Smyrna times., 1882-08-23
The Jersey Lily's Life.


entertained, amused and interested
The cost is secondary, yet no one likes
to pay too much for their whistle. he
1t IN the shape of a pretty woman or
an esthetic Bunthorne. Hence when
we import our curiOsities, our dramatic
bellies or knee-breeched donkies. we
like to make d complete estimate of
how well and how fully they contribute
to our tastes, and get a guid pro quo
Tor our payments. Mrs. Langtry is
coming to America in public capacity.
In that way it is that we shall view
her, and as to what she can do we
I shall speak. Her private history as n
lady, hovering for a brief and painful
period 10 her on the edge of what
might be called 1.-THE kinglv court
circle, " akin to that of Charles II. is
an ott-told and Oft-exaggerated tale.
AS an actress Mrs. Langtry comes
amidst American critics, professional
and private. We shall see how well or
how ill she carries on the stage the
refinement of department and demean-
OF she was marked by in the drawing
room. That she should impart the
eXcellencies of a refined social bearing
to "the boards" is an event devoutlv
TO be wished. We have too much stiff.
ness, constraint and exaggerated emo-
tlOnalism in most of our actresses-a
vast volume of unrealess marks the
sensational school of maidens and
matrons on the American stage. More
Is given to bones and muscles. flesh
ana figure than to brains. modestv.
grace ai!d fair soul" The muscular
school OF dramatic females is becoming
large by degrees and frightfullv bio,
Passion is represented by physical
force, and that charming eloauence of
facial expression is rarely studied
which Mrs. Langtry can indicate mar
veiously well for IN amateur. Her
graceful pose and bearing. her fine
not beautiful-face, and her cnsea,Lleof
earnestness mark the future actress ~
well as the present amateur--for the
latter is she only. 1t will be a sad dav
ior the American drama-as If Is
already for the English-if we have TO
depend upon popular patronage when
IL Is merely stimulated by a morbid
curiosity to see only talked about
woman for II lady holding the mirror
up TO nature in an avenue that is To
elevate and to instruct, as we are told
the theatre is.
Mrs. Langtry completed her first
season on the 22d of last month at the
Theatre Royal, Nottingham, England
after provincial tour of three months
hat was successful beyond expectation.
ler reception in the principal cities
having been more like "roval
than anything else.
Mrs. Langtry's personal history
hough by no means so romantic as il
las been represented, it is not without
Is interest. Her father is the Dean of
Jersey, and the head of the ecclesiastics
n jersey and the oldest dean in the
'hurch of England. Her father. grand
ather and great-grandfather were all
leans. She was born and educated in a
ersey, and was the only sister of six '
tout brothers, but two of whom are c
ow living. Her brother Clement lie II
'reton, who is a barrister in good T
Iandlng in London, married Lord }
laveiagh's daughter, and it was d
1rough Lord Ravelagh and the painter a
rank Miles, that she was first intro Il
uced into London society. This was a
tier she had been married for some n
ears to Mr.. Langtry, who at the time IL
her marriage owned property in "
'eland worth about $4,000 year but q
hich is now not worth more than II
0OO. Her life in Jersey had been u
'ent almost entirely in the open air n
nu as Mr.. Langtry was fond of Yacht It
4. L
g, she became an expert yachtswoman
Id was very fond of all sorts of out
Dor exercise, but she longed to see
methlng more of the world.
In recent interview she has given RI
engaging account of her arrival in NJ
ondon and her introduction to the NJ
ShionabIe world. Among the most to
Other early London friends "
IS FRANK Miles, the artist. "I learn m
afterward, she says, THAT he saw IT
one evening at n theatre and tried fo
vain to discover who / was. He be
sht TO his clubs and among his artist er
ends declaring that he had seen a M
anty, and he described me to everv- TT
dy he knew, until one day one of no
friends met me and was duly intro of
ced. Then Mr.. Miles came and wi
gged me to sit for my portrait l be
lsented, and when the portrait was tn,
ished he sold it to Prince Leopold. sh,
ON that time / was invited every :
lere and made great deal of bv thi
my members of the royal family and Co
nobility. My husband was delight TIL
at my social success-which he did rer
:, however, care to share-and sum- bill
ed me freely with the means of going ma
'ut in English society. The painters the
npletod the work of making me Sci
'ular. They raved about nv CLASH rer
head as they calledit, and declared VIII
t they discovered in the shape of we
neck rare lines Of beauty.'n bus
After the painters the photograph for
set to work." she continued. at Ba,
anne so famous that the people stood eve
chairs in the street to see me pass EN-
the shopkeepers named their goods his
r me. | really wish you had not by
de me talk so much about MYSELF the
us get to the theatrical career woi
Nt4l.a : L.