New-York tribune., 1911-10-22
WIFE SUES HARRINGTON
Asks a Divorce from Novelist on
Ground OF Cruelty.
WANTS THEIR CHILD OF FIVE
Alimony Question Not Raised,
and Each Is Said To Be a
Millionaire.

indianapolis. oct ct.-NIrs. Booth Tark-
ington. wife of the novelist and playwright
to-day fled suit for divorce in the Superior
Court II this county. She charges the de-
fendant with cruelty and asks for the Gus
tudy Of their child five years old.
That she always has heen A dutiful
wife. but that the defendant has treated
her with great cruelty" is the principal
allegation i'm tho complaint. which is very
brief and does not relate any instances CT
the alleged cruel treatment. No mention
Of alimony is made. II is set out that Mr..
and Mrs. Harrington have not lived to-
Gether since last July.
Mr.. Harrington is in New York City.
having returned recently from a trip 10
Europe. Prior 10 last July Mr.. and Mrs.
Harrington maintained house In a fash
ionable residence district Of this city, but
they had spent a great deal OF time in
Paris, capri and New York.
According to INDIANAPOLIS gossip the dis
agreement between Mr.. and Mrs. Tarking-
ton is due principally TO Mr.. TarNngton's
love Of travel Mrs. Harrington, her
friends say, likes = quiet life in a perna-
nent home. and does not fancy the night
life Of Paris. London. Vienna and New
York. which appeals to the novelist
Mrs. Harrington before her marriage on
June Is. 1902, was Miss Laurel Louisa
Fletcher, daughter Of Stoughton J..
Fletcher, a millionaire banker and capital
ist of this city. At his death he left her
large fortune She is a writer of verse
and has contributed TO magazines under
the name OF Louise Fletcher Harrington.
one Of Mrs. darlington recent poems is
said to express her personal feelings about
her married life. II reads
wish that there were some wonderful
Called tho Land Of Beginning Again,
Where all our mistakes and al our heart
aches
And all Of our poor. selfish grief
Could be dropped. like shabby old coat,
az the door,
And never pUt on again.
I wish we could come on il unaware
Like the hunter who finds 4 lost trail,
And 7 wish tnat the ono whom our blind
ness had done
The greatest Injustice Of all
Could he At the gates, like an old friend
that waits
For the comrade he's gladdest TO hail
We would md all the things We intended
70 do,
But forgot. and rornembered-too late,
Little praises unspokeu. little promises
broken.
And al OF the thousand and one
Little duties neglected that might have per
fectcd
The day for one less fortunate
IT wouldn't be possible not 10 no kind
I'm tho Land Of Beginning Again.
And the ones We misludged and the ones
whom W grudged
Their moments Of victory here
Would find i'm the grasp Of our loving hand
clasp
More than renitent lips could explain.
For What had been hardest we'd know had
been best,
And what had seemed loss would be gain;
For there isn't a sting that will not take
wing
When we've faced il end laughed it away:
And I think that the laughter is most what
I'm the Land Of Beginning Again.
50 1 wish tlat there were some wonderful
Called the Land Of Beginning Again,
Where all our mistakes and all our heart
And all OF our poor. selfish grief
Could he dropped, like shabby old coat
at the door.
And never put on again.
Trom "The Smart Set, copyrighted
Mr.. Harrington returned TO New York
recently after spending tho summer
abroad. A dispatch from Indianapolis on
October T. announcing the separation Of
the couple added the statement that Mrs.
Harrington is also a talented writer and
professional jealousy IS said 20 be one
cause OF tie trouble" When the telegram
was read over the telephone 10 Nj. Tark-
incton. who was then at Princeton, he
laughed az the last sentence.
II shouldn't like 20 discuss the matter
at all" Mr.. Harrington said II. how
ever. you will kindly say that the 'Frofes-
sionaI jealousy part Of the dispatch IS
absurd. / shall appreciate it. That makes
me laugh. 7 speak not only for myself,
but I believe I may speak for Mrs. Tark-
inctou. hen 7 say that professional jeaI-
ousv' between Mrs Harrington and me is
SO absurd that even to take the trouble 10
DENY IL seems silly to ne
Mr.. Harrington il said 10 have earned
q 900 900 by his writings since le was grad
uated from Princeton i'm 1895. He was
elected TO the Indiana Legislature ic 1872
I'm addition 10 his successful "The Man
from nomcr Nj Tarkugtou wrote "Tos~
Humble Servant" in collaboration with
Harry Leon Wilson. and iu the earlier
davs ne dramauzcd Monsieur BeaucaIre
which was played by Richard Mansfield
and lately has been revived. Also he is
tho author Of nine novels, the best known
~ which. uorhaps. is The Gentleman from
Indiana
lie fq q member q the National institute
Of Arts and Letters. the Lambs the Play
erg. the Princeton CLUB Of New York the
rvy ~ Princeton and the Uni}e ersity and