The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-02
PEG WOFFING TON.

THE FAMOUS ooQUETTE, AND HER RELATIONS
WITH GARRICK, AS DESCRIBED BY THE LAT
TIERS BIoGRAPHER.
At Drury Lane Garrick found himself as
sociated with his old friend Macklin, who was
depaty manager, and with that ''dallyiug and
dangerous beauty, Peg Wellington, under
whose spell he appears to have fallen as early
as 1740. As on actress. she was admirable
for the life, the nature, and the grace which
she threw into all she did set of by a fine
person, and a face which, as her portraits
show, though habitually pensive in its ex-
preston capable of kindling
into passion, or beamng with the
sudden and fitful lights of feeling
and fancy. She had been literally picked out
of the streets of Dublin as a child crying
'halfpenpy Salads" and trained 10y rope
dancer, Niue. Violante, as enc of Lilli-
putian coU pany, in which she figured i'll such
parts as Captain Macheath. Like Rachel and
many other celebrated women, she contrived
it is hard 10 say how to educate herself so
that she could hold her own in conversation
in any society; and such was her natural
grace that she excelled in characters like
Millamant and Lady Townley, in which the
ell-bred air of good society was essential
Frank, kindly, and impulsive she had also
! wit at will To give piquancy 20 the express
sions of very independent turn of mind.
She never scrupled to avow that she preferred
''talked, she said, ''of nothing but silks and
scandal The men returned the compl-
. ment 10y being very fond of her COM
pany. Forgive her one female error,
says Murphy, 'and it might fairly be
said of her that she was adorned with
every virtue "a true modest plea, when it is
considered that Peg was not more chaste,
and certainly not less mercenary, than
Horaee's Barine, TO whom, indeed, she was
, likened in some pointed bat very heartless
verses by one of her many lovers, Sir Han
bury Williams. 'By Jove," she exclaimed,
as she ran into the green-room one night
4 from the stage, when she had left the house
1 cheering her exit as ''Sir Harry Wildair,
'they are in such delight, L believe one-half
4 of them fancy am a man. Madam, re-
i joined Quin, ''the other half, then has the
Il best reason for knowing to the contrary"
/ But when Garrick first fell under fascination,
& these frailties had not been developed. She
Z was then in the bloom of her beauty
n and how charming that was we can see
from Hogalth's exquisite portrait Gin the
Marquis of Lansdowne's collection), which
forms one of the chief attractions
of the portrait exhibition now at
South KeLsington; and though sutors of
wealth and rank surrounded her, genius and
youth had probably more charms for her than
gold and fine living, Garrick was deeply
smitten by her, and he seems for a time to
nave tnOuSht nef worthy OF an honorable
love. For one season he kept house together
with her and Macklin, and they were visited
by his friends, johnson and DR.. Hoadley
among the number. 1t was thought he would
marry her: but Pegs aberrations-her lone
female error grew too serious She was,
in truth, an incurable coquette. 1t was the
old story of Lesbia and Catullus. Gar
! rick's heart was touched; hers was not.
4 1t cost hia good many struggles
I to break his chains, but he broke
I them at last, and left her, finally, in
| 1745, to the rakes and fools who were out
bidding each other for her favors. He was
worthy of better mate; and he was to find
one before very long, for in March, 174G, the
lady came to England who was to replace his
feverish passion for the wayward Wellington
by devotion which grew stronger and deeper
d with every year of his life. This was the fair
Eva Maria Veigel, which latter name she had
changed for its French equivalent, Violette.
She was then twenty-one, dancer, and had
4 come from Vienna, with recommendations
from the Empress Theresa, who was said to
/ have found her too beautiful to be allowed
s to remain within reach of the Emperor
q Frederick l.