New-York tribune., 1912-01-15
SCHUMANN-HE|NK TO SUE !
. FOR DIVORCE FROM RAPP
Diva Says Proceedings Will Be
Instituted Soon Against Her
Young Husband:
BEEN SEPARATED SOME TIME
Saws She Has Endured Life
with Husband IL Years Her
Junior as Long as She
Possibly Gould. .,.
fBy Telegraph to The Tribune. !

by Telesrapn 10 Inc ll1Dune
ST. Louis. Jan. 14-When Mrs. WILL
lam Rapp. known 10 the music loving
public of two continents as Mime. Schu-
mann II eink, files her suit for divorce,
as she will soon, she will have demon
strated in real life the theme of the only
comic opera in which she ever appeared
| in America, Loves Lottery"
Nine. Schumann- Heink and her hus-
band, William Rapp. jr.. twelve years
her junior. separated some time ago, but
neither until tonight acknowledged
there was an estrangement
The great contralto in her apartments
at the Planters Hotel after appearing
in two concerts on Saturday where it
was noticed she was in better voice than
on any former appearance In st. Louis,
admitted the separation, and said the
divorce petition would be filed soon. but
where she could not say. The mar
riage of the great singer to a man not
professional and a dozen years younger
than she was not happy one. With as
much feeling and expression as she ever
put ia any of the songs that have made
her famous she spoke Of the mesalli-'
ance. and said she had endured It as
long as she could. and while she dreaded
having the name OF Schumann- Heink in
the divorce courts, there was no other
alternative.
"I have no word 10 say against MT.
Rapp," said the diva. He is cultured
and refined but II Is best that he should
go his way and go mine. He is In New
York. where he has an office; and II
am on the road. singing.
There were no ugly quarrels nor any
scandal Please say that. for both OF us.
IL was Just for the best that have acted
as have.
1T is my children that caused the sep
aration. He could not understand. and
/ should not blame him too harshly for
Il. He has no children OF his own. while
/ have eight and some Of them are
grown.
When II came 10 a question whether
Il should be my children or my husband.
TO whom have been married six years.
clung 10 my children. And what good
woman would not? They are my life
and love them with Every breath that
l draw.
1T is my children that have been my
inspiration IN life. II was they who gave
me the ambition TO achieve what have
achieved. have given my life for them.
and never have regretted IT, and-1 do
not regret II now.
When / was in my native land and
so poor and the first Of my eight chill
dren came. I wanted to do all / could
for II, and when the others came felt
uthat | ought to do more work for them.
II was that they might profit by 1t that
I decided above lal things to become
great singer, a, great artistic, that |
might give to them things that had been
denied them.
And | worked so hard and | denied
myself so many things to achieve my
ambition. II was to work for them and
20 build them a home that | came to
your America, that in the thirteen years
well. But what made me come was to
win money and home for them.
II had succeeded before l became the
wife Of Mr. Rapp, and my estate In New
Jersey is a beautiful place. and am
happy when / am surrounded by my
children. Then I have another home In
California, and / am happy there; and,
no matter where | am. want my chill
dren to know that their mother will al
ways take them to her arms"
Paterson, n. j.. Jan. l4.-Inquiry at
Mime. Schumann- Heink's summer resi-
dence at Fairfield could not throw any
light upon the reported divorce proceed
ings which 1t has been said she has in
stituted against her husband, William
Rapp. tr. No one at the place knew
anything Of the matter. During the
winter Nine, Schumann-Heink usually
spends her time at the Waldorf-Astoria.
Mime. Schumann- Heink was born In Bo-
hemia on June 10. 1861, and was the
daughter of Hans Roessler, native OF
Vienna. In 1882 she was married to Ernst
IIeink. OF Dresden, and suffered a decade Of
almost uncomfortable married life. BY Heink
che had four children. She gained d.
vorce in 1898 and was married by Paul
schumann. an. actor of Hamburg. He
died in 1904, In 1905 Nine. schumann-
Ueink became an American citizen, and In
NAV of that wear was welded by Mr.. Rapr.
Bv the second marriage she also had four
children, and long has been famous Tor her
devotion to the large family