Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-21
MRS. LANGrRY, THE FAMOUS BEAUTY

Mrs. Lily Langtry is the daughter of DR..
LIE Breton, the Dean of Jersey, an Episco.
palian dignitary of a comparatively limited
income, a scholar and recluse, with, l
have heard, wife fashionable and ambi
tious. Some of the sons were reported to
have tried their parents rather sorely, but
at least one OF -Maurice-had the
right stuff in him, as he won companion
ship OF the Indian empire in Afghanistan,
and had promising career before him
when he was clawed out of tree by a
tiger, while tiger. hunting, and so shock
ing torn that he did not long survive. Lily
LIE Breton was not regarded as very no.
ticeable girl in looks or talent, nor did she
attract much attention for some time after
her marriage. Her husband, Edward
Langtry, was widower, whose first wife
had been Jersey girl he is son of the
George Langtry whose boats were SO well
known in their time to travellers between
Belfast and Liverpool. The son was
brought up as heir to a fortune, but the
shipping business proved less profitable in
years Of progress and competition, and his
income, l believe, is merely some fl, 200 a
a year. He and his wife lived first
at Noirmont, and then in London,
without attracting any attention
till 1877, when Lord Suffield and
some others of his fast friends who had
visited him when he was living in retire.
ment in Jersey, far from the ignoble strife
of madding crowd of creditors, and had
seen the Jersey Lily" introduced her to
the notice of the Prince of Wales, who
made her social fortune at the same time
that he made the artistic fortune of Miss
Elizabeth Thompson (now Mrs. Butler),
the painter. London instantly enthroned
her regnant beauty, and went crazy over
her in its senseless, sloppy way. Two por.
traits of her were shown at the Royal
Academy" Jersey Lily" and "Mrs.
l. the photographers deluged London
with her pictures in all imaginable posi-.
tions the society papers raved about her,
and the trick was done. Naturally enough
the gossips soon began to talk, and two or
three years ago made her elope to France
with that promising young libertine, the
Earl OF Shrewsbury, a story soon contra
dicted. About the same time October 27,
1879 Adolphus Rosenberg, the editor of
Tom Talk, was sent to Jail for eighteen
months at hard labor for publishing state.
ment to the effect that Mr.. Langtry was
about to sue for divorce on the ground
Of his wife's adultery with the Prince of
Wales.
During the seasons of 1850 and 1881
Mrs. Langtry's supremacy as the queen Of
beauty was several times challenged, and
there were all sorts OF rumors about quar-.
rels with her husband (who visited the
United States last summer). then of re-
verses of fortune, and her intention of 60
ing on the stage. 1t was Millais, the art.
ist, believe, who advised her to adopt a
professional career. When it was formally
announced, in January, 1881, that she was
about to turn actress, there was a good
deal of scandal and gossip, "society af.
fecting to be shocked at the prospect of one
at whose feet it had worshi hiped-whom the
Prince Of Wales had, indeed, invited to a
garden party for the express purpose of
showing her to the Queen-going upon the
stage, while the dramatic fraternity was
not over-pleased at the prospect of
woman who had no particular passion or
talent for the art, and had never studied it,
carrying off the richest prizes of the pro-
fession. There were applications for more
seats than the Prince of Wales Theater
contains, on the mere announcement that
she was likely to appear there. Having
gone into training for the stage, Mrs.
Langtry made a semi-public debut at an
amateur performance at the Town Hall,
Twickenham, Oh the 10Th OF November last,
as Lady Glare st. John, in C. NJ. Rae's
comedietta, "a Fair Encounter" Mira.
Henry Labouchere, her teacher, taking the
other part, Mrs. Granville. The debutante
showed no signs of stage fright, and, be-
sides revealing the possession of syrnpa-
thetic and strong voice, displayed some
touches of talent as comedy actress. Her
regular debut took place at the Haymarket
Theater, in London, on the 10Th Of Decem.
Der. as Miss Hardcastle, in "She Stoops
to Conquer" She certainly drew" and
was highly praised by the critics, but,
reading between the lines, it seems to me
as if what they really said was that she
was conscientious, lady.like and OF promis
ing talent. One detail-she does not sing,
but has her tongs, as in "Ours, given by
an artist behind the scenes. She has been
of late starring it in the provinces and
Scotland, drawing large houses and excit-
ing much public curiosity; thus at E1in-
burgh people turned out by hundreds to
see her get into her carriage for Sunday
drive New York Letter.