The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-01-08
Mrs. LANGTRY's FATHER.
\ Visit tn tho Venerable Dean at Iii,
Quiet Home in Jersey.


Quiet Home in Jersey.
Correspondence Philadelphia Press.
St. IIelicrs 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 flatly that their
shops are much handsomer than any
in Paris. You really want to believe
them, they lie SO earnestly. Yet there
is one thing the Jerseyman may brag
about until he dislocates his jaw, and
l am sure he will not succeed in over
praising-the beauty of the women. I
have met everywhere on this lovely
island Il dozen dozen of girls far hand
somer than the Lily OF which it boasts.
This is, doubtless, the reason why the
members OF the Royal Yacht club find
it so pleasant and convenient to linger
here for months at a time. It is their
bounteous patronage, indeed, which
has made st. Heliers SO thriv.
ing q place; for, whether it be
the equable climate, or the
pretty girls, or both, certain it is that
my lord duke, tarrying here from Au-
gust to December, contrives at once
to enrich its citizens and have a "dem
jolly time" himself. Thus did that
great and good man-the benefactor
OF London society, the stage, and
chiefly the prince Of Wales-his grace
the duke OF Bedford, who discovered
the Jersey Lily.
The rectory stands in the heart of
the town, a rus in urbc. The thick
granite stones ard white shutters show
dimly through the thick hedge and
tall, outrageous trees. As 1 ap-
preached by the gravel path the front
door opened and out came the dean,
very handsome and distingue, indeed,
as madame at the hotel had said.
If you will add two or three inches to
Dan Dougherty's heighth. thirty or
forty pounds to his weight, remodel
his jaw and lower lip upon the English
plan, and trim his whskers, you will
have the deans double.
Talking commonplace for O time, l
finally broke the ice with:
Glow doyouregard your daughters
entrance upon the stage?"
"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 think?"
"How old isshe?"
"I'm afraid Lily wouldn't wish me
to tell. Not that she's much older
than she looks, but ago, you know, is
u woman's 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 register
showed her to be sixty"
Have you ever heard of Mr.. Geb-
hard?"
The dean looked wicked for an in
slant and then said coldly: II think
Mr.. Gebhard is q fool. / am sure
Lily has been misunderstood in this
matter. You Americans doubtless be-
lieve her to be very shrewd and know
ing in the ways of the world, but she
is not. have often cautioned her
against permitting her inclination to
repose implicit confidence in people to
lead her into relations which would be
misconstrued to her social hurt. She
takes after me in this respect, and
can only pity, not chide her"
"Haveyou heard her play YETI"
"Only as an amateur. But I am
sure she has talent and will succeed.
You see the great difficulty is that her
old unfortunate fame as beauty,
prr!isposed the critics against her,
and it must be some time before the
real merit that she undoubtedly pos.
sesses can eradicate this prejudice
from their minds. But that time will
come We are sure of it, absolutely
sure"
"Do you keep up any communica-
tion with Mr.. Langtry?"
"None whatever. But have moth
ing harsh to say OF him at all. Indeed,
my own family affairs take up all my
time and a ttention, and can give but
brief consideration to Lily's. They
were, no doubt, extravagant while in
London, foolish!y so, / believe, ard
are now engaged in the mortifyins task
OF reaping the whirlwind 1t is often
Il very profitable, ii not pleasant, EN-.
ployment, you know"