Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1910-02-24

startled social and artistic
circles. This time 1t Is
said 20 be the ghost which stalks be-
hind the decision of the Richard Hard
ing Davises to go their separate ways.
Ever since men and women have
written books, plays and poems, inter
preted dramas, composed music, and
painted pictures the artistic tempera-
ment has been blamed freely for do
nestle infelicity. In the days when
writer's, players and artists were re-
garded as graceless vagabonds of Bo-
hemia, strangely gifted by the gods,
the artistic temperament was consid-
cred inevitable, and 1t was forgiven.
The woman who became the wife OF
a maker of rhymes or painter Of
canvases was considered a brave
woman, and her future was darkly
drawn by prophetic friends.
But In time genius seemed to spring
from different class. Artists, writer's
and players came from conventional
families. The making of books, plays
and pictures became bushes or pro-
session, as we'll as an art And the
world declared that, such being the
case, the artistic temperament would
disappear Men and women would be
able to do the artistic thing, to carry
the stamp of genius, and still live the
conventional life.
But the history of art, literature and
the drama brought strictly up to date
proves this theory failure. The artis-
tic temperament is still doing business
at the. old stand, which in this day Of
modern thought is the divorce court.
The dispassionate, almost business
like, announcement Of separation
made by Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Hard
ing Davis is perhaps the most aston
fishing statement ever made to an as
tonished public
Mr.. Davis attorney, George Y.
Bauchle, said for his distinguished
client and the latter's wife:
"Mr. Davis could not be sued here
in New York, for there is not the
slightest bit of evidence against him
OF the sort that Is needed In a New
York divorce. And Mrs. Davis Is
sweet, lovely woman. They have SIM
ply agreed to disagree, and that's all
there is to 1t. They have been living
apart for considerable time, yet they
are friendly If they chance to meet"
Romance In Marriage.
The romance on which the Davis
marriage was built was the talk of
two continents. Mrs. Davis was Miss
Cecil Clark, daughter of John M. Clark
Of Chicago, who also had a country
place at Marion, Mass. She was
young woman of pronounced opinions
and great independence of thought
and action. She was said to be the
first Chicago girl to maintain kennel
of English and Boston bulldogs and to
wear the short coat of mannish cut
which later became famous In the IL.
Illustrations of Mr.. Davis novels. An
athlete. good Judge of horses and an
artist of considerable talent, she
seemed the very bride for the pictur-
esQue young novelist who had Just
scored his success with Soldiers of
Fortune"
Evidently he agreed with the public
on this topic. and with all the dash
and snap which characterized his nov
els of adventure he proceeded to make
a new record as a wooer. Being de-
tanned in England at the time he had
set for proposing to Miss Clark, he
cabled his proposal and the cable
brought back to him her answer, the
single word YES"
After reading this laconic but Joy
giving cablegram, Mr.. Davis sum-
moned a London messenger boy. In
his hand he held a ring that had been
in the Davis family for 100 years,
Here, boy, take this ring to No.
1901 Prairie avenue. Chicago, ILL.,, U.
s. A."
Begin your pardon, sir, it'll cost
a 'undred pound!" gasped the amazed
young Briton. But just the same the
lad and the ring eventually reached
Chicago, u. 8. A., and the story un-
doubtedly increased the sales of Davis
novels enormously.
The wedding, which was celebrated
In 1899, was charming outdoor af-
fair in meadow at Marion, with Miss
Ethel Barrymore, row Mrs. Colt, act