Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1882-11-09
IS SHE & BEAUTY?

The Claims Of HRS. Eangtry Discussed
BY Leading People of New York and
Brooklyn
A Graphic reporter was sent cut this
morning to ascertain the opinion of
connOisseurs upon the subject Of the
beauty of-the Jersey Lily. The Rev.
I. Dewitt Talmage was first visited,
and him the reporter found in his
study swinging head-downwards be-
tween parallel bars, while in his hands
he held Canon Farrar's new book,
which he was reading as he swung idly
tO,and fro, apparently st peace with
himself and all the rest Of the world.
He dropped his body and raised his
book as the reporter entered. He
then cordially sat down in large arm
chair With a spring back, deposited the
volume ON the mantle-piece, and as he
carelessly turned over the leaves with
his left foot, said that though he was
never at leisure yet he was always glad
to converse with q newspaper man.
The reporter seated himself on a low
stool at the great mans other foot and
began his innocent prattle.
Doctor" said he, ~ have been sent
By the editor to ascertain your opin-
ion as to whether OF not Mrs. Langtry
is beauty"
Mr.. Talmadge passed the sole of his
left foot YEARLY across his brow, and
replied inst he had met Mrs. Langtry
III London st garden party given by
the Rev. Mr.. Sturgeon, and at that
time the lady was singularly, surpas-
singly, grandiy lovely, both in form and
expression. 'But then" he added,
throwing q startling smile over toward
the back of his neck, ''you know that's
but vain and fleeing good. l should
delight to see her as rosalind, SO as to
be able to form an ACKNOWLEDGMENT
view of the subject. 1 intended to be
at the wharf to welcome her to my
country, but [ was overtaken by an ex-
IRENE degree Of lassitude at the close
Of my pulpit exercises or Sunday
night and could not go. The bent how
has relaxed itself as you saw when you
entered this chamber.
eff Mrs. Langtry looks as she did at
that garden party" he continued
musingly, "she's just about the the
darlingist most delicious little duck you
ever-HalloOl What was | saying
Young man, listen not to the bright
eyes of the charmer. You may ay
however, that in my opinion the lady
is very fair yea, thrice fair to look
upon.
''Mr. Talmage," said the reporter,
rising, "can you lay your foot upon
your heart and say that you ever saw
a lovelier being?"
'In Oriental chimes | may have seen
one more fair, but never, never, new
er," he shouted, "never in this great
world of the west or in Europe"
Accompanied by the reporter the
reverend gentleman then slid down
the baluster, and politely bowed his
guest out at the door.
Mr.. Henry Ward Beecher, when
called upon, told the reporter that in
Mrs. Langtry he saw in all its glorious
affluence the twining tendril and the
expanding leaf of the beauty and the
translucent wilderness of the lily. To
him the lady's face was revelation of
3 world of light emanating from the
passionate and perfect, the beautiful
and the true. He had bought tickets
for the 'Rosalind" night, for he could
not, absolutely could not, believe that
what he had heard could be true. The
universe forbade it.
When Mr.. Carl Schurz was found
he was at the pianoforte playing " Ich
weiss NIGHT was solles bedeuten in
mastery manner. On being asked his
opinion as to Mrs. Langtry's beauty he
rolled up his eyes and exclaimed softly
as in dream, "Ach Himmel - and
then his long white fingers wandered
off into the maZes of Schemann's
" Traumerei." Herr Schurz" said
the reporter, bent on breaking up the
sentimental monotony of the scene,
Was denken sic Won der Schoenheit
closer wunder schOenen Frau? The
only response was a heavy sigh of
" ACh Himmel Sci stin, mein, Herz"
and then he sang that touching song of
Schiller's, the Amalia -
Schoen vie Engel vol Walhallas Wonne
Schoen vor allen Maedchen in der Welt.
The monotony continued, and not
one word would Mr.. SchuTz say but
Zach! Himmel!' and the like.
]. w. Morrisey, theatrical agent, was
disappointed in Mrs. Langtry. He said
that she has fine complexion, it is
true, but that her mouth Is very large,
1iN titN0 uhSlS dl6 1udliy Au16IIC3u
actresses who are much handsomer.
Rufus Hatch said that if Mrs. Lang
try is beautiful there ara no beautiful
women in America.
Oscar Wilde thought that Mrs. Lang
try has 4 face of ideal beauty. "She
is just divine" remarked the s3thete,
with an upward roll of his ox-ike
optics.
From all these interviews The
Graphic reporter gathered, however,
that In the opinion of the majority of
representative citizens, Mrs. Langtry is
"a incomparably charming creature
NeaO York. Graphic.