Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-08-02
Gsnsyisys Ward's Home and Her
Mothers Early Recollections
Of New York.
Genev'eve on a Tour Around the World
Preparatory to Leaving the Stage and
Becoming IA iScuIptress---The Be-
tanic and Other Fetes---Min-
lister Phelps and Wife.
A Call on Oscar Wilde and His
Eccentric Mother.
Copyrighted 1851


No. 10 CAvENDIsH ROAD. REGENT PARK,
LONDON, July % London is marvel; it
is the manysided representative of all cities,
Of all nation, of all peoples, of all arts, and
all industries, simple and almost rustic in
some ofits ways, majestic in its achieve
ments, grand and magnificent in its CHAIR
ties and its Inequalities. In comparison
with its methods, Its vastness its population,
its area, its immense diversities OF interests,
New York seems like village of one or two
streets. From the Isle of Wight we reach
the metropolis by the Northwestern Rail
way in three hours and half, one hour Of
which is consumed by boat to Southampton.
We are a party of three, with three trunks
and any quantity Of smaller impediments.
1t is a problem how to reach our destination
north Of Regents Park and take our luggage
along, for we are booked for concert and
cricket match Immediately upon our arrival.
The station agent advises private "bus,"
which takes our party and its belongings
the three miles for four shillings, trunks in
cluded, with sixpence extra for the driver
and shilling extra for handling.
Our stopping place is a charming home
outside the noise and hustle Of London, but
within fifteen minutes of Oxford and Regent
Circus by bus and close by Regents Park
upon "rosd" lined with trees, where the
houses have walled gardens front and back,
and the birds sing in the trees all the day
long. The neighborhood is favorite one
with artists and professional people, for it is
quiet yet easily accessible, and the drives in
every direction are through the finest neigh
oorhood by Regents Park to the business
part Of the city, and through Hyde Park to
South Kensington and its Museum. South
Eensington is more modern and profss-
ionally fashionable, but it ia also much
more crowded and said to be less healthy
Amopg the artists, dramatic and other
yhose homes are in this neighborhod IL
Mss Genevieve Ward, who is now in Aus
ralia on a tour around the world, sigualized
W many curious adventures. Miss Wards
mother, who was daughter Of Gilbert
Leigh, one of the early Mayors Of New York
and her brother Albert. who was attached
to the American Legation in Paris during
the Franco-Prussian war, constitute the resi-
Dental family and relate with infinite gusto
the offer OF Maori chief in New Zealand to
Miss Ward to put away all his wives if she
would consent to take their place. Mrs.
Lucie Leigh Ward is a very remarkable
woman, and it is from her that Miss Ward
derives her remarkable gifts. She WAS
seventy six the 22d Of last May, yet she was
the feature ola brilliant "at home" the other
afternoon, when she recited at Or. Laugdon
Downes, with infinite expression Thackerey's
"Csnebottomed Chair Her voice is of ex-
traordinary compass, and when she was a
Younger woman was really three distinct
soices-soBraRo tenor and bass-its depth
It still retains but the higher notes have
lost their clearness and purity, though it is
still capable OF wide variations which are
very effective in recitAtions, in which, how
ever, Of late she seldom INDUCES. She
paints also so well that had she devoted her
self TO that art as profession she must
have become eminent in it. Her pictures,
with which the walls OF her drawing room
are filed, lack the technique which is the
result of training, but they are excellent in
color and feeling. Her son has a collection
of upwards of thirty miniatures painted by
his mother and which he calls his treas
ures," and which are most interesting and
valuable as studies Mrs. Wards memory
dates back to the time when a stream ran
through Canal street in New York, and
Eighth street was a sandy lane leading to
rich green fields, and hill upon which the
elegant out oftown residences were built
her fathers among the number. Mr.. Leigh
built and occupied the first marble house
IN New York, at Is Broad way, and imported
n l. The fret marble bath ever brought to
he young city from Italy.