnes
Robertson was during an engagement
she was PLAYING in Boston as early as
1858. Boucicault and she were living
as husband and wife IN one OF the
prominent hotels of the place, and one
Of the daily papers there naturally
spoke of Agnes Robertson az being Mrs.
Ic+ ~ p,n.iaa,rlf took
pains to come out IN front OF the cur
tain and publicly deny any such rela-
ton TO the young star.
The proprietor of the hotel where
t;ey were stopping happened to be IN
the thaater at the time, heard the
speech, went to his hotel, and by the
time Boucicault and Agnes Robertson
reached there, had their trunks IN the
hallway. with note saying that he had
heard the speech, and that under the
circumstances he declined to house
them any longer.
Bouccault afterward explained this
incident by saving that he thought any
public recognition of Agnes Robertson
as his wife would be injurious to her
chances as a star actress. After that
they continued in precisely the same
relation as before, both here and in
London, where Boucicault produced
many PLAYS between 1875 and 1870. No
one ever thought of doubling that they
were husband and wife during all this
time.
About 'G3 Boucicault had an escapade
in London, that caused Agnes Robert
son to begin divorce proceedings against
him They subsequently made up, but
during the proceedings the famous
dramatist never thought of denying the
relationship. They came to this coun-
try as stars" once more in 1870. Their
lives were far from being happy. They
then PLAYED in Booths Theater and
lived at the Clarendon Hotel. After
the performance each night; Agnes
Robertson then complained her hus-
band sent her home alone in the street
car, and she seldom saw MIN until next
day.
His name was prominently linked
with Wcll-knoWn actress who was
PLAYING "Galatca" at the then Wal
lack S Theatcr 1t was shortly aitert this
that they separated, Boucicault making
his wife an allowance, and never pre-
tending for a moment that he was any
thing less than her husband.
II was not until 1850 that, the allow
ance failing to come regularly, Mrs.
Agnes Boucicault, being III straits, sued
loT TIE proper anu ttaiiIlit stlioNdilIt
Then came the famous answer which
shocked the world, III which Boucicauit
denied that he had ever been married
TO Miss Robertson, thereby rendering
his several children illcgitimate.
1t was an ill-advIsed step from every
point Of view. Many men who had
stuck to Boucitauit through all of his
pecuniarv ana other troubles turned
their faces from him. He Immediately
lost popularity; his plays II the same
time ceased To he attractive, anG. III
tact, there was Il general and universal
protest against the diShonor that he had
brought upon Il little lady who had
been one Of the greatest i;tvortes before
the American public. The rest is OF
modern history Against the advice OF
everybody. Eoucicault proceeded in the
course he had adopted. The suit
against him here was dropped upon his
making proper provision cor his wife.
Then he started for Australia, where,
after PLAYING a while. ne ,ctied public
opinion hy marrying Louise fhorndyke,
who, herself knowing Of the existence
Of another and previous wife, deliber-
ately married Boucicault while even
some OF his own children by that preyi
Gus marriage We're playing in the same
company III Australia With her.
Ii was Immediately after TINS marriage
that Agnes Boucicau!t applied to the
English courts for Il yindiGation of her
position before the world. She was up
held in her claim, and it will not be
difficult matter 10 put that Judgment on
record here.
OF the issue of the will contest be
tween Louise Thorndykc on the one
hand and Agnes Robertson, with her
children, on the other, there can be no
serious doubt.