The evening world., 1911-01-21
Reata Winfield, Seeking Df-
UOrce in The Western City,
Could Not Resist Second
WoOing of NeW York
Clubman.
HER CAREER MOST
M
Former SouSd SOIoisf. T'Wice
Married, Once The Profege
of Sir Thomas Upton
Lived at Atlantic High
lands.

~ h'"S -
John s. Woodruff had reclaimed his
wife. known on the stage as Reata
Winfield, was received In this city to-
day with more than ordinary interest.
Woodruff reached Reno yesterday. ac-
cording to the despatch, and got TO the
cottage of his beautiful wife as fast as
gasoline could whirl him. He lux
a supplementary courtship with such
fervor his poutins spouse could not re-
sist. according to the reports. and they
became fully ~reconciled.
Woodruff 10 wealthy. a graduate OF
Yale, a lawyer by profession. son OF a
prominent Boston family and a member
of the Yale and other New York clubs.
He Is president of tho New York Last
Company. at Eleventh avenue and Thir-
ty-slxth street.
Has Had Romantic Career.
The woman he is bringing back to
New York with him has had a ro-
mantle career. She was Myrtle Conady.
born In Texas In 1883. Her mother was
a violinist and at the age of seven the
child began taking violin lessons. Her
frs. real engagement came when she
played at the Cherry Blossom ROOF
Garden Of the New York Theatre at
fifteen years OF age, when her beauty
and talent attracted immediate atten-
ton.
Lionel Lawrence. then stage manager
at the theatre, became interested In her
and gave her an extended engagement.
Soon he persuaded her to marry him.
and In 1901 they were wed In the Little
Church Around the Corner.
This marriage was the result OF a
dare at a dinner party. and at the
time Miss Winfield was soloist with
sousa's band. She became known in
musical circles as "Lawrence's
's.eenth.' but she was only his sixth
wife. ..
Their married life was not happy. and
In less thar a year she applied for a
divorce. She dropped out of sight after
the court proceedings and remained in
seculsion. forsaking her old friends and
associates. Finally she went to Lon
don to try to forget her shattered ro-
nance.
Played Violin In Street.
She was not successful there. With
out friends and money she was finally
forced into the street because shr
couldn't pay her rent. and on corners
played her violin for pennies. Exposure
landed her In a hospital and when she
recovered she went to work in a restau-
rant at s. a week. Somebody called Sir
Thomas Llpton's attention to the beau
tlful Southern girl and he obtained
many drawing-room engagements FOR
her. She soon earned enough to return
to New York.
In 1907 Miss Winfield appeared in Mel
lie, the Beautiful Cloak Model" 1t was
when travelling with Sousa's Band n
the charming v!olinist met her present
husband, John S. Woodruff. He became
enamored Immediately and followed her
all over Europe. His attentions became
so pronounced his wife divorced him.
He settled 10000 on their child adm al
lowed his wife $50 a week alimony. They
are now living In Germany.
Woodruff's marriage to the viol!n!st
In 1897 was not made public until March.
1905. They were then living at No. i7
East Forty-sixth street, On the night
of March % she was found In a hysteri-
cal condition at Thirty-ninth street and
Park avenue, unable to tell who she was
or the reason of her plight.
Husband Tells Of Marriage.
At the New York Hospital. where she
was taken. she revived the next day and
said she Was Mrs, US. Woodruff. and
sent for her husband. She said he had
gone to the Yale Club for dinner and
tina while she stepped out for some
headache medicine she suddenly became
dizzy and fell. When Woodruff called
at the hospital for her he admitted they
had been married for six months but
had kept the marriage secret for family
reasons.
Unit. Mrs. Woodruff quietly departed
for Reno not long ago they lived at At
lantic Highlands. She sold her automo-
bile to make the trip and at the time
some of the gossips at the Highlands
mentioned a devoted young man they
thought hoped to marry MIS-. Woodruff
when she was free.
In Reno Mrs. Woodruff Immediately
became a live wire In the divorce colony
and was the life OF many pleasant gath
erings. At one OF the gay dances, where
the guests mixed their own cocktails.
she suddenly halted a dance. went over
; to one OF the musicians and seized his
VIOLA.
She proceeded to win great applause
from her friends 10y playing y selection
on her fdVorlte Instrument, handing Il
back. she returned TO her partner with
the exclamation: "Oh, II ! only had my
own violin here,"