BARRIE ROMANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 179, 30 June 1937, Page 9

BARRIE ROMANCE.

REVEALED BY DEATH. A secret known to very few concern ing the late Sir James Barrie was revealed by his death. His former wife had come to London to be near him when he died. The public had believed Barrie to be a bachelor or else a widower. Only his closest intimates knew that his formei wife was still alive. She is Mrs Gilbert Caiman, onci famous as Mary Ansell, the actress. Slitexplained to the Daily Mail that she had hurried from Biarritz, in response to an urgent telegram, and arrived secretly and unrecognised. Mary Ansell was the only woman in Barrie’s life. Both were famous when they met in 1894. He named many characters for his wife, but after 15 years the marriage was dissolved and lie became almost a solitary man. Nevertheless, Barrie and she maintained a warm friendship and corresponded frequently, he telling her of his new works and plans, and she responding with criticism and advice. A fortnight before his death she received a letter from Barrie which was rambling in place's, and indicated his failing strength. She wrote back immediately, but heard nothing until June 15, when Barrio’s niece telegraphed to her at Biarritz saying that he was near death. Mrs Caiman immediately came _ to London and stayed at a quiet West End hotel, where nobody imagined that the elderly, soft-spoken woman in black was once the wife of the creator of “Peter Pan.” Barrie left £3oo.ooo—the latest sum left by any British author. The chief beneficiaries include Peter and Nicholas Davies—the original of “Peter Pan,” and his brother. Each will probably receive £SO 000 or an equivalent annuity. Large bequests to charity are not expected, as Barrie distributed substantial sums during his lifetime, and maintained a hospital in France in wartime