National Republican., 1886-10-23
A DEEPLY wRoNGED WOMAN.
The True story of Mrs. LangtrY's I'm
happy Marriage.


New York Graphic.l
LONDON, Oct. 6.--Just before Mrs. Lang
try sailed for America a supper was given
her by few of those who know her best to
bid her goodbye and give her courage.
Among those present was Henry Irving, who
said to her at parting' "God speed you, Mrs.
Langtry, and bring you safe In returning.
hope we shall see you very soon again"
perhaps before you think" was the an
swer "lf they greet me as they did before,
I'm coming home and shall give IL up"
This little speech, with its half.hearted
| laugh, was the most pathetic bit OF herself
and OF her life that Lille Langtry has ever
| given to any one. IL meant much, and 1t
conveyed more, perhaps, to those present
than it possibly could have TO any one else,
| for they knew her better and the life she
has endured.
With heightened interest, every word by
cable and otherwise that foretold the recep.
tion TO be given Mrs. Langtry by the Ameri-
| can press has been watched for eagerly by
many anxious friends, by one or two intl-
mate friends in particular.
To-day word has come which seems to
prove beyond doubt that the mean
attacks OF previous years have been
omitted, and that the unhappy woman
is being forgotten in the actress. It is
| grateful news to Mrs. Langtry's friends,
although the cruelty of the past can never
| be forgiven.
They wonder, and with much reason, IL
| the American press knew the woman whom
they libeled, even by sight. IL does not
| seem as II II were possible that they could
know even as much of her as this and say
| even for money, or for vengeance, or for
| petty professional success, the things some
| Of them said.
| One Of Mrs. Langtry's closest and most
intimate friends is literary woman Of
| position, OF undoubted honesty and virtue,
and Of unerring insight into human nature.
| From her comes absolute confirmation Of
these facts OF Mrs. Langtry's life. / send
them to the Graphic because | believe you
are the one Of all the New York editors
who never faile to recognize and give due
| credit to an honest man or an honest
| woman. / want your readers to know a
a side Of one woman's nature as II is surely
not known in America.
| II | were to 90 into details the details
might be disputed. will state nothing but
facts which hear witness Of their own truth
simply those absolutely necessary for CO.
| hcrence.
Lille Langtry was married at the age OF
| is. She had been brought up very quietly,
but still, as many girls are, with the idea
that sure happiness lay only where there
her and asked her hand in marriage the one
main thought in the child's mind was her
brother. This lad she was particularly fond
| Of, and when she became sure that IL lay In
| her power to educate the boy and have
| him always with her she accepted the of
| fered marriage. From the day of her mar
riage to the present time 1t is to be doubted
| II Mrs. Langtry ever saw her husband for
an hour free from the effects Of liquor. For
a time there was comparatively happy
| life, yachting and flying about, but 1t was
little happiness and OF short duration.
Soon came the death OF her brother. He
was killed by a fall during hunt.
Then the facts lay before her. She had
made the sacrifice for nothing. To please
her family, to have her brother with her,
| do, this girl, this almost child, had thrown
| herself away. Absolutely and in every
sense 1t was complete sacrifice. Her hus-
land was a hopeless drnnkard, a beastly
drunkard. In the three years that she had
then been married he had never approached
her with one word or touch of the lover or
the husband. She simply bore the name
| Of wife, and the disgrace OF being yoked to
a man who was physical wreck and a con-
flrmed drunkard.
| What wonder Is It that social tflumphs
| became dear; what wonder that the stage
and America seemed to offer release to
woman acknowledged to be the most beauti-
full woman in Englandf Small wonder,
| indeed.
But what did this unhappy woman get
| for her endeavor to honestly put her talents
to account and to earn for herself an honest
| livingP
What, indeed, butlcalumniation, scandal,
lies, unhappiness, misery, and absolute
terror Nothing from the world. From one
man she got quiet, earnest devotion, that
| In three Years has never failed to be COM
| fort IN hpr which she has Dayar failed tn
| honorl
| DID 1t bring any respect for herr Instead
| 1t brought down upon her head redoubled
insult, more determined outrage, aud
meaner, more contemplate lies. She, whose
only sin lay in the fact that, being hound by
| law to man who had absolutely never
claimed her as his wife, permitted the de-
votion OF man who would gladly have
| given her his name-,she, whose only sin
| was this, was treated as Magdalen, as an
| outcast would be treated.
Do Americans aud American newspaper
men ever think OF this, our side OF the
storyP Do they ever think that in all these
years they cannot put finger on person
| who ever heard this woman say one word
| against her besotted husband? Do they
| know that her bounty supports him9 DO
| they ever think that 1t was hard thing to
be one woman standing alone and being
stoned by the entire population OF country
| like American Did they ever think OF the
| bravery, Of the womanlness, and of the
unflinching courage Of woman that could
hear and see and know all these things said
Of her and never, even to her friends, COM
| plain Of the wounds inilicted9 Do you
suppose that any insignificant paragraph
writer that attempted to be funny at this
| poor woman's expense ever thought of the
tears, the shame, and heartsick misery his
wretcbed joke would bring upon her?
Do you suppose that any woman who
| fouted her because she had no husband or
| child with her ever thought of the longing
that there might be In this poor actress wo.
mans heart for home and husband and
| baby of her ownY
In all mercy | cannot think these things
have ever been presented to these people AS
some Of us feel 1t hrrel l do not think
| those bitter lies will ever be brought up
| again, since the victim is better known at
her real value.
| Still, II they are, hope some one will
| bring to the authors MUD the picture OF
this brave, unhappy soul. A beautiful
| woman still, brave woman still, aud a
| successful woman as well, We who know
her hest know she would gladly give 1t all
for the home, the love, and, above all, the
peace, which she above oil Others could so
pitifully appreciate.
THE COLOR LINE.