The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-03-02
OF DAVENPORT AND
HIS WIFE.

Homer Davenport, the great car
toonist, who lectured in Honesdale
and has many friends here, has been
staying at Point Iona, Cal, since
Christmas, recuperating from a nerv-
Gus breakdown due to trouble with
his wife Concerning this unfort-
unate affair which has been aired i'm
the newspapers at considerable
length. Mr.. Davenport has made a
public statement
81 have retained from saying any
thing up to date" he says, "of my
unfortunate case. IL was a matter
that did not develop recently. It
was a mistake that is possibly most
commonly made by young people un-
familiar with the sacredness of mar
ried life. In the beginning one was
not to blame more than the other.
But marriage on two weeks ac-
qugintance should not be encourag-
ed.
In my case these two people en-
tertained entirely different views of
home life and the obligations there
ming our views were widely different.
and our tastes very dissimilar.
had not been married a week before
| reauzed that this marriage COM
bination between Mrs. Davenport
and myself was a travesty. As time
went on the gap was continually
widening. In upholding this false
condition of home life, ! may have
done an injustice to my children, but
| still had faint hope that time
might bridge some of it's difficulties
Later when there was no longer any
hope of this, ! decided for the happi-
ness of myself and family, not to re-
main with them, though my wife
and | had occupied different apart
ments in the same house for two
years prior to my final leaving
1T was not until Mrs. Davenport
circulated stories which reflected up
on my character as a man that ! de-
cided to leave Morris Plains, N J.
TO my surprise | discovered that she
had made companions and confidants
of her servants, and that they dis
cussed me in the presence of my
young children as a worthless char
acter, unworthy of respect
so by mutual agreement | left my
home year ago. Previously | had
decided to her all my property, in
cluding real estate in California. a
beautiful home in East Orange, y.
J .,one of the most beautiful and ex-
pensive country estates in America
at Norris Plains, n. j., together with
large life insurance, and a vast
amount af valuable furniture, works
of art and rare paintings, library.
etc.
There are no scandals, no affini-
ties, in this deplorable mix-up. as
might be imagined by somv Mrs
Davenport's tendency was to rant
against literary and artistic persons.
This was a direct blow against my
profession, which was my only
means of providing for my family,
and what had supplied Mrs. Daven-
port for years in her extravaganza.
At my Morris Plains estate | had
spent some sixty thousand dollars
trying to make it beautiful. In this
my wife and children were to have
their share of enjoyment, and they
still have it.
Il have no disposition to impeach
Mrs. Davenport's moral character in
the deepest sense. | have no grounds
that would give me the right to ask
for legal separation from her other
than that of incompatibility. | be-
lieve that her heartless attacks on
my moral character were partly due
to the influence of a man and woman
whom | once welcomed to my home,
but whom | later. for good reason,
asked to visit my home no more.
Before | took any legal steps in
my matrimonial affairs, l begged
Mrs. Davenport not to run any bills
without letting me know what she
ordered. This she promised to do
| was afraid that she might run un-
necessary bills that | might not be
able to meet. Yet, Immediately af-
terwards, in one weeks time, she
added a $500 account to one she had
already contracted of $1,000 for
dress goods only, without telling me
she had done so.
The legal transaction between us
has reached this point: The decision
of a court in New York state allowed
Mrs. Davenport $400 a month in ad-
dition to what | had given her, for
the support of herself and children
which sum | gladly paid until | was