The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-05
THE HOPPERS ARE OUT
EDNA WALLACE HOPPER TO SUE FOR
DIVORCE FROM THE STAR.
Living at Separate Hotels, but Still
i'm same COMPATIBILITY Seaman
Again Reported Dying.

NEW YORK, Sept. 4.--The Herald pub
fishes story to the effect that De Wolf
Hopper and his petite wife, Edna Wallace
Hopper are estranged and that Mrs Hop
per is about to institute proceedings for
divorce from the well-known comic opera
singer. The trouble between the couple
started two years ago, when Mrs. Hopper
wanted to spend the summer vacation
abroad and Mr.. Hopper, who is one of the
greatest fans in New York, wanted to
stay at home and take in the ball games.
There was a quarrel ending in Mrs. Hopper
going abroad alone and spending gay sea-
son in London. The past summer Mrs.
Hopper was enjoying herself at one sum
mer resort while her husband was at an
other.
Rumors have been afloat for several
months, says the Herald, that things were
not running just as smoothly as they ought
to in Mr.. Hcpper's household. AT one time
the report came thar Mr.. Hopper had con-
suited his lawyers, and was ebout to ask
for divorce, and then again it was Mrs.
Hopper who was to be the plaintiff in the
suit. whichever way the story came
prompt and emphatic denials were always
sure to follow from both the parties most
concerned. and also from some of their
mcst intimate friends.
1t has been no secret, however for quite
a while that the tall comedian and his
petite wife were not on exactly the terms
that it is popularity Supposed happily mar
ried couples always are. For instance, it
was known that when Mr.. Hopper's COM
pany played in San Francisco he lived at
one hotel, while his wife occupied an apart
ment at another The same condition of
things existed in other cities that they
visited. and it was so when they played
their closing engagement for the season
at Manhattan Beach. They sang together
just as usual on the stage, but when the
supply or conversation that the author of
FL Captain" had furnished them was ex-
hauSted they had nothing more to say to
one another. From the stage door their
paths always led in opposite directions.
At last the season closed and the COM
pany scattered for vacation. Mr.. Hopper
went on driving tour, and when he re-
turned he took rooms at the Lambs Club,
where he still resides. Mrs. Hopper makes
her abode at the Gerard.
Now, of course this method of living has
not been pleasant to either party, and at
last Mrs. Hopper has decided to act. She
has put her case in the hands of her law
yers, the papers have all been drawn up
and will very shortly be filed, lin court and
the suit will be pushed to an early con-
cluslon. The ground upon which Mrs. Hop
per bases her claim for a decree of divorce
is one frequently employed as a foundation
for suits of this character, not only when
the parties concerned are members of the
theatrical profession, but also when they
hold prominent positions in the social
world.
The relations existing between Mr.. and
Mrs. Hopper, it must be noted, are two
fold-businesS as well as dOmestic-and
while the divorce proceedings which Mrs.
Hopper is about to institute will result in
the severance of the latter, they need not
affect the former. And it may be stated
that they will not. Mrs. Hopper has a
contract with Mr.. Ben Stevens, the man.
ager of her husbands company, to remain
In that organization during the ensuing
season. and it is her present intention to
carry it out, distasteful even as the asso-
citation may be to her.
Nh De Wolf Hopper is too we'll known to
the public to need any introduction. His
wife is also favorite with theater-goers.
She is a native of San Francisco, and first
made a reputation for herself as a comedi-
enne of ability in 1.-THE Girl 1 Left Behind
Me" at the Empire Theater. She was
known then as Miss Edna Wallace. In 1893
she married Mr.. Hopper, and shortly after
ward, when Della Fox fell i'll, Mrs Hopper
took her place in 'Panjandrum, and has
held q position in his company ever since.
Mr.. Hopper has been married three times.