The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1909-09-05
BEHIND THE CURTAIN.

Grace Van Studdiford, the well
known light opera singer, has filed
papers in a suit for divorce against her
husband, Charles Van Studdiford. The
grounds upon which the singer bases
her complaint against her husband are
not known. but judging from recent re-
ports concerning the singer and her
husband, it is believed that she charges
desertiOn and nOn-suppOrt.
Coming SO soon after the serious in
jury to her husband at Decatur, H.,
/ the filing Of the suit has caused much
comment Mr.. Van StuddifOTd was
overcome by the heat on Aug. z at
Decatur while riding on a coach, and
fell to the ground striking on his head
He has been in the hospital since
Charles Van StUddifOTd was at one
/ time q successful business man. He
/ lost his fortune and his wife, who pos
sessed a fine voice and great beauty
returned 10 the footlights. She then
made her first great success. Later she
left the stage and. it is said, used her
! personal fortune in re-esta bIiShing her
husband in business.
A year or so later she again returned
/ TO the stage and has had lucrative en-
gagements since in several of the most
| successful light operas and musical
I
the Red Feather"
The suit viii be heard at the Septem-
Der term Of the circuit court of St.
Louis The prayer for divorce is re-
markable for its brevity. On a sheet Of
manuscript Mrs. Van Studdiford re-
cites that they were married on April
p, 1897, in Chicago, and separated -
day of May, 1903"
On this unnamed date, she alleges.
Van StuddifoTd deserted her, and he
has since stayed away, "absenting him
self without reasonable cause. from
said date until the present time" She
goes to New York to begin rehearsals
for The Golden Butterfly" which will
be revived, with herself as the star in
September.
The marriage of Grace Quive. then
with The BOstOnians," and Char
Van StuddifOrd caused quite a social
commotiOn. The wedding took place at
the Indiana home of the singer and
was quiet event. VIII J. Davis. then
interested in the Century theater
through the Tri-State Amusement COM
pany, and manager of the Columbus
theater in Chicago, gave the bride
away.
As most of us know, ?. T. Barnum
died but a few months after his COM
petitor i'm the SHOW business. Adam
Forepaugh, says a writer in Success
Magazine. When Rarnum arrived at
the pearly gates he was welcomed by
Forepaugh, who exclaimed exuItingIy,
We'll. Pete, 7 got ahead of you this
ttme.' p. T. did not answer, but
smiled as he pointed to a large bill
posted near the main entrance. It
read; wait for Barnum-Coming
Soon"
Dick Carroll, whose clever comedy
burlesques are one of the brightest fea-
lures in The Alaskan is an inveter-
ate joker, but recently Miss Lora Lieb,
the prima donna Of the company sue
Ceeded in turning the laugh on him
Carroll one afternoon was complain
ing of having attended a fraternaI ban
QUet. He declared that. while he had
not imbibed too much, he certainly had
overeateu. and he felt a tighsness of
the forehead, induced, he said, by indi-
gestiOn.
Miss Lieb heard Of this and sent her
maid into CaTTOlls room, while the
comedian was on the stage. to ''horrov''
his hat Now, Carroll has a straw hat.
but prefers q felt one. Miss Lieb sent
the felt hat to a halter next door, with
orders to shrink it half an inch. in
sUrreptitiOusly slipped back into its
place in CarTOlPs dressing room with
out his being aware that it had ever
left its peg. The word was passed
around and after the performance cutie
number fingered at The stage door
awaiting results. Pretty soon Carroll
came out, bearing his nat in his hand
and wearing a much puzzled expression.
Mrs. Carroll, who had been LEI into
the secret, took his arm and started up
the street with him.
Put on your hat, Dick: the sun viii
hurt you" she suggested. Dick aid.
The hat stood on the top Of his heal
and defied all pressure; he could not
squeeze it down upon his head.
Dick. you've been drinking" said
Mrs. Dick.
NO. honest honey, I haven't had any
thingw
But look at yourself in the glass"
she insisted, as they passed a shop
window.
Dick looked.
Honest I. took Just one Ne drink.