The Democratic advocate., 1920-10-08
Odaest Separation Ever happened

oldest Separation Ever Happened
After sixteen long years Of married
lie, spent entirely as the devoted wife
of one man. a woman may be supposed
to know something about the kind OF
husband she picked. Sixteen years
daily acquaintance with the partner
of her joys and sorrows ought to pro-
vide sufficient foundation upon which
to base fairly accurate estimate OF
his character.
And during those same sixteen
years, spent entirely as the devoted
husband Of one woman, man ought
to be able to form a very decided pri-
vate opinion of his ys1fe's merits.
Clifton L. Tent, of Berkeley, Cala
formerly president of the South Berke-
ley Commercial Clab, successful
business man and prominently asso-
ciated with various civic movements,
is a case in point.
My wife is the sweetest thing that
ever lived, says he after sixteen years
Of married life.
And my husband, declares Mrs.
Tefft, artist-author of THE Musings
of Mother, !" lis the grandest man in
all the world"
And with that exchange of graceful
compliments. well-eaNhed and sincere
ly expressed, Mr.. and Mrs. Tefft have
,eparated, preparatory to the institu-
ton of divorce proceedings.
With every acknowledgment OF the
deep debt OF gratitude each owes to
the other for answering love, fidelity
and loyalty during the sixteen years
of their married life, and with every
assurance Of lifelong affection, they
have decided to part company and go
their separate ways. 1t is about the
oldest separation that ever happened,
because, although looking forward to
the day when the courts of California
will divorce them, and although vir-
tually posing as direct opponents in a
law suit, they are, nevertheless, living
Under one roof meeting and conyers-
ing daily, and even taking their meals
in one room. And they continue to
say the incest things about, although
not to, each other.
Il cast no reflections of any kind
ON Mr.. Tefft," said Mrs. Tefft. He is
the soul of honor and integrity. He
has ever been loyal to me. Not long
ago he told me that if Cleopatra her
self came back to life she could not
tempt him from me. He is the grand
est man in all the world.
Shortly before I planned to sue for
divorce he said | was the sweetest
thing that ever lived. There is nc
reason why we should become enemies
even if we are getting a divorce. 1t
is merely a case of temperament which
cannot be ajusted. We both agree
on this question and, although the suit
will be the greatest surprise to oul
friends, Mr. Tefft has known that
contemplated it for some time and he
does not oppose my action.
s'Mr. Tefft needs me in his business
and | do not intend to desert him, at
least for the year which must elapse
before the divorce can. be obtained.
We can continue TO live under the
same roof as before and attend to eu4
business interests ass usual The only
difference will be that we will not be
man and wife
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for us and oversee household affairs.
Our lives will be together, yet apart;
each free to do what one pleases. Ii
is Just a sane and sensible way Of adj
justing conditions that have become
unpleasant in the closer personal way
that will not enter into our business
relations.
And there's the explanation Of it ali
- conditions that have become un-
pleasant in the closer personal way
that have caused the separation OF
''the grandest man in all the world
and the sweetest thing that ever
lived"
Mrs. Lulu May Tefft is artistic anG
gifted as a writer. Clinton l.. Tefft is
Ia successful business man. Mrs. Tefft
has devoted many years to the study
of music, painting and literary work.
Her materialistic husband, woefuIly
lacking in artistic temperament ano
those divine gifts with which only
great musicians, painters and writer's
are declared to be endowed, never. even
glanced at her paintings, never read
any of her books, and never had time
to listen while she played or sang. He
found his enjoyment in the successful
management of his own business and
in civic organization work Moon
light rhapsodies, studies in yellow
ochre and The Musings of a Mother,
which is the title of Mrs. Tefft's latest
book simply carried no appeal for
him. And so, while Mrs Tefft played,
painted and wrote, he busted himself
making money.
After sixteen years of that sort OF
life Mrs. Tefft has decided that it is
about time to make aehanges
We are as different in our per
sonalities as is day from night" she
declares. ITO me my book was one OF
the biggest things of my life. l
have heard my husband talk of nay
'cleverness' to other people, but never
once did l see him open my book to
judge for himself what it contained.
It was that way with other things.
My artistic soul craFed some reeog-
milton from the man I had married,
but he was too wrapped mp in the ma
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