The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-11-12

Mrs. Langtry Is Only a Chip from the Old
Block, and the Flower of the Family.
Philadelphia Press.
! correspondent writes from st. Heliers, Jer-
sey. as follows
1.-THE Reverend Dean of the charming Isle of
Jersey is the father of the beautiful Jersey Lily
Aside from the popular impression that pre-
walls to this effect there is every reason to be-
| lieve my statement The resemblance. for in
stance, between father and daughter IS most
convincing, and to-day the Dean spoke to me OF
the Lily as his dear daughter Jersey is the
largest of the channel islands, st. Heliers IS the
| largest town in Jersey and the Dean IS the larg-
| est man in St Heliers So sought the rectory
of St Martins in the same spirit that would
seek St Peters were in Rome. But before |
| conduct you there let me tell you what gossip
| had heard of its occupants ere lifted the gate
| latch. Said the landlady at the Hotel Palals de
| Crystal:
''You have seen the Dean9 You have nota
Mon dieu! But you must; he is charming. But
naughty-oh tres mechant."
will he preach tomorrow
"Preachl Monsieur, do you not know that he
dare not preachl Ever since that trip to Mont
Orgeuil. All! it was foolish thing; why did
not he and Mademoiselle go to Guernsey
asked him that and he only say-Cest vrai,
Madame; but you women are wiser than we Old
men, No, monsieur, he has not preached for
three years; but, as you know, his wife now lives
with him; they are again happy"
Why, you don't mean to say they were sep
arated"
cans who love the Lily know nothing of her
parents. But it is always so. Yes monsieur,
they were separate-months monsieur; for she
is very gay-gayer than the Dean. But then
madame is not prudent. When the big scandal
came out about her two sons and the young
ladies from st. Mao-what says madame?
Cest damage she says, but they are young;
let them have their amusements.' Amusement,
monsieur Is it amusing TO ruin two young Ia
diesi Then madame herself was talked about.
Oh! there are stories of yachtmen, officers at
Fort Elizabeth, and lawyer. Yes, they sepa-
rate, for can q home be happy with the children
disgraced, the husband not always drunk, but
presque, monsieur-and the wife never in it?
1t is impossible But you will like him. lie is
very distingue"
st. Heliers is clean little city, we'll paved
and shaded Its inhabitants are very proud of
it, and albeit they have never crossed to the
continent in their life, they tell you fatty that
their shops are much handsomer than any in
Paris. You really want to believe them, they
lie earnestly. Yet there is one thing the
Jerseyman may brag about until he disocates
his jaw, and l am sure he will not succeed In
overpraising-the beauty of the women. have
| met everywhere OH this lovely island dozen of
girls far handsomer than the Lilly of which it
boasts. This is, doubtless, the reason why the
member of the Royal Yacht Club find it so
pleasant and convenient to linger here for
teous patronage indeed which has
made st. Heers so thriving a place;
for whether it be the equable climate or the
pretty girls, or both certain it is that my Lord
Duke, tarrying here from August to December,
contrives at once to enrich its citizens and have
a dem jolly time" himself. Thus did that great
and good mantle benefactor of London society,
the stage. and chiefly the Prince of Wales-his
Grace, the Duke of Bedford, who discovered the
Jersey Lilly.
The rectory stands in the heart of the town,
rus in urbe. The clean granite stones and white
shutters show dimly through the thick hedge
and tall, outrageous trees. AS approached by
the gravel path the front door opened, and out
came the Dean, very handsome and dstngue,
indeed, as Madame at the hotel had said. If
you will add two or three inches to Dan Dough
ertys height thirty or forty pounds to his
Seght. remodel his jaw and lower lip upon the
English plan, and trim his whlskerS you will
have the Deans double.
Talking commonplace for time, I finally
broke the ice with:
How do you regard your daughters entrance
upon the stageW
"Oh. don't know, said he smiling. II really
haven't thought much about it. She is the best
judge now of her own conduct. She is old
enough, don't you thinkP
''How old is she2"
'1'm afraid Lily wouldn't wish me to tell Not
that she's much older than she looks, but age,
you know is a womans only secret The finest
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 heard of Mr. GebhardW
The Dean looked wicked for an instant and
then said coldly: II think Mr.. Gebhard is
fool l am sure Lily has been misunderstood
in this matter. You Americans doubtless be-
leve her to be very shrewd and knowing in
the WAYS of the world but she is not have
often cautioned her against permitting her in
cination to repose implicit confidence in people
to lead her into relations which would be mis-
construed to her social hurt She takes after
me in this respect and can only pity, not
chide her"
"Have You heard her play YETI"
'Only as an amateur. But am sure she has
talent and will succeed. You see the great diff
ficulty 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 possesses can eradicate this
prejudice from their minds. But that time will
come; we are sure of it, absolutely sure"
do you keep up any communication with Mr..
Langtry?'
None whatever But have nothing harsh
to say of him at all. Indeed. my OWE family
affairs take up all my time and attention, and
can give but brief consideration to Lilys. They
were no doubt extravaganza while in London,
foolishly so, believe, and are now engaged in
the notifying task of reapng the whirlwind.
1t is often a very profitable, if not pleasant en-
ployment, you know"
He said great deal more in the same strain
as we strolled through the town, concluding with
the fattering assurance:
Lilly tells me she would rather live year in
the States than two in the continent of Europe,
and above all she admires that Quaker town
what's its name2 yes, Philadelphia"
A Very Tiresome Prescription,