The Washington times., 1919-10-19
Very Old-FashiOned Ideas Of How
Married Couple Ought to Behave,
by Guido CiccOinii, the
Grand Opera Tenor, Who Has
Just Welded an Athletic,


Just the other day Miss Betty sutphin,
the accomplished, charming and athletic
daughter Of the wealthy and fashionable
New York family Of that name, very
interesting romance began another chap
ter
But the romance. interesting as il Is,
cOnceals q stil more interesting question
how long can the chapter last?
This perplexity has nothing whatever to
do with any Of the circumstances Of the
Wooing winning and wedding Of Miss sut
phin BY the singer. Il has It's roots in
Mr. CiceOlinfs ideals Of what marriage
ought to be. These are extremely concrete
ana oldfashioned.
Put in briefest possible form, they are
that when a girl marries she oughtn't de-
vote any time or thought to any man ez-
cspt her husband
EE. Ciccolini puts It Ga even fewer words:
sMy wife must be a bird in a cagei"
But 50, be adds, must the husband!
This proposition, terse and simple as II
seems at once presents complications
when set beside the steadily increasing
freedom Of women. the modern attitude
Of independence Of daughter. mother and
grandma so far as their males are con-
cemed ana their assumption that the we'd
ding ring is token Of trust and not q
brand Of private ownership that shackles
even their friendships. 10 many It win
seem ike Rip Van Winkle, Just awakened,
strolling down Peacock Alley. Others win
no doubt sympathize with 1lr. Ciccolini's
point Of view.
What presents the peculiar eomplica-
tions are the lives. past and present, Of
lIr. Ciccolini and Sis bride themselves
Mrs. Ciecolini has been reared like any
other American girl, whether wealthy or
"a moderate circumstances. She has been
used 60 a far broader freedom than the
rignorinas Of her husbands land OF the
dsmoiseHes Of France. She has had hosts
Of young men friends who have danced
ana played tennis, swan and driven with
her. She has liked them, stfIl likes them
she has been brought up. ike most Amer
ican girls, with the boys"
Can she suddenly step away from an
these into the cage Of her husbands ideals
and remain happy?
On the other hand, Mr.. Ciccolini IS a
grand opera tenor. Students Of the emo
tious have set down as a tried and tested
fact that there Is nothing like a grand
opera tenor to move a woman's heart The
greatest Violinist or pianist cannot so play
upon its strings as can he. This power
has become recognized as part Of his
capital, one Of his assets.
"A grand opera tenor, like any other
great artist belongs to his art and the
world. His wife should be happy to have
what is left Of him"
So runs the formula Of the tempera-
mental. But beside this admiration he
must appear in many parts. Usually the
tenor parts are romantic. He shines in
romantic situations Of which love is in
variably the theme. When, for instance,
carried away by HIS role and his artistry,
he presses as Don Jose his lips against the
red ones Of Carmen, how can be know that
he Is stin safely within his own cage!
This is just one instance.
It was the day after the marriage InaI
Ciccolini, his bride with him. announced
to few friends his ideals.
An artist belongs first to his art and
the World-last to his wife!' he exclaimed.
cit astOunds me- that point OF view. It
shocks me!
"An artist is first a man, a human. One
Of the greatest, If not the greatest, things
In this world for a man and a woman Is
Love. Love is greater than art. Il Is the
inspiration Of all truly great art. Love is
greater even than Life itself. For without
Love, Life is barren.
The Creator gave man many blessings.
but his last and greatest gift to man was
Woman-to mend his faults and mould him
into virtue! We have learned that II ig
not the throned and sceptred king. II is
not the dark statesman, with his midnight
lamp, nor is It even the warrior. grimed
with smoke and stained with blood. but #
is the Queen Of the home, who, under the
Creator, rules the destinies Of mankind.
There Is tle centre from which radiates
the light hat never fails. The sweetest
wisdom IN al this world Is a pure woman's