The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-29

aBeu DachclOr, thus makes de-
Tense TO breach OF promise
cult brought By a young woman OF
twenty-five. Quite plainly he init
mates that her affections cannot be
lacerated, nor her heart broken, be-
cause she is chorus girl. The i'm
Dllcauon is plain that chorus girl
cannot really love-has no heart to
love.
Miss Lay!nia Mason, the niece and
nam csake OF the wcll-known actress,
Miss Lavin!a Shannon, also OF Miss
W!nona Shannon and OF Giles Shine,
takes quite different view. Indeed,
there IS hundred thousand dollars
worth OF difference n their point.
OF view
Miss Mason says-in legal Ian
SuaGe are her words recorded:
That by reason OF such promises
made 10 her by the defendant, tho
defendant has inflicted upon her
great bodily pain and suffering apd
mental anguish and distress.
That BY reason Of the Defendants
failure to carry out his said promise
the plaintiff has become and now is,
and will remain for the balance, OF
her life, in a weakened condition OF
health, for by reason of the de.
PENDANTS refusal as aforesaid the
plaintiffs nervous system has been
severely shocked and permanently
injured, and she has become and
now is and always will remain, ner-
vous and hyscerical
That by reason OF the facts
and matters recited the plaintiff
has been damaged In the sum of one
hundred thousand dollars ($100.0O0)."
Because OF this wide difference o.
opinion the courts or New York
have been called upon to determine
whether chorus girl can love. The
lawyers will not claim and the jury
will not be asked to believe that the
girls who trip the measures OF mu-
steal comedy and who sing Ira la
Ia" In stated periods in the progress
OF the play, in cos, umes much de.
collete above and abbreviated below,
have no physical hearts. The bright
ness OF tn cir eyes and the rising and
fading color in their cheeks, without
the aid OF rogue. proclaim their pos
session OF the pumping station that
sends blood TO all quarters OF the
body. But whether their hearts are
attuned to love, can respond to it,
can be broken by It's loss, Is what
the New York courts must decide
IS there anything in the atmos-
phere OF the stage that prevents
heart fulfilling It's function OF love?
Does the abbreviated skirt chill the
heart as we'll as other parts OF the
body? Do stage dtrughts chill the
affections? Does the chorus girl
dance so continuously about a paint.
ed and bewigged hero. in knicker-
bockers and laces, that a mere bust
ness man in all-concealing tweeds
seems to her poor, plain creature
unworthy OF love?
Can n chorus girl love or can she
not? And, If she cannot, why not?
Broadway, the great highway OF
the m erry-merries, unable to deter
mine the question. will be glad to
near the answer Of the courts. Upon
the answer will depend the solution
OF many personal problems In which
tho hectic stree has greatly con-
cerned itself.
II the courts ask presidents, Broad.
way will be able to furnish interest
ing ones on both sides. Can a
chorus girl love? or course. she can.
Broadway will wer and cite the
case OF Mae Murray Miss Murray
was in the chorus Of the Folles atop
the New York Theatre when William
Schwenker, Jr., wooed and won her.
Troubles followed. They were
many and sordid, and all caused by
Papa Schwenker's delay in giving
tho nuptial blessing. There was a
period OF furnish ed room life on Park
avenue. with the bride dancing
around a gas stove instead OF a
handsome stage hero. The young
man was sued for wedding break
fast at Rector's that cost $591 and
for which obdnrate papa refused to,
and which the young man couldn't,
pay.
my wife is very economical"
boosted the young man, describing
their furnished room housekeeping.
Who would not be happy with such
wife? And who could deny, despite
that matutinal gas stove exercise,
that chorus girls can love?
And where is a loyalty to CON-
pare with that Of Florence Huber?"
Broadway will query.
Thomas Manville, Jr., son Of the
asbestos king, met, fell in love with
and married Florence Huber in two
days. He married her in two States
to make the marriage doubly bind
ing. Instead OF admiring his sons
Lochinvar methods, His Majesty of