New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-26

The new dramatic season opens with serious
misunderstanding between the Amalgamated 80
ciety of Actresses Husbands and the American
Federation of Married Actresses The trouble may
he watched up but at the present writing the pros
pect for such a result is not encouraging
The difficulty dates back about a year, at which
time the Society of Husbands was organized for
mutual benefit and protection. 1t is composed oil
what we may describe ornamental husbands, or
husbands without any other business or profession
They had long felt that they were much-abused
class. having no rights and few pleasures. Espe-
cially have they always been put upon and tyran-
nized over by their wives pet dogs. Accordingly,
a wear ago the Amalgamated Society was formed.
1t was met almost Immediately by the American
Federation of Married Actresses Naturally the
two organizations cashed chiefly on the pet dog
question. The gentlemen OF the Society tried
moral suason on the ladies of the Federation dur
ing the past year, but without any success, so they
have now decided to make a firm stand and
emancipate themselves from the pet dog or perish
in the attempt.
The charges which the Husbands in their Deca-
ration of independence make against the dogs of
their wives are both specific and general. AS ex-
planned by Mr.. James Quintus Ward president of
the Society and husband of the well-known in-
genue and skirt-dancer, Miss Birdie Mcfarland,
the Declaration seems to state fairly the grievances
Of the Husbands They hold that their duties in
being agreeable to representatives OF the press,
checking trunks, chasing mistaken young men
away from the stage-dOOr, and so forth, take up
their whole time and strength and make it simply
cruelty TO compel them TO look after pu9-nosed
and spiral-tailed dog They would not object, per-
haps TO carrying the animal to and from trains and
tipping the baggage.man to secure proper treat
sl.ov Il
TO ride in the baggage-car as a companion for the
besst, especially long night trips, as many OF
them are, they must emphatically object. They
complain that they DO not have tine TO take the
dog out for a run in the park at every town they
stop in nor can they continue longer TO spend two
hours nearly every day in hunting it up about
the streets when it becomes lost. But the thing
against which they Temonstrate most strongly
is the feeding of the dog. This, Mr. Ward eX-
plains the fair owner of the dog formerly attended
10 herself, but during the past few mOnths-since
the formation of the Federaton-She has insisted
on her husband doing it. Accordingly, Mr. Ward
tells u.s. at each meal at the hotel the husband has
had to order two portions of liver and cut 1T up
on his plate after finishing his own meal, and
carry il out Of the dinng-rOOm and through the
halls 10 his room, and there feed 1t to the dog
This process is accompanied by great loss OF self
respect, and the society has decided not to do it
longer under any circumstances. I'D spout me
sparks, says Mr.. Ward - before I'd do it any
more" by which the gentleman means that he
would prefer to hypothecate his diamonds rather
than continue the practice.
We hope whatever is done that the difficulty
may be adjusted without its being taken into
the courts. Perhaps little compromise on both
sides might be suggested the husband, say, to
care for the animal on the train and his wife at
the hotel or something like this. The elimination
Of the dog is. we suppose, out Of the question, 80
we will not suggest 1t. But peace must be had
at any price-even at the price of eliminating the
husband