Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-06-14
ARTIST CHRISTY
GIVEN DIVORCE
Marital Troubles Extending Over
Period Of 10 Years, are Ter.
minated In Court

ended the other day Tor HOWARD
Chandler Christy. artist, and his
wife, Mabelle Thompson Christy
original "Christy Girl" in a court
in GAINESVILLE. Ohio, where Mr.
Christy was given a divorce. In
his petition he charged his wife
with "wilful absence and gross
neglect of duty"
Il was just 10 years ago that the
public first learned of the breach
in the Christy home. In 1899
Christy left New York, with the an
nouncement tina: he was going to
Indianapolis to rest. He took their
little daughter, Natalie, with him.
Natalie, be left with his parents in
GAINESVILLE, and ChristY himself,
went on to Cuba. He said his
health was shattered by overwork.
His wife said his condition was the
result of too much booze. And she
L2dded that he was leaving New
York to get away from the conviv-
ial companions with whom he had
been drinking heavily many weeks.
Whatever the reason for his
leaving, when he returned from
Cuba some weeks | alter, he an
nounCed he never again would live
in New York. Further, he declared
r. lis daughter should not return to
her other in the city Mrs Christy
rushed to GAINESVILLE, and news
papers reported a reconciliation.
Since then such announcements
have appeared periodically in the
press, to be succeeded each time by
the statement that their marital
difficulties were beyond repair.
Then began the series of court
suits which have kept the Christy
troubles before the public for the
last 10 years. Mrs. Christy went
into court in an attempt to obtain
her daughter. She declared her
husband was no fit guardian for
the child. In proof, she told of
wild orgies, which, she said, had
been engineered by the illustrator
in his studio.
~ Christy replied with an attack
upon the character OF his wife. He
alleged she had been on too friend
~ terms with the chauffeur. He
said she drank heavily and accused
her of cursing His sister. sum
moned as witness, told of a
spanking Christy had administered
TO his wife one night when her ian
guage became particularly profanc.
The following morning. the sister
said, Mrs. Christy admitted the
padding. and added that she prob
ably deserved il.
Mrs. Christy retaliated with the
accusation that the artist had been
intimate in his relations with his
models Her statement was cor
roborated by Charles F. Hall, her
brother-in-law who had posed for
Christy Hall and Christy Rugged
and kissed the girls in his studio
and called them baby dolls" and
peaches"
Once" Hall related, "Christy
had a model all ready for a cool
pose. Then he changed his mind,
and, picking up a revolver, began
shooting at a target. ! joined him
and the model joined US. too. She
didn't have much On--not for tar
get practice"
But the Judge decided Christy
had reformed-and added that Mrs
Christy had not disproved thu
statements made about her con-
duct. So Natalie went to her
father.
Then Mrs. Christy suggested a
divorce. She wrote her husband
that she had an opportunity to
marry again, but later she declared
this statement was made in an at
tempt to effect a reconciliation by
arousing the jealousy of her hus-
hand.
So their wrangle went for years.
Christy declared any steps toward
a reconciliation must be made by
his wife. Mrs. Christy said she
wanted TO live with her husband
but never in GAINESVILLE, where
Christy and his daughter were hv-
ing with his parents.
Then. again in 1916 their matri-
monial troubles were aired in
couEt Christy sued his wife for
divorce. and at that time it was
SAID he was engaged to marry an
other woman as soon as he OBJ
tanned his freedom from the
Washington girl. whose beautiful
features had inspired the Christy
y, American Girl" from which he
attained fame.
This disagreement. however, fin
ally was patched up, and for a
short while the Christys again
lived together. But only for a
while, for soon they separated.
Natalie, now grown to womanhood.
had brought peace on many prev
ious occasions, but this time she
was powerless, and early this year
the artist again brought suit for di-
vorce The other day, in the little
court room in GAINESVILLE. it was
granted. and now, after years of
spasmodic breaks and reconcilia-
tions, the Christys are finally and
definitely parted.
RELIEVE INDIGESTION