Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-01-26
BRYAN'S SON-|N.LAW
WON | DEFEND SUIT.
ARTIST HUSBAND NOW LIVING
IN PARIS IN LATIN QUARTER,
SAYS HIS WIFE Is WELCOME
TO DIVORCE VERDICT.

PARIS, Jan. 2S-WiTiam Homer Leav-
tit received yesterday from Thomas S. AL
len, his wife's lawyer at Lincoln, Ne
braska, notification that Mrs. Leavitt
who is daughter of w. ]. Bryan, had
filed petition for divorce on the ground
of incompatibility of temper and non-sup-
port. He was questioned on the matter to-
day, but declined to discuss it, saying he
did not desire to embarrass his wife In
any way.
Mr.. Leavitt will not oppose the suit
With his mother, with whom he has been
living in Paris, he will leave in a few
days for America. His departure is in
no way connected with the suit but is
part of his plan to exhibit his painting,
THE Last Supper" in the United States
Mr. Leavitt's friends in the Latin quar-
ter, who esteem him highly, as a serious
and Woodworking artist, say his life has
been exemplary. They are of the opin-
ion that Mrs. Leavitt's decision to OBJ
tain a divorce is due entirely to her ner-
vous temperament. She has suffered
from neurasthenia for the last two years
''Denied Her Nothing
"Wen, l never denied her anything,
said William H. Leavitt, the artist hus-
band of Ruth Bryan Leavitt. today, "and
if she wants divorce She can have that.
too ~ .,--... ..- I'm -
Leavitt, who is a young looking man
of, 40. and a, portrait. painter of high
standing in Paris, was reluctant to dis
ctlss the action of his wife. -.
.,"She is hardly responsible, he !. said
',Nhy, only three days ago she wrote me
the usual affectionate letter, only in it
she said, as she has often said before,
If you don't love me, why don't you get
a divorceT
Long ago 1 decided 1 would not take
any action on account of the children, so
1 paid no attention. Then yesterday. the
American mail brought me an eXtraor-
binary typewriter letter, evidently die
tated by her, but signed by Tom Allen,
Bryan's law partner. This letter said:
What the Letter Said
There has been so much newspaper
gossip that Ruth must get divorce
Mr.. Leavitt wrote last night asking
what the charges were. All he knows he
learned from Aliens letter. Pts friends
here say that when she obtains a divorce
she may marry western man of wealth.
Marriage Like Fiction
The entire story of the marriage Of
Ruth Bryan and w. II. Leavitt, reads
| like fiction. He was at Lincoln. Neb.,
painting Mr.. Bryan's portrait and one
day Ruth showed him the notice of their
engagement in a newspaper.
why, we must contradict that at
once" he said.
Ruth answered sharply; Indeed, you
won't; its true"
And n was. r.-
Their married life never lacked va
riety In New Orleans one day they took
walk and Ruth. with an impulse of
wifely affection suddenly, announced that
she would kiss him at every street cor
ner. s-r, s'
1t was in Denver about two years ago
that Ruth's health broke down. She be-
came neurasthenic, would not keep a SER
want. feared, she was being followed by
people hired to poison her and for six
weeks. would not eat a mouth full of food
unless cooked by her husband.
Sought a Sanitarium
Mr.. and Mrs. Bryan were consulted and
wanted to put Ruth in a sanitarium. but
could not do so without the husband
authority and this Leavitt refused. Final
ly Ruth herself asked him for it and he
wrote a letter to william ]. Bryan Civ
| ing the permission.
Since then there have been virtually
two women-one the same Ruth who won
! her painter husband and loved him pas
sionately; the other woman coldly care
less of him. Leavitt is living in Paris
with his mother. His attitude from the
beginning of the trouble has been one
| of reticence.
He has engaged no attorneys and win
not defend the case. At the bottom of
the dictated letter signed tom Allen
Ruth said:
IT am sorry to hurt your artistic ca
reer this way"