Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-05-09

The ~JeRsey Lily@S'' Ideas About
american Wemea-Whas m Eagiish
Beauty FINDS In Them 20 Admire.


American Wemea-Whas IN Eagifsh
Beauty FINDS In Them 20 Admire.
From he New York Hsral d.
''Since you have been In this country, Mrs.
Langtry, have you met many American wo-
men?"
mo, / have not met . great many, for my
theatrical duties have been 90 heavy that have
received but few visitors and have really re.
fused nearly all Observation-Disclosures / have
had many friendly offers Of hospitality wherever
have been. But the American women I have
met have been charmed with; and OF course
have seen thousands and thousands of the
American fair sex. for my matinee audiences
are almost entirely composed Of women"
And what Impression has the American wo-
man mad. made upon you, Mrs. Langtrys What do
What question to ask ONE" and Mrs Lang
try threw up her hands In establishment. Il
really don't think | can answer that. don't
think it would be delicate for me to discuss the
hlatter. ! think it cannot be expected that
should pass judgment on the American womcn.'
But you must have some impressions of theil
manners. appearance, Dress &c. 1t would un-
doubtedly interest American women to LEAN
what the English beauty thinks Of them.
PRETTY AMERICAN WOMEN.
"Really this question has so surprised me
that don't know what to say, but II you think
it will really be OF interest will try and tell
you what / think. In the first place, 4 thiak
American women have very pretty faces, so
bright and winning. One sees many more
pretty faces here than in England Then /
think they have beautiful hair and very pretty
hands and feet "
And their figures"
We'll, L must take the liberty TO say that
think their figures are generally bad. The
American standard of figure is altogether too
plump to please me; but again, do not see
why my opinion should be of any interest In the
matter have been called 'scraggy' In one town
visited"
''And where was that?"
We'll. think 1t must have been in Pittsburg.
| think the most disagreeablc things were said
| of me there"
"Whom do you consider the most beautiful
American woman you have seem"
MARY Anderson decidedly"
but Mary Anderson Is not over plump"
''She is not. / should have said that the over
plumpness spoke OF refers principally to the
| married beauties have seen. 1t struck me as
very funny" Mrs Langtry continued, that In
every town visited the local papers in noticing
| my first appearance led of with the remark that
| their own town was exclusively noted for its
beauties, and with such an array OF native
beauty II was not surprising that the famous
English beautys face made but little impression
| on the audience Then they would begin to
notice the performance, AS far as Mrs Langtrys
ability as an actress is concerned, DO, &C."
I'm which town did you see the prettiest
women.7"
an Baltimore. 1t struck me that every
woman there was a beauty And think that
baltimore was the only town that did not boast
Of its native beauties"
A FEW CRITICISMS OF DRESS.
''Do you admire the dress Of American
women"
81 cannot soy candidly that I do; on the
whole. l think they dress too smartly for the
street and too simply for the theater. think
they mix their colors badly and have too many
bows and ends on their dresses. To my taste q
woman cannot be too simply dressed for the
street dress Of simple neutral tints pleases
me best. j saw woman In the street the other
day wearing gray ulster, blue dress and scar
let Kid gloves. Just think Of that" and Mrs
Langtry almost shuddered with horror at the
thought of scarlet gloves. and she also had
bouquet de corsdge Of daffodS. That was rather
gay mixture of colOrs. was it not3"
The reporter sympathzed with Mrs Langtry,
for on his way to the Aibermarle he had met
woman wearing a mauye velvet dress with blue
satin skirt and bonnet of blue straw, trimmed
with crimson velvet, out OF which appeared to
be growing pink ears of barley
The reporter by way of contrast somewhat re-
servedy remarked On the richness of Mrs. Lang
try's costume.
You may call 1t handsome and perhaps Ii is,
and it might look rather too fine on the street
but L am going out driving. But it is really a
very simple dress. A peacock velvet OyerdreSs
over a pettlcoat Of turquoise blue, yelled with
moonlight jet"
g You want to know what think Of the man.
ners of the American women? think them
charming, so free and open. The American
women are so Independent, and there is such q
delightful lack of circumstances about them
They are, too, very bright in conversation and
the freedom and frankness Of their manner1m-
presses one instantly 1t ID 90 different from the
reserve of the general run Of English women"
FULL DRESS AT THE rHEAIER.
"You said that they did not dress well enough
for the theater3"
Swell, what meant to say was that like to
see ladies In fall dress 1t the theater; or they
might. If they come in bonnets, wear the charm
ing little theater bonnets one sees in the French
theaters. These big hats that women wear tn
American theaters think are abominable."
Mrs. Langtrys maid entered at this point In
the interview and brought q spray of forget-me-
nots and ferns. They were TO be attached to
bow. Mrs. Langtry caught sight Of it and said
laughingly, snow see that bow fiy," and she
tore It away and threw it down. 81 won't have
any bows about me, she said. "not even on
my parasol. Yes, you can safely say that am
making war against bows and ends"
"Weil, to sum up on the American woman"
Mrs. Langtry said, returning to the subject, al
think her very beautiful and charming, and
think she hasvery strong national characterIs-
tics. would know an American woman any
where. In what way? Well, principally from
her frank and open manner and her independ-
ence."
"What do you think Of the fashions In Amer
lea Are they behind the European fashfonss"
well, I should say that the American style in
dress, in cuts, and all that, is about year be-
hind that Of Paris. At least find the American
dressmakers 1 have visited offer me the styles
saw year ago In Paris Talking OF American
dress, Mrs. Langtry added. s'I think American
women think We dress very badly in England,
and have heard it said that dress fairly well
for an EnglishwOman. But / must say that
English women dress admirably and the Prn-
cess of Wales has set us . charming example In
simplicity of dress"
LonE FinYer Nails.
From Notes and Queries.
According to the writer Of an article on Sex
traordinary Finger Nails, in the World Of Won
deT,s, it is the custom Of the Chinese Siamese and
Annamese to allow the nails on all their fingers,
except the forefnger, to grow to great length,