The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-03-30
THE PENALTY OF
MARRYING AN ACTRESS

II an ofhcer marrieS an actress, he must
send in his papers. For aught 1 know
to the contrary, Mr.. Brett may have
! intended in any case to resign his COM
mission. The guards rule in regard to
marrying ladies connected with the stage,
OF course, is unofficial.
Officially. no restrictions are placed on
the marrying OF British officers. In
foreign armies the case Is different. The
American army officer. II is true, may
marry without reference TO his military
| superiors; but French. German Russian.
| and Japanese officers must obtain per
mission to wed, and. to procure this. they
must produce satisfactory evidence as to
the lady's social position and moral
character. while the German officer. II
below the rank of first-class captain.
must show that he is able to MAINTAIN
the lady in fitting style. and the Russian
officer has to deposit a substantial sum
| in the regimental chest.
At one time a British officer had to
pay a fine to the mess on marrying. the
penalty ranging from $500 to s12J. accord
ing to the rank OF the "offender,' !. e..
the lower his rank, the heavier the fine.
Paragraph 1852. Kings Regulations. de-
clarcs: Fines. whether in money or wine,
will not be levied for any minor ir-
regularities, nor on marriage docs this
mean that marriage is a major irregu-
larity"). promotions" &c.
Fines practically have disappeared. but
ii is still the custom for an officer on
becoming engaged. publicly to announce
his good fortune at mess dinner. and
to invite his comrades TO celebrate the
event. There was something to he said
for the old system OF fines. When an
officer marrics he is practically lost TO
the mess. He continues TO pay the au-
thorized subscriptions and his share OF
entertainments. but he ceases to live in
the mess, and many married officers in
A regiment mean increased expense to
the bachelors. for the smaller the mess
the greater the cost to the individual
officer of maintaining II.
Tho rule about resiSnnC on marriage
with an actress is not based on finance.
tho marriage rule undoubtedly is an ar
htrarv interference with the liberty of
the subject, but there Is. OF course some
thing to be said for It. Guards officers.
stationed as they arc as a rule in or near
London. have moro opportunities of West
End theaterEoing than the officer in an
ordinary regiment. or course. there are
theaters outside London. but the com
nanies that come to them are here to-
day and gone tomorrow. and for that
reason it is exceptional for tho ordinary
lin" officer N marry an actress.
The guards rule which apparently is
so great a slur on the theatrical profess
sion. Is based upon social considerations
II a man. in. say, county society makes
an undesirable match. it is open to the
county 10 cut his wife But when a
lady marries an officer she becomes "Ipse
facto" a member of the corps. She must
be received by tho other officers wives.
she must he invited 10 all the reGimental
functions. and when an entertainment is
given. she is in the position Of a hostess.
An officers wife. like an officer. may be
sent to coventry" but this means more
or less serious trouble for everybody. II
a ma jor's wife is To be ostrarized by the
wives OF officers his juniors you are
striking at the roots Of discipline and
particularly at that family feeling which
binds moss together. II is practically
Impossible to separate an officers wife
from him. She is entitled to go where
he goes and she has a more or less official
position. II an officer marries a lady
whose character will not bear invrstiga-
ton. il is hard on the other married
ladies Of the regiment that they should
be compelled 10 receive her as an equal.
MeSallianCes are not confined to tho
stage or the guards. but in past years
there have been many cases Of young
guards officers marrying actresses OF low
professional standing. and this fact ac-
counts for tho rule. But every absolute
rule like this spells great hardships in
particular instances. II is really ridicu-
loUs that with peeresses who have mar
ri"d from the stage sitting in the House
OF Lords on the opening day OF Parlia-
ment, there should be no means of in
surfing the same consideration for ac-
tresses who happen to have married
younger sons of peers instead of the
eldest. 1t seems the proper plan should
he to submit marriages OF every kind in
tho guards regiments to the authority OF
the mess and to recognize that unsUita-
hility nr suitability depends entirely upon
the wife herself not upon the profession
which she may have honorahlv adopted
as means Of earning her living.
In view of the acceptance OF two new
historical paintings for the London Royal
Exchange. the suggestion again is forth
coming that a few of the vacant panels
might be devoted to pictorial represen-
tations of episodes in the reigns of King
Edward and King George V. King Ed
ward paid several visits TO the city which
could he Commemorated in this way,
while the royal progress of King George
at his coronation obviously would pro-
vide fitting subject.
The idea of decorating the walls Of the
Royal Exchange with historical paintings.
chiefly Of a royal character. developed
fifteen years ago. when Lord Leighton,
then president Of the Royal Academy.
contributed the first of the series. Sey
mour Lucas followed with a picture
showing William the Conqueror granting
a charter to the city of London. Many
beautiful panels since have been intro
duced. the most notable being Ernest
Normand's King John scaling Magma
Charta: Henrietta Rae's Richard Whit
tington distributing aims to the poor;
Abbey's representation of the feud be-
tween the SINNERS and Merchant Tai
lors' companies; Goetze's scene of the
crown being offered to Richard III;
Ernest Crofts visit of Queen Elizabeth
to the city; Solomon ]. Solomon's visit
of Charles to Guild Hall TO demand the
delivery of the five members of the House
Of Commons: Stanhope Forbes Great
Fire Of London" Cows Nelson Leaving
Portsmouth to Join the Victory" and
Macbeth's Opening OF the Royal Ex-
change by Queen Victoria
1t will be seen from this catalogue that
the panels are Of such a character that
King George would follow in natural
ND &c RI hn hnpaI hat he