Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1885-12-02
LILY LANcTRY's FATHER.
A Visit to the Venerable Dean at Hi
Quiet Jersey Home.

~ - asf
st. Heliers is clean little city,
well paved and shaded. It's inhabi-
tants are very proud Of It, and, albeit
they have never crossed to the con-
tinent in their life, they tell you flat-
ly that their shops are much hand
somer than any in Paris. You really
want to believe them they lie so
earnestly Yet there is one thing
the Jerseymen may brag about until
he dislocates his jaw, and am sure
ne will not succeed in overpraising-
the beauty of the women. / have
met every where on this lovely island
dozen of girls far handsomer than
the Lily of which it boasts. This is,
doubtless, the reason why the men,
bers of the Royal Yacht club 6nd it
so pleasant and convenient to linger
here for months at q time. 1t is their
bounteous patronage, indeed, which
has made st. Heliers so thriving g
place; for, whether it be the equable
climate or the pretty girls or both,
certain 1t 10 that my Lord Duke, tar
rying here from August to Decem-
Der, contrives at once to enrich its
citizens and have 'sdem jolly time"
himself Thus did that great and
good mantle benefact0r OF London
society, the stage and chiefly the
Prince Of Wales-His grace, the Duke
OF Bedford, who discovered the Jer-
sey Lily. slf a''
The rectory stands In the heart of
the town, rus IN Vrbe. The clean
granite stones and white shutters
show dimly through the thick hedge
and tall, outrageous trees. slap
preached BY the gravel path the tront
door opened aud out came the Dean.
very handsome and distsngue, indeed,
as Madame at the hotel had said. If
you will add two. or three inches to
Dan Dougherty's height, thirty or
forty pounds to his weight, remodel
his jaw and lower lip upon the En-
glish plan, and trim his whiskers,
you will have the Deans double.
Talking commonplace for time, I
tnally broke the ice with: -
"How do you regard your daugh-
ter's entrance upon the stage ~
"Oh, / don't know said he, smil-
ing. Il really haven't thought much
about it. She is the best Judge now
of her own conduct. She is old
enough, don't you think 7"
How old is she ?'' a
"I'm afraid Lily wouldn't wish me
to tell. Not that she's much older
than she looks, but age, you know, is
q woman's only secret. The Enest
Christian lady | ever knew would lie
about her age to me-once vowed she
was only forty years old, with tears
in her eyes, whereas the parish record
showed her to be sixty
Have you ever beard Of Mr.. Geb-
hard 2" ~ s. a.
The dean looked wicked for an in
stant, and then said coldly.: II think
Mr.. Gebhard is a fool, am sure
Lily has been misunderstood in this
matter. You Americans doubtless
believe her to be very shrewd and
knowing in the ways of the world.
but she is not. have often caution
cd her against permitting her incIina-
ton to repose implicit confidence In
people to leao her into relations which
would be misconstrued to her social
hurt. She takes after me in this re-
spect, and | can only pity, not chide
herr
Have you heard her play yet ?o
"Only as On amateur. But l am
sure she has talent and will succeed.
You see the great difficulty is that
her old unfortunate fame as beauty
predisposed the critics against her,
and it must be some time before the
real merit that she undoubtedly pos
sesses ean eradicate this prejudice
from their minds. But that time will
come; we are sure of it, absolutely
sure.v
DO you keep up any c0mmunica-
tion with Dir. Laugtry ?" ''' =
None whatever. But | have moth
ing harsh to say of him at all. In
deed, my own family affairs take mp
all my time and atsantion, and can
give but brief consideration to Lily's,
They were no doubt extravagant
while in London, foolishly SO, / be-
lieve, and are now engaged in the
mortifying task Of reaping the whifl-
wind. It IS often very profitable, If
not pleasant, employment, ron know /.