The San Francisco call., 1898-03-20
MRS. BURNETT
 NOW SEEKS
 4 DIVORCE Sues to Secure Free dom From Her
 Illus band. The Author of "Little Lord FauntlerOy" Had Years
 of DiscOrd. Remained Near Dr.. Burnett Until Their Son Attained
 His Majority.
VERY JEALOUS OF HER.
Success of the Talented Woman in Her Writing the Cause of the
 Ensuing Arrangement.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, March 1s.-Mrs Frances Hodgson Burnett, the we'll known author of Little Lord Fauntle- roy,' "A Lady of Quality" His Grace of Osmonde," and other books which have gained wide circulation, to-day in- stituted divorce proceedings in the Su- preme Court of the District of Colum- bia against her husband, Dr. Swan M Burnett. The grounds upon which a decree Is asked is desertion and failure to support. The charge, to a large eX- tent, is purely technical. For about three years Mrs. Burnett and her hus- band have lived apart, and none of their intimate friends were surprised to-day to learn that steps had been taken to secure a legal separation.
 The circumstances which led up fc and caused action to be taken to se- cure a divorce cover a considerable period of years. During her early ca reer 1t is said that Dr. Burnett was very proud of his wife's ability, and the first years of their married life were happy. Two children were born Lionel, who died several years ago, and Vivian, who is now 21 years old. and a student at Harvard. According to an impression which generally pre- vails, he was the boy character upon which Mrs. Burnett founded her story of Little Lord Fauntleroy."
 Intimate friends of both Dr. and Mrs. Burnett had known for long time of their strained relations and they only remained as husband and wife for the sake of their child, and until he should become of age and ableto care for him. self All during the time that he was in the High School in this city, there was domestic discord. Husband and wife were rarely ever seen together, and conducted themselves toward one another only as acQuaintanceS. Mrs. Burnett is woman of pleasing ap- pearance and much personal magnet ism. While her husband is of less than ordinary stature and is a cripple, it is said, too, that while man of some means, an oculist enjoying a large practice and @ writer on scientific sub jects, he nevertheless grew jealous of his wife's reputation, which exceeded his. as did also her fortune from her books.
 While their son was preparing to go to college and Mrs. Burnett was on her way home from Europe, two years ago last fall, pr. Burnett moved from their residence, in Massachusetts avenue, and took a house in Farragut Square. 1nlS, IL Is SdIu, IS IHe OeSeIliOI1s CtldTSGQ in the suit for divorce. Friends, know ing that their differences could never be reconciled, have frequently advised that a divorce be secured.
 It is the understanding that the pro- ceedings are with the mutual consent of Dr. Burnett and Mrs. Burnett, and looked upon more as a business matter. Dr. Burnett will not discuss the case, but his friends say that he will not file a cross bill or take any steps to pre- vent Mrs. Burnett from securing a de- cree. She is at present in England, having sailed from New York about ten days ago, in company with a wom- an friend.
 The papers were made out and signed by Mrs. Burnett some time before she left Washington, and immediately upon her arrival in England she in structed her attorney to file the bill, as she did not wish to have the em- barrassment of having the proceed ings begun while she was here. Her friends say that her recent book, "A Lady of Quality" not long ago, fol- lowed by His Grace of Osmonde," ," was a financial success, and she is likely to travel abroad for some time and secure material for another novel.