The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-09-20
Pursuing a Venus.
oscar wilde's Story of the Discovery of
Mrs. Langtry.



"There are but two purely Greek things now
in Europe" says Mr.. Wilde; zone is the Venus
of Milos, the other Mrs. Langtryl" The effect
of Mrs. Langtry's beauty is, he estimates, that
of extreme delicacy produced by really strong
lines. The mouth is large; the jaw is heavily
outlined; and yet, as the Pantheon, while in
reality large building, gives the impression
of being more delicate structure than it real
ly is so the Jersey Lily's' face conveys an
idea of softness and grace infinitely charming
No photograph can do her justice, he holds,
"for her complexion is like ivory stained with
rosel' Even Milliss has been comparatively
unsuccessful with her portrait. He can paint
children and men, but not beautiful woman,
Mr.. Wilde considers Mrs. Langtry s'the most
charming of companions" There is no other
woman in the world with whom he would
rather go to look at picture, or see a play or
give new book to. 1t is remarkable, fowev-
er, that she herself is entirely untouched by the
feeling she inspires. ''She is beautiful and
virgin as fountain, and Ps codl' 1t is a
great treat to hear Mr.. Wilde describe how he
and friend, an artist, pre- 3umably Mr.. Frank
Miles, discovered" Mrs. Langiry several years
ago, when he was still at Oxford. One night
at the lyceum Theaira Oscar and his friend
saw beaut al unknown Dated with gentle
man III box. They asked everyone IN the
house whom they knew and all the officials
the name of this divinity, but no one could tell
them. When the play was over they waited
to see her get int the carriage and then
rushed along the Strand IN ST tie of enthusi-
asm only po sble in young men and artist.
They told everyi 11y that they had discovered
the Venus OF Milo theIe in London, il the
flesh. but no one could enlightsn them eon-
corning the in o,lita, and Mr.. Wilde returned
fn loo h.c sx,A
cut the search. One day he received telegram
Come at once. have found the Venus OF
Milos." he sought an audien. with the uni
verslty powers, whom Re much distres sed by
fable as TO pressing family matt oi ) in )ndon,
and gaining permission tc ok the first train to
town and hanson to Chel ia. Entering bis
friend studio, he found Mrs. Langtry there,
sitting Tor her portrai'! At that time she
knew so few people in London that they
might have been counted ON her fingers but
Mr.. Wilde and bis friend told nations she
was beautiful, /" and int crested in particular
the late Duchess of Westminster, and it was
at Grosvenor House that the now celebrated
beauty, Jersey Lily ms ie what was virtual
" her social debut. Mr.. Wilde regrets alme II
that Mrs. Langtry should have decided tc
come to the United States to act before she is
apt to be something more than merely a beau.
full woman and an Indifferent actress. He be.
lieves that she has the making of an accom-
plished artist and, in time, will prove herself
since she has that effectual substitute for gen.
ius-ambition. II WIS not singular that she
should have made one of the best debuis Oh
record. for her training as ''prt
fessional beauty" had been Of great
service to her. 1t was nothing new
to her to know that whole theatre full
of people were fixing their lorgnettes upon
her face. People who are used to being stared
at are obliged TO cultivate the quality of un
consciousness of self, and Mrs. Langtry had
taken long course Of lessons wherever she
went. Among her fine qualities is, says Mr.
Wilde, "a voice as musical as Sarah Bern
hardt's" She possesses, moreover, rare pow
ers of mimicry. He would like to cse her play
Rosalind, for she is the only woman of his &C
quaintance who would be apt to look like boy
in the doubtlet and hose, the contours of hel
uncorset' ID figure giving her advantages il
this respect. At all events he regrets that she
does not create an entirely new part in which
she will run no dan ger of comparison witt
anyone else, since popular criticism consist
SO largely of comparison