Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1883-12-08
LILLE, THE LILY.
How Mrs. Ian9try Strikes a Wheel.
ing Audience.
A Brilliant Theatre Scene The Famous
English Beauty as Miss Hard
castle View through
lorgnette.

Like the pure profile on an antique
GEM" When Mrs. Lapgtry made her debut
in New York, last sesson. Oscar Wilde
wrote the critique for the New York World.
By sections Of threes, he rushed IN rap
lures and his fair country woman received
all the praise bis iacile end fautas.c pen
could giTe. He began with the q Iotation
above and his column production was an
eItravagant laudstion of her personal
charms, viewed from an nl!ra toC-too hi. b
art standpoint. He said little from theatrl.
cal point of view and his Ners subsequently
proved he did wisely. The great American
public Is q rowing critic and put at once it:
own estimate on TIE Lily, and to use a
sporting phrase, sized her Up" correctly
In her subsequent starring tour 1t was the
woman, not the artist, people saw and the
press criticised. The connection OF her
name with Freddy Gebhardt was the most
conspicuous feature OF that tour and was q
matter of such universal publicity that it
would be superoTegatiOn TO mention it
now.
When il was announced Mrs. Lapgtry
would appear in Wheeling, there was great
furore to see her. An unpTe e1ented rush
for seats, with prices looming 70 Inquire
Wheeling never paid, was followed by one
Of the most brilliant audiences the walls
OF The Opera House ever enclosed. II in
cluded most OF the wealth aud fashion OF
the city and vicinity, expressed in its
fair women and brave men, anC
was gay with brave fnery of the
mi liners and mantuamaker's art. 1t is
scarcely possible to conceive the expect
ancy with which the rise OF the curtain
was viewed. Then came a brief and list
less dialogue be ween Mr.. and MIS-. Hard
castle, in that witty, rather humorous, out
totally Improbable old comedy, She
stoops to conquer" Then in few me.
ments, with a rustic of silks, the famous
beauty swept on. A faint burst OF ap-
plsuse came and then feeling OF profound
disappointment surged over the audience,
where nifty handsomer ladies looked curl
ous'y at that one central figure. But
Wait. 1t requires more than one
even deliberate and comprehensive view to
fully appreciate that woman. At hrst,
there was general destruction OF all OF
The Ereconc}iy,3 IDEAS u that beauty; ex-
pectation had run TOO high and in the de
scent 10 the reality lGt re was something SO
sbTupt as 10 be shocking and. for time, to
or, c!ude fair estimate. In the second
act, most becoming bonnet was added to
the rich costume and in the remaining
scenes, the dress was that OF a British bar
waid and In its severe simplicity afforded
line Opportunity fCr scanning her claims to
beauty. To see that face is 10 look again and
a second glance cOmpels admiration. Bu'
Mrs. Langtry is not beautiful. Her clear grey
eyes hold wonderful depth and brightness
and her chilly smile disclosed teeth who's
whiteness and regularity might rival pearls
the complexion seemed faultleSs and the
perfect profile might vie with the purest
Greek; but no Judge Of beauty Of woman
hood would pronounce her beautiful. Her
pose and carriage are perfect and would
suggest figure modelled on the Venus de
MeGicis, but that short skirt disclosed,
alas. large feet bouy ankles and shapeless
limbs. Her arms are well moulded,
but tie shoulders are too square and mas
sive. though the neck and bust are COCO
and the "wish bone" Just daintily suggested
by seductive dimple.
Such is Mrs. I.sngtry, the woman. A.
an actress she may be great, but there i
nothing in she Stoops 10 Conquer 70 de
velop it. Her company is good one ant
the support rendered was cred!tab!a, so tina
the audience 2ra.ihed its curiosity. feaster
Its eyes on the peerless beauty Of Albion
All ough! to be happy.