Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-05-01
VOL. XIV.
A Marriage in High Life

The number Of eminent actresses and sinoers
who have made what may be called great mar
rlages is small. Scarcely in any country but
England has the Stage been the arena whence
women, however estimable their personal char
acter, nave been matrimonially elevated to rank
ana fortune. Over century ago, the Duke of
Bolton married Miss Fenton, the original Polly
In The Beggar's Opera" Towards the close
OF the last century, Miss Farren left the stage
to become Countess of Derby. Later still, Miss
Brunton became Countess of Craven The cell
ebrated Irish tragedienne, Miss O'Neil-sup-
posed to be Miss Frotheringay of Thackeray' S
''Pendennis," caricature wholly unworthy
OF his pen and her undoubted genius-retired
from the profession in the midst of her great
est triumphs to marry Mr.. Wrixon Beecher, of
Ballygiblin, near Mallow, in the south of Ire
land, and afterwards became member of Par
lament, was created Baronet, and died in so,
Lady Beecher surviving. Miss Mellon, after
becoming wife of Mr.. Coutts, the London BAN
ker, became Duchess of st. AIbsns by marri-
age. One of the latest of these decided 'dra-
matte effects" was the marriage of Miss Foote
to the Earl of Harrington.
We have to announce the marriage of Made
moiselle Nictoire Balfe, the vocalist, to Sir
John Flennes L. Champion, h. G. b., formerly
British Minister at Washington, and now in
the same capacity at st. Petersburgh, whore
the nuptials took place. Sir Johns father, DR.
Philip Champion, has been Surgeon General to
the British forces in Ireland, and also had The
most extensive practice in Dublin for half a
century. In 1899, he was created Baronet,
whereby he became Sir Philip Crampton
Dying In 1898, his title descended to his SON.
who had previously been created ight Grand
Cross of the Bath to console him for being sent
home by President Pierce, on account of his
completely In enlisting recruits for the British
army on American soil, during the Russian
war OF 1854. Sir John, by his fathers death
succeeded not only to the baronetcy, which is
hereditary though not a noble rank, and also to
Immense IL landed and other property in Ireland
Born IN Dublin in 1907, the happy bridegroom
is now 53 years old. The present is his first
plunge out of single blessedness
Lady Champion, who is a remarkably pretty
woman, is % years old, having been born in
the Rue de la VictOire, Paris, on the 1st Sep
tember, 1881. Her mother is a French prima
donna, (M'lle Soma Rezer. who married Mich
ael VIM Balfe, the we'll known Irish comnoser nose
and singer. His operas are we'll known every
where, from The Siege of Rochelle" and
I" The Bohemian Girl' down to THE Rose of
Castillo" and "Satanella." his last produc-
tions. Even in childhood, Victoire BaIfe
showed great taste and feeling for music Her
voice, pure soprano, was developed under the
instruction of Emmanuel Garcia at Paris and
subsequently in Italy, under her fathers care
with the aid of eminent masters. Her first ap-
pearance upon the stage was at the italian
Opera House, London, (Mr Gye's,) May %,
1897, as Amina, in LA Somnambula,'' - in
which opera she was supported by Mad To =
liafieo, Sig. RoncOni, and Sig Gardoni her
success was great, and was real Her voice
proved to be high soprano, of great fexibil-
lty, and even sweetness. ranging from low c to
in alt. She subsequently sang, that same
year, at the opera in Turin, and, returning to
England in 1859, appeared at the italian 0p-
era Drury Lane Theatre, where one of her
greatest hits was in the role of Airline in ''La
Zlngara," cher fathers " Bohemian Girl"
Italianized,) in which she gave wonderful eff
feet to the air II dream'd that 1 dwelt in
marble halls or I'm una reggia splendida. 4"
her voice, which is remarkably sweet rather
than powerful, was scarcely able to fill such a
large theatre as that of Drury Lane Last year
the young lady accepted an engagement at the
opera in St. Petersburgh, where the event has
occurred which happily converts Victoire Balfe
into Lady Champion.
As Sir John Champion resided for several
years In Washington, We have gone little into
detail for the information of his friends and
acquaintances there.-Phtla. Press