Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-23

Left To- right. top: Polly Chase.
Mrs. Mary Barrie Cannan, Sir James
NJ. Barrie. Below: Gilbert Cannan.
LONDON. Dec 22.-The wierd. fIc-
uon-like love logic of Sir James
Matthew Barrie. enc Of the most sue
cessful playwrights alive. is soon TO
lead him To take back the wife he
gave voluntarily TO Gilbert Cannan,
statueslue young playwright ana
dramatic critic who had played NM
false as a friend.
The former Mrs. Barrie has asked
the English divorce court to restore
her To her conjugal rights. and tnjs IL
the first step to a divorce. 1t would
indicate that all the happiness Bar
rie wished the couple had not been
attained.
1t was in April, 1912. when Barrie
was given absolute divorce from his
wife. Then bega- Il sequence %
events which Barrie's keenest fantasy
/ could not have outdone in play or
rovel
Barrie had entreated his wife to re-
turn to him when he discovered her
infatuation. for Cannan-he had Of
I fered her anything She argued il
would be ignoble to return TO him
knowing that Canaan had her love
and the tears-he admitted on tu-
witness stand that he wept-and
pleadings for rec7nciliationf avalled
nothing.
With absolute divorce granted him
/ Barrie set about arranging for his
wfe's future happiness like fairy
godfather His friends who expected
him to he heart-brokcn and morosa
were aetounded. They knew his love
for his wife was a thing exalted,
sacred. and they could not compre-
hend his attitude of complete for
siNeness.
Arranges Wedding.
lie aided the couple in every way
to a speedy marriage. voluntarily set
Ting upon his wife beautiful home
at Farnham and a $3.50 annuity. lie
arranged for a quiet ccreU ory In an
out-of-the way place near London
and was practically best man.
All thru the queer ministrations of
the talented writer TO his former wife
there was no trace OF Venpefulncss
toward the youth who had usurpel
his place in the affections of his one
Woman. Cannan even maintained
apartments in the same house with
Mrs Barrie when the divorce pro-
oeedings were on until John Gals
worthy, author and stickler for the
conventions. induced him TO move.
The sympathies Of persons Of all
walks OF life and everywhere that
English was spoken went out TO the
author OF THE Little Minister"
Sentimental Tommy" and "The Pro
tessor's Love Story" and dozens OF
other httle stories and plays with
tender love for their theme.
Barrie was n comparatively poor
author in 1874 when he married the
woman he has all but deified. She
was Mary Ansell. an English actress.
They had no children She appeared
In his first play. Walker London"
but retired from the stage after mar
riage.
Interested I'm Women.
While none ever questioned the
genuineness of his love for his wife
the authors friends recall! many in
stances OF his deep interest In women
OF striking beauty. When Mrs. rat
rick Campbell was seemingly dropped
from popularity Barrie's sympathy
was won by her and he wrote her a
Ilay which put her back on her ieet
financially. The success OF Maxine
Elliott was established after she sp-
ptared in a work written for her by
Barrie. who was attracted by her
statueSQue beauty the first time ne
saw her In London.
Even Gahy Deslys has had the dis
tincuon OF having Barrie piece
written 70: her pl oducton II was
called Rosy Rapture"
Polly Chase was a young American
actress whose charm appealed 10
Barrie long before the divorce. he
wrote peter Pan" for her She made
fortune and Barrie adopted her rs
his daughter. Friends of Mrs Bar
rio have said that she objected to
the adoption and those friends looked
for Barrie TO marry his ward after
he left his wife. But she was never
more than a daughter TO him and
eventually married an English
banker
Another second Mrs. Barrie was
seen in Lady Scott. widow OF the
British explorer. Captain Scott left
his wife and little son. Peter. In the
care Of his dear friend Barrie when
he went 20 the antartic. where he lost
his life. Barrie became wrapped up
IN the education OF Peter. but folk
who looked for his marriage 70 the
bo~s mother were disappointed.
All the years, however. all tho
lindueSsec he has done for others Ill