Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-03
LEAVTTT LETTERS GIVEN OUT
Artist Makes Public Correspondence
with Wife and W. ]. Bryan.
RUTH URGED HIN ON TO FAME
Appealed to Him to Paint Hts Great
Picture While she Took .
Year TO Recover Her
Health.

PARIS. Feb. 2-Homer p. Leavitt, the
artift. who recently was sued for divorce
by his wife. Ruth Bryan Leavitt. daughter
Of w. ]. Bryan, has given out several let
ters bearing on the separation Of the couple
prior TO the filing Of the action.
In the letters, all of which are OF a
friendly nature. IT is showh that Mrs.
Leavitt had asked for a years separation
In order 20 recover her health. Apparently,
from her letters, Leavltt had importuned
Ter to join him. for she insists that she
have her full year, n UGH OF which she de-
voted to travel
Mrs. Leavitt, in insisting that her will
prevail, urged her husband to spend his
money In behalf Of his art. ar not in fur
nishlng a home.
Make your way, paint your big picture"
is Mrs. Leavitt's cry
One letter in the series given out by
Leavitt is from w. ]. Bryan. The letter,
among other things. sympathizes with
Leavitt when the artist longed for his
children, Mr.. Bryan saying he. himself,
was found Of them.
Has 40 DO what she Thinks Best.
One Of the letters, written from Lincoln
80 1IS - w 10 as III
Dear Peter: 1t is strange that you offer
IN one letter to do anything l wish ana In
the next lay down a line of duty for me
to follow. ] have to do what l think best
to do and there are other considerations.
Mother needs me and l am glad to be able
to help her, for she has three hard months
before her.
am going to remain here to help her
with her mail. For the time being 1t is
my highest ruty to take all the care I can
off her shoulders.
I haNa haI 1900 -A-w -lAN~, -.ol. 49,
Will send you one when finished.
Sorry you were annoyed by that news
paper Investigation of our affairs out here.
Nothing will start from this end, 1 can as
sure you. and II you carry out your sum-
mer plans as arranged no one can COM
ment. for they are perfectly acceptable.
Wants Year TO Recover Health.
In March OF last year and writing from
Constantinople Mrs. LeavItt says:
You affirm that you will do anything to
please me and in the next letter you in
sist that 1 shall change my plans for the
summer. 1 insist that my way will prevail
In this case. l have told you time and again
that l wanted a full year to recover my
health and to make up my mind about
the future.
You say you will do as I wish, and I
write you that l wish you to continue your
work in Paris.
Bryan COrrects Separation RumOr.
Mr.. Bryan took q part in the correspond.
ence, as is evident by the following letter.
addressed to Leavitt. on the Commoner
letterheads:
March Is, 1908. Your favor found on my
desk on return to the city. 1 can appreciate
your desire to have the two children. for
!, too, am fond Of the children. But, in
Ruth's case. the first thing TO be considered
is her health. You know she had q narrow
escape last summer, but is now improving
and l think the Mediterranean trip has done
her good, besides being an advantage in
the way Of education. AS you know, travel
broadens one. Ruth enjoyed the holy land
especially.
1 do not know what plans she has for
the hummer. / shall urge her to conserve
her health until entirely well. Nothing else
iis to- be thought OF, / will write you about
the plans as soon as / consult Ruth. ''
1 am glad your mother Is with you. ]
was prompt to correct the rumor about
the separation. but 1 had not heard the
reports about yourself OF which you speak.
W. ]. BRYAN.
Tells Him to Make Good.
Mrs. Leavitt wrote her husband from
Cairo in January, 1908. as follows:
My Dear Peter-At. last, in Egypt-to find
your letters awaiting at the bank. l wan,
to thank you for looking at the convention
~delegateship as you did. l haven't heard II
l have been appointed, except In the paper
but anything for fathers interest Is wha,
few months I think you can help yourself
and others by making the most of YOU
work.
Ny advice is to peg away; make good
do your big picture, and I will do all In
the way of quiet influence to help father,
But you take this chance. Make the most
Of your chance while You are young Also
don't buy furniture or anything else fol-
a house in Paris. Use your money for you
materials and models for this year; II is
your chance to do something fine and
something that will be more lasting thar
Louis Quinze furniture-no matter how
pretty that In.
Il don't think the idea of joining You In
England this year is possible. for my yeaI
of comfort, travel and regeneration does
stay at Fairview (Lincolnl next summer
-Ir can do a great deal to help papa-espe-
cially IL we are to be in another campaign
this year.
As you say. what is my happiness Il
yours. and I answer that my desire Is to dc
what is best for you and me and for papa,
chances. RUTH.
Regrets Publicity Given Them.
And another letter was written from Cairo
: to Leavitt. the date being January 30. 1903
; II reads:
It is painful to me that the papers have 81
much to say about us. I will not nominate
a speech in the convention, and probabl,
) all this talking In the press means that
will not even be a delegate.
I A little more worry of this sort and
: will be hack where I was last spring. Blu
I shall not endanger my health again b,
mother and a good nurse for the babies
and I shall not, nor should you, expect m,
to shorten the year of rest you promised
me.
FIRST USE OF PANAMA CANAL