Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-11-07
mrs. Lanxsry .t wallack,..
NOT GREAT BEAUTY AND NOT A GREAT ACTRESS
SPLENDID FLORAL OFFERINGS.
DISPATCH 70 Philadelphia Times.

SPLENDID FLORAL OFFERINGS.
Dispatch to Philadelphia Times.
NEw YORK, Nov. Swell, We have seen her on
the boards and behind the footlights Now, then,
let us judge her as beauty and as an artist Is
Mrs. Langtry an extremely beautiful woman and
is she great actress? Decidedly no. She is
neither q great beauty nor great artist For all
that she had welcome tonight that might well
crafty the self-esteem OF any human being and a
reception as never saw awarded an actor, how
ever pronounced a fayorite he or she might have
been.
Long prior TO the opening OF the massive doors
or Wallack's Theater every seat I'm the recently
furnished house was sold and majority OF them
at a premium. Early In the evening-that is, at a
quarter TO oclock-the streets IN the neighbor-
hood were blocked with carriages / have seen
many smasheS and masheS, but this discounted
the best and the worst That given the Prince OF
Wales In 1860 was a beggarly show in comparison.
The Japanese Embassy's reception was not
marker to 1t and the several Presidential
state at the City Hall OF Abraham Lincoln and
Horace Greeley, didn't come within a mile
and half OF the popular enthusiasm and
the public demonstration this evening. lester
Wallack and Theodore Moss, dressed within an
inch OF their lives met Henry E. Abbey and his
corps of aids and assistants clad in regulation
toggery at the door at half-past seven at which
hour the floral tributes began TO arrive. / may
err trife, but II do IL Is below the actual figure,
bouquets OF flowers with which the lobby was
packed and crowded were worth not less than
81 500. and that is great deal OF money even for
florists In November. They looked beautiful. and
one could hardly refrain from the wish that some
one might actually be benefited by their frag-
rance and charm. new kind OF rose, the capu-
Gin, kind OF hybrid, blending OF the pink and
yellow MAS the fayoriSe one exquisite lot of which
The house at eight O'Clock was a mass OF beauty.
Every box was packed and every seat was filled,
dress circle was tlironged with men in evening
dress ana eager for the appearance OF the Lily
from abroad The curtain rose at quarter past
eight and the earlier scenes passed slowly apd
tediously enough Mrs. Langtry. as Hester, came
on about half-paSt eight and was made the reclpi-
ent OF an idotic outturst OF applause before she
had spoken word. She showed her pretty teeth
and smiled pleasant recognition. Her features
In repOSe are not Shapely, her figure is up and
knobby. When she smiles she displays two rows
OF perfect teeth Her voice is low, well modulated
and very sweet She has IN the first act a series
OF domestic scenes and an offer OF marriage, and
at the close an opportunity for a touch OF mel
odramatic pathos. so that it was quite possible
TO estimate her artistic ability at an early period.
she Is decidedly not a great actress, but belongs
To the Agnes Ethel lovey-dovey school, winsome
and attractive. l can cite dozen hsndsomer wo-
men on the stage, and In the audience there sat
fifty who need not dread comparison.
At the end OF the first act there were repeated
calls. after one OF which an immense seven-story
others. Mr.. Abbey Yves brought before the curtain
and received q tremendous welcome. Oscar Wilde
made himself conspicuous, as usual, and made
second act afforded Mrs. Langtry better oppor-
tunity for her speciality OF womanly tenderness,
and earned decided recall after the scene with
the female villain OF the play, as we'll a double
call before the curtain, when the usual floral eX-
hibiton was continued. The third act was
thoroughly enjoyable and disclosed Mrs. Langtry
In an assumption OF worldly sheen that brought
down the house. Her delivery OF the tag was arch
and pretty, and the applause which followed it
genuine and hearty. Mr.. Abbey feels entirely GER
tain OF great success In the future and his predic
lion that Langtry would be go would seem TO be
well based.