New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-21
and the thought renders their present frightful
condition the more intolerable.
EyTERPRIsE AND INDECENoY.


Western newspapers since the arrival of Mrs. Lang
try in their section. First a sort OF preliminary
indication OF what was 10 follow. we we're told
that gilded youth of Chicago had wagered u thou
sand dollars that he would ride with Mrs. Langtry
alone within three days after her arrival in that
windy city. This valuable piece OF intelligence
was conveyed to the public by journalist who
confessed he had overheard" the wager made in
q resort of sporting men, into which he had dropped
casually to get some crackers aud cheese" This
was genuine enterprise
The next information which we received Was an
advance along the same line. 1t was announced
that the letter bag in the hotel where Mrs. Langtry
was stopping had been watched for day and
night to see IL she wrote any letters to the re-
novned Mr.. Gebhard, of New-York; that finally
the patient vigil was rewarded by tho sight of
letter addressed to him. aud that while its contents
were as yet unknown, there were several journal
lists who were determined to steal it If possible That
was enterprise unprecedented even in the West,
aid the subsequent failure to secure tho letter
showed that there were heights-Or depths-ln this
field OF cndeavor which the West could not yet
touch II was the first failure of the kind we have
ever had to record and, judging by later develop
ments, il is likely to ue the last. We could give
many furth or illustrations of the journalistic genius
OF Chicago as developed by Mrs. Langtrys pres
once, but in view OF the brilliant abilities displayed
later by ST. Louis as rival in the same field 1T is
scarcely worth while Chicago ecipscd the East;
but ST. LOUIS has eclipsed Chicago. Indeed, when
we look at what st. Louis has done. and compare 1t
with what Chicago tried to do. we are amazed that
every genuine journalist in Chicago does not com
NIT suicide from hopeless Encouragement. Surely
he can never dream of cqualisng, much less sur
passing the feats which we are about TO describe
briefly and with as much accuracy as decency will
permit
The FIRST original display Of enterprise was tho
distribution among the audience before whom Mrs.
Langtry was acting of small cards with the title
The Globe Democrats Langtrv Catechism," and
bearing these questions: Il. Is she beautifully
.. Her style of beauty g. Describe her appear
ance. T. What do you think of her actnef 0.
Your opinion of Freddie" That the enterprising
journalist who originated this scheme understood
his public was demonstrated by the fact that hum
dreds OF the cards returned with answers writ
ten upon them Some Of them. it is explained, were
not published because Of their yulgaTlty. After
puruslng those which were published we are forced
30 the conclusion that there is mistake about
the EXPLANATION. On the next day the same
newspaper advanced a step farther 1t published an
article headed in striking letters: Freddie IS
Here" "Tne Lilys Annex Msgnifcently Housed
at the Southern" The article itself defes all sum-
mary. Ii was Western beyond all precedent and
all description. IL contained diagram of the
rooms occupied by Mrs Langtry and of those occu-
pied by Mr. Goddard. accom- aned by explanations
and comment. That promising beginning of
the day. Toward night, reporter OF this interest
ing newspaper called on Mr.. Gebhard and found
him dining with MRS. Langtry. What followed can
but he portrayed in the elegant language OF the &C
complished journalist who thus describes his own
interview
The scribe was asonilhed to find himself ushercd into
the presence Lily herself who with her Slster-ln-
law, Miss Langtry. and Freddie, were seated at table
vigorously discussinga dsh OF roast 9ua WIN lhat
Characteristic potecss for which be Is indebted 10 an
early gcntee culture Freddie deigned to look at the
pulled down his vest The awful silence was finally
been rudoly interrupted at a banquet, asked:
well. SIR, what do You want l"
The reporter replied that the trai OF an in
tcryicw. but ntmated that might be agreeable 10
Freddie II he would submit Intercepted alone.
himself in The presence q whole circus company a. not
Then" queried the reporter Will you state what
your object Is IN following Mrs. Langtry around the
TN III! was bombshcu thrown into the warse camp
Mr. Iansiry was The first 20 respond 10 TINS leading
Que ton. and womtn-ke. she did not stop until she
gave the rcrortcr~a piece OF her mind think you
reporters are very saucy said ahe 70 ask about Things
that don't concern yon."
Mrs. I4uctry " inquired the reporter
This tine signal FOR another painful outbnrst, and
the Iliy dropped whole quall on her zap ana hcf kne
and went rafting the floor. Poor Freddie who
between the Ore OF the reporter and the fire Of the
LILY. On pi.u state OF CONSERVATION. lie iumbled
his tail more ucryOusly thun ever ana his eye
rolled Ike that OF Wan confronted by me crisis OF us
life. But II que 'tion DE could not well dodge unht
such presence, and after an EFFORT at cOnposure lie
managed % say
"Y-es-thnt is, suppose so. be lieve we win" and
then be- glanced endcry at tho LILY, as II to obtain an
class of Wine hastily drank had the apparent effect
to revive the youths courage and he said desperately
TO on, and ask mo anything You IKE 49,, A.,
WAN e4lI he
XXI tbi was more than Freddie could stand lie said
hr didn't come TO 81. Louis 10 bc insulted The LILY
said mo- she didn't either and then they all got up aud
the servants got mp and began to about III sus-
,,cors moi sny hostile way and the reporter concluded
that 70 SAFER in the rotunda than In the liys room
We will venture no comment upon that narrative.
When Mr.. Gebhard met the author OF it he called
him some very unpleasant names, shook his fist III
mis- face and requested HIM to light 1t out on the spot
But the gifted journalist, who we are told Is
scion of noble Southern family declined to
fight with such vulgar weapons as hsts and retired
to the Office of his newspaper, where he wrote and
sent Mr. Goddard "A challenge to mortal combat.
Tins Mr.. Gebhard declined to accept. II is init
mated by the admring associates of the journalist
that he Is dead shot and man of iron nerve"
lis style shows him to he a gentleman.
There the ENTERPRISE - rests for the present, or
rather did at last accounts. What may happen by
way of progress at any moment. 1t is OF course in-
possible TO imagine Mr. Gebhard has had de-
cldedly the best of it in his s1uabble with the
chiyalrous" journalist. who, "noble" as his
family may be, does not BEEN to be above repre-
sentng himself as BLACKBOARD in order to COM
nit the additional offence of publishing bogus lu-
tervew Even this, however is no worse than
MI. Gebharls own conduct in following
Mrs. Langtry about The country and making her
tour one long and painful scandal No explanation
which he can give of that mako him appear
otherwise than calf-llko and contemplate. Nv
continuing his attentions after they have aroused
such unpleasant notoriety he is making 1t lupoSsi.
bic Tor her friends 70 defend her onduct or TO oh
ject to the worst inter- relation her enemies
may put upon It,