St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-04
SAYS She WAS HYPNOIIzED
LILLIAN RySSELL'S EXPLANATION or
, HER RECENT MARRIAGE.
LETTER OF GREAT INTEREST

AuVtilaA rOrtuu6 1eiiS q story
al Full of Pathos Regarding Her
Z Experiences With sfgnor Per-
ugtni-she Makes Out Strong
>; Case Against Him.
s Lillian Russell has caused a stir in
New York by letter to the dramatic
editor of the New York Press. in which
she gives her reasons for desertion of
ferugini. The letter makes interesting
reading. Miss Russell says:
!. II blame only myself. This frank
confession should soften if not avert
criticism. In the discussion over the
present unhappy turn of my domestic
affairs many people believe that the
fault is mine. They are right. / made
the mistake, and l am suffering its
just punishment. 1t matters not that
Slg. Perugini is ten years older than
myself, and that while ne was gather
ing experience OF social rs well as
artistic nature III Europe and our own
country, was diligently studying my
profession.
MY first marriage was an error.
which has Kept repeating itself most
nlserably ever since. l was welded at
sixteen to a man much older than my
self and of wholly dissimilar nature. l
advan ced beyond and separated from
him. The incongruity of the union is
proven by comparison of his present
position in music and that which [ have
won.
My second marriage was congenial.
My husband was an artist, composer
OF ability, and with tastes entirely in
unison with my own. We were very
happy together, and the ambition of our
lives was that he should write operas
which l could perform. This was an
ideal union, which lasted for three
years without cloud to mar the perfect
sunshine of felicity. But one day my
husband arrived in England to make
arrangements for my season in London.
lie was Immediately arrested on
charge of bigamy. The shock of know
ing that he had another wife ana that
our union was illegal was very great. I
obtained a divorce and have never seen
him since.
0"No woman needs the protection of a
husband so much rs one who has earned
4 reputation i'll comic opera. However
assiduous we may be in our devotion o
art. 1t Is the fashion of the times to
make light of the singers of light music.
Realizing this fact, | listened with an
attentive ear to the overtures of SCR.
Perugini. l was attracted to him by
what seemed TO be his spirituality. He
app cared to be an ideal man. gentle
1nan, and one whose every instinct was
toward art. supposed that was hyp-
Noticed. l can explain it by no other
argument. After eight years of loneli-
ness l fancled that had found a SYM
pathetic companion. His friends, Mile.
Lillian Nordica, Mrs. Agnes Booth aud
many others, were constant in their
praises OF him, and their congratulations
to me. The night before our wedding
sat many hours meditating gravely over
the step was about to take. But the
enlogies of his friends and the grace of
his manner finally overcame my better
Judgment, and so we were married.
rs "Without abiding to matters that
-.can be more properly discussed by nv
lawyers than by myself, / wish to ex-
plain certain circumstances which must
excuse, IT not condOne, my inability to
further recognize as hus band one who
has forfeited all claims to that title.
'Allow me to preface this statement
by declaring my belief that when a
woman marr!es man who is her su-
perior in mentality, in station and in
nrOfnSClOnai 0n6 II, hi;
to earn money, reaSonableneSs, as well
as the natural affection of her sex
should require her to render him obedi-
ence and respect. But when woman
takes husband who is her inferior in
art. professional reputation, intelli.
gence and income, she has, it seems to
me, certain rights which he ought to
regard with consideration.
ION this question SCR. Perugini and [
differed Immediately. Forgetting that
he had had no engagement for several
years until employed him in my COM
pany, that he had no income except
what was paid him by my manager, that
lie had no special reason for existence,
this pretty gentleman at once asserted
the privileges which, if he had been
worthy the name of husband. should
have gladly yielded to him. | was no
of an error that seemed irreparable.
But to avoid scandal should have been
Il kindly and considerable sister 10 him
had he not developed characteristics
which were not to be endured by any
woman of spirit.
Our honeymoon was beg un in strife
At breakfast next morning after the
wedding Sgr. Perugini laid down the
law to me i'll all Imperative and often.
Siye manner. He insisted that | should
cut the acquaintance OF my friends and
cultivate the society only of his associ-
ates. He declared that the household
should be conducted in future accord
ing to his wishes. with no reference to
my own. He demanded the discharge
CT all my servants, including my maid,
who has been i'll my service for nine
years, and who is absolutely invaluable
to me. Sgr. Perugini and 1 disagreed
on these points; but for the sake
of that domestic peace, which
no one prizes more than myself,
l did not openly contradict his
wishes, but temporized and deferred
complete rupture by diplomacy. My
life was completely wretched. Sgr.
Perugini had been bachelor so long
that he acquired the set-not to say
cranky-ways of men who have never
been brought under the civilizing influ-
;ences of women. He had fixed habits
and testy temper. He was unreason-
ably JeaIo rs. In the practice of her art
a prilna donna is compelled to smile on
the stare upon performers who, by the
llbrettist's directions make love to her.
Sgr. Perugini disclosed an appalling
lack of art and common sense by OBJ
jecting to methods which, in order to
carry out my part in the opera, l was
forced to adopt.
31.Further than that, he never compli-
+ mented my performance, but was in
sistent that I should praise his own.
Now, do not care for flattery. If do
my best in singing and acting. ana the
itetfortis rewarded by applause from the
Il audience, lam satisfied without seeking
further communication from my COM
lpauions in the company. did not want
ISgr. Perugini's praises, but l did object
to- his constant s0licitude for compil-
ments ON his style of singing, which,
having an acute sense Of the harmonies,
L III