The Washington times., 1919-03-23

and operas. Seven years ago she
came to this country In Boston
she sang Pelleas in her genius
husbands "Pelleas and Melisande."
But her l~rd remained buried in
the seclusion Of the ancient Abbey
Of Caudebec. And always thither
when not playing went Renee
Dahen.
On our visit to this country Nine.
Maeterlinck told the Ltory Of her
wooing Of her husband. The SEN
tence is not misprinted. The writer
means what has been said. THE
wooing Of her husband"
I'm matters concerning the heart
women are always the aggressors
and men the captors. How few men
realize It. How few women &C
knowledge it. Yet it is unshakably
true. Love Is pursuit in which
the successful hunter makes the
game seem to pursue the hunter.
ITO prove this let me tell my
own story. / was singing at the
Opera Comique. l had made a sue
cessful debut and signed a three
year contract A gift came to my
apartment It was a translation Of
Emerson's Essays. There was a pre-
face by Maurice Maeterlinck. / read
and reread the preface. l was enrap-
tured. / read again and again.
awake all night.
Il thought of the book and the mind /
hind the book. l said to myself, He
mine. He is my husband. He is my loV
l shall meet him. l shall love him. I
shall love me-
81 tossed away my contract. l went
Brussels. I asked to meet persons vi
knew Maeterlinck did. A man told 4
he was savage; that he disliked Peep
and detested people Of the stage. He
beard. He has passed into a great ag
But l insisted. l said, Then will be
daughter to him
"a party was given. l was invited.
entered my hostess said, That is Maete
linck.' 1 looked. He was young, strOn
beautiful. was enchanted. ran to nil
Il was introduced to the greatest B,
gian. / took his hand looked into h
eyes. My own were burning. My cheel
were aflame. My man! You are my man
/ said. He was frightened at my audacit
Dear, shy, diffident genius! He WI
alarmed.
Il said, You doubt me? Leave me al
shall make you believe in me- l We
back to Paris. But l wrote him every da
told him every thought Of mine. T
came to Paris. He tried to see me.
would not see him. My letters tell u
everything l said.
after / had been writing him eve
day for three months allowed him to 81
me. We loved. We love each other f
all time. l love with an infinity Of lo1
unknown to any other woman"
For eight years this woman watched Il
love Of the man she adored pass slow
from her. What were her thoughts, skille
and subtle wording that she was-th
woman with the memory of many love
who had married at the age at which mo
women are preparing their daughter
trousseaus? She knew that loves are d
ferent in degree. Some are as swallow
that remain for a Summer Some are ;
frefies that now and then brighten Il
darkness. Some are for time, some Il
eternity She recalled her passion for Il
English youth, Edwin Marsh, who had la
his career upon the altar Of his mad deV
ton to her. That! Poufi She though
she had forgotten that-other mad love
she had inspired.
She had given sorrow-and now bittt
sorrow was hers.
When she would enter her husband
study he seemed not to be aware Of h
presence. When Renee Dahon came
ever so quietly he turned about, locke
over his shoulder and smiled q WELDON
If Nine. Maeterlinck wore a gown sum
tuous as the Queen Of Sheba's best roy
robes he accepted her gorgeousness as
matter Of fact. He saw no novelty in
X Renee Dahon appeared in a simple ne