Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-03-17
How Mrs. Langtrys Head Was
Turned.

How Mrs. Langtry's Head Was
Turned.
A friend of Mr.. Langtry, the hus-
baud of the Jersey Lily" tells the
story of her alienation from her hus-
band, He had it from Mr.. Langtry
himself. "Ihc first discovery OF Mrs
Langtry, in the Island OF Jersey
says the friend, "was made by the
Duke of Bedford, He was very much
struck by her beauty, and paid her
great deal of attention. AT that time
Mr.. and Mrs. Langtry were living in
atNuert circumstances on the income
of his property, which amounted, lie
claims, TO TAO, 600, or nearly n quarter
of million dollars. On his return to
London from his visit the Prince OF
Wales heard So much from Bedford of
the extraordinary beauty of Mrs. Lang
try, that at his request that man ac-
companied him on \ trip to Jersey ion
the purpose OF meeting the now IA
nous beauty. The heir-apparcnt was
as much pleased with Mrs. Langtry as
was his friend, and he suggested that
she make her debut in London society,
Offering to make i. his business 10 re-
quest certain ladies in London society
to act as her sponsors. The offer was
gladly accepted by the woman, whose
head was already little turned by tho
attention her charms attracted. None
of these proceedings were, however,
looked upon with favor by Mr..
Langtry, who foresaw that he was
about 70 lid farewell forever TO his
quiet, peaceful life. lie is represented
rs being = big, good-naturcd, kindly
man, OF the type WHO love dogs,
horses and guns, and country sports,
all Of which, with Il good home and
the respect Of his neigh1ors, his ill.,
come was sufficient TO secure him for
lite. Once launched i'll London society
Mrs, Laugtry's success was immediate,
| and her 3asy.guiAG. good-naturcd lus-
band was hoping ali the time that be-
| fore long they would return TO their
quiet hOm'. The result was that iii
time he found that his wife 5 CXtrava-
ganca had eaten up his entire fortune.
/ The triumph5 Ct the art OF Partisan
mcn-miiiurr3 are expensive Injuries,
and they soon exhausted Il fortune
small in comparison with that pos
sc,.cd Ly tLGSs IN whOsQ sQCicty they
moved, and yet large in tho eyes OF
most people. 1t WAS then that Mr.
Langtry pat his foot down and said:
i aln ruined financially. This farce is
played out. You married me for bet
ter for worse, for richer, for poorer.
You have ha0 all Ike fat You mu:t
now take the lean. ! have sufficient
influence to secure Il government APP
pointmcnt, We viii retire from Soci-
city, take small house, aud settle
down together like respectable people
for lhe rest OF our lives, But Mrs.
Langtry refused 10 listen 10 this pro-
posal. She declared that she was 90
ing on the stage, that she did not care
for her husband and that the only man
she ever loved was Sit George C"ct'
WIND. AlturWuld She ran away to the
continent with SIR George, but when
they returned. the door, OF London
society were closed and Mr., Langtry
refused 10 have anything more to &c
with his wife. u did PCT &C. di
yorcr, because the laws vi jersey for
bid divorce under ANY circumstances,
The money that he has received !ron
his vile is II return ion the fortune tina
he had sQuandered upon her. "