The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-13
70 LEAVE "DOSI0N|Ahs. >
Jessie DARTLETT DAVIS WILL
QUIT THE ORGANIZATION.


~ HCAGO, Aug. G-Jessie Bart
Ho1 lett Davis. the famous contral-
N~ to Of the Bossonians. q singer
N = whom all lovers Of music have
for years delighted to honor.
viii quit the organization with
which she Is connected and those who are
well informed believe that this means her
retirement from the stage.
For some time rumors have been rife
that the pretty wife Of Win ]. Davis, OF
this city. had had enough Of life in front
of the footlights. Her husband has been
prosperous In his theatrical ventures and
she herself has from liberal salary
saved the foundation for an independent
fortune, 30 that no financial need exists
for further operate efforts on her part.
Added to this Is the fact that Of late
the health OF the. actress has been any,
thing but good. During her stay at Twin
Lakes Wis.,, where she now Is, she be-
came convinced that she would be hap
pier OF the stage than on and she made
up her mind to take the step which has
now become q certainty.
About four years ago Mrs. Davis had q
quarrel with the management of the Bos-
quit the company.
Though the breach was serious. an arms-
'tice was arranged which proved very
profitable fur the cantatrice, for under its
terms her already munificent stipend was
raised to $500 q week. 1t 10 not thought.
however, that q renewal OF this outbreak
led to the decision of Mrs. Davis to part
with the company with which she has so
long been connected. 1t seems nearer the
truth. from all that can be learned. that
she intends to retire Tor good.
When Will J.. Davis was questioned re-
garding the latest rumor touching his
wife's plans he seemed reluctant to talk
about the matter. This much he said:
Mrs. Davis will be ID Chicago very
soon and / would much rather have you
talk with her than with me. although I
will 20 this far-I will assert positively
that she win not be again heard with the
BostonianA"
Mrs. Davis herself, ensconced In the re-
tirement Of pretty villa at Twin Lake.
where she and her son have been since
the close Of the theatrical season, could NOT
b seen anent the matter OF her rumored
secession from the lyric drama Mr.. Davis.
the husband. In at Willowdale. his country
home, near Crown Point, Ind.
Whose name viii succeed that OF Mrs.
Davis. so favorably known throughout the
musical world. on the programme OF tho
Bostonians is not known. That the organ
ixat parts with her perforce and with
the greatest Of regret her friends do not
for an instant doubt.
The first report was that the contralto
had decided to rest for \ year only. Now
It has gone much further than that
Before she was married Mrs. Davis bore
the name Of Jessie Bartlett, 50 1t will be
seen that she has never, In accordance with
the common custom. assumed nom de
stage. Jessie Bartlett was a country girl.
robust and rosy checked and full OF HE
and vigor. Her early years she passed on
n farm near Morris I'll
Her musical education was received I'M
der Frederick Root In Chicago ana II was
in this city mat she achieved her first
vocal success A. contralto In the choir
Of the Church OF the Messiah her voice
charmed thousands. In July. 1897, she join
ed the Chicago Church Choir Pinafore
Company and gained fresh laureis as Lit
tie Bustercup in the production Of the
opera
She made her debut as Slebel to Pattfs
Marguerite in Faust" in New York city.
then joined the Carleton opera company
ana later the America opera company.
touring America In both. Mrs. Davis
studied one season in Paris before enter
ing into a contract with the Bostonfans
with which company she had been con-
nected ever since.