The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-02-01
RUTH B. LEAvITT.
Interesting Letters That She
Wrote to Her Husband.
Who Was Pursuing His Art in
Paris.
SAYS:"MY DEARPETER"
Was Peculiar in Her Demands
for Herself.
What She Says of Plan to Nom
mate Father.
SAYS:"MY DEARPETER"

Paris. Feb. 1.-The divorce suit
brought by Ruth Bryan Leavitt is
based on the grounds of desertion and
lnonsupport, and while the artist hus-
| band she is suing refuses to discuss
the case in detail. he has submitted
the following letters from Mrs. Leavitt
as a remarkable series of documents
in the case.
The first of the interesting SERIES
which, all told. make a trunkful in Mr..
Leavitt's studio here. is addressed to
the husband from Lincoln July 10, 1908
1t reads:
Dear Peter 1t is strange that you
offer in one letter to do anything /
wish and in the next lay down a line
| of duty for me to follow I have to do
what 1 think best to do. and there are
other considerations. Mother needs me
very much, and L am glad to be able
to help her, for she has three very
hard months before her.
Duty to Her Mother.
Il am going to remain here to help
her. For the time being it is my high
est duty to take all the care 1 can off
her shoulders.
Il have had some new photographs
made and will send you one when fin
iShed.
Sorry you were annoyed by that
newspaper investigation of our affairs
out here. Nothing will start from this
end, L can assure you, and if you carry
out your summer plans as arranged, no
one can comment, for they are per-
fectly acceptable
Insisted OH Her Own Way.
In March of last year and writing
from Constantinople, Mrs. Leavitt
says:
to please me and in the very next let
ter you insist that I shall change my
plans for the summer. 1 insist that
my way Will prevail in this case. 1
wanted a full year to recover my
health and to make up my mind about
the future.
You say you will do as 1 wish and
write you that L wish you to con-
tinue your work in Paris"
That Mr.. Bryan had a hand in this
interesting correspondence is shown by
tht following, addressed to Leavitt on
the Commoner's letterhead, March Is,
1908:
Your favor found on my desk on
return to city. 1 can appreciate your
desire to have the two children, for
l. too, am fond of the children. But
in Ruth's case the first thing to be
considered is her health. You know
she had a narrow escape last summer,
but is now improving, and 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.
II do not know what plans she has
for the summer. l shall urge her to
conserve her health until entirely we'll.
nothing else is to be thought of. will
write you about the plans as soon as 1
consult Ruth.
Il am glad your mother is with you.
1 was prompt to correct the rumor
about the separation, but 1 had not
heard the reports about yourself, of
which you speak. Yours truly,
wv. ]. BRYAN"
Refused to Join Her Husband.
In another letter, dated from Cairo.
in January of last year Mrs. Ruth
my Dear Peter: At last in Egypt
to find your letters awaiting me at the
bank 1 want to thank you for looking
at the convention delegateship as you
did 1 haven't heard if 1 have been ap-
pointed except in the paper, but any
thing for fathers interests is all both
you and 1 would do. But for the next
few months I think you can help your
self and others by making the most of
your work.
my advice is to peg away; make
good; do your big picture and 1 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 any furniture
or anything else for a house in Paris.
Use your money for your materials,
and models for this year. 1t is your
chance to do something fine and some
thing that will be more lasting than
Louis Quinz furniture-no matter how
pretty that is 1 don't think the idea
of joining you in England this year is