St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-09-03
THEIR REIGN ENDED.
The Rise and Fall of the Professional
Beauty" of the Great British
Empire.
Mrs. Langtry's Short and Brilliant
Social Career and Subsequent
Success on the stage.
Inside History of Lord Garmoyle's
Engagement With Miss For-
teScue,


the New York World. Up to that time
there was no lack of pretty women IN So
ciety and about the court. but 1t was not
the fashion to pose and advertise them.
When Mrs. Langtry burst upon LONDON ana
attracted the attention Of the Prince OF
Wales, the photographers went wild over
her, filling the shop windows with her
presentment and the society
papers which were just then blooming into
existence We'd with one another III prettlly
a lady who had captured the
head or the heart, or both, OF MS royal
highnesS. 1t then became the fasnlon 10 De
beautiful, and to be thought beautiful was
to become conspicuous in the higher circles.
There was one supreme judge OF Deauty,
and after he Ga capital II, please) had pro
nounced his verdict in favor OF some f0rtu-
nate maid or matron, her celebrity for the
moment was assured. The photographers
and photographers kept well on the track OF
these royal favOrites and the public were
with the latest sensation in
THE WAY OF BEAUTY.
The English aristocracy did not provide
beauties in sufficient numbers, so the United
OIdLSS CdulG w blO lCoOuO, oAAN, eeAeOA
America. the middle classes had a turn in
this direction. III. r. ii. was even conde-
to the city magnateS, provided
that great commercial center could 1urhlsh
wel-favored women. Marlborough house
was temporarily the great skirt emporium
of the United Kingdom, and society was
nearly choked in a cloud of pink poudre
de riz. 1t was all powder, puff and bloom
of roses a la Rimmel. Phew! Ladies, who
a wear or two before were abundantlV con-
tent with attending lord mayors ball,
were now asked to smart garden parties at
house, petltS souperS at the
New club and the prince called them by
name and walked and chatted Familiarity
with them on the lawn at Sandown Park
races. Ali this naturally turned their we'll
coiffured little heads and led. in some III
stances, to
UNHAPPY RESULTS,
as the chronique scandaleuse of the court
presided over by Sir James HaEnen could
testify. The pace became little too fast.
H. R. H., as the saying goes. pulled up. "
His sons and daughters were growing up
and bad example must not be set, and
beauty, in its aggressive, hot house. i'm
perious form, went over. bag and baggage,
to the theater.
Mr.. Langtry, when Marlborough house
thought it Just as well to omit her in it's in
yitations. as all the world knows, adopted
the stage after consultation with her royal
admirer. He thought it was the best thing
she could do, and her notOriety as a court
beauty brought her in d shower OF gold.
The lever that moves the world as far as
is concerned is curiosity, and
everybody was anxious Especially the mid
die classes) to see the woman who had en-
shaved gallant prince. What followed is
a matter of social history. Mrs. Langtry
has made splendid fortune and lives like a
siren in fairy tale, surrounded by luxury.
Now two of these much-talked-of stage
beauties are about to descend on these hos
pitable shores. l will take Miss Fortescue
first. She is really quite aristOcratic-look-
ing, has bright eyes. and grief and disap-
pOintment have never touched her dellcately
cheeks. Her features are almost
classical in their regularity, and she dresses
with exquisite taste. Her affair with
LORD GARMOYLE
was expanded into the proportions OF a
reclame. This callow Don Juan
was sincerely smitten with the chorus girl
of the Savoy. and D'Oyly Carte, who is a
man of the world and ''meanS
business every time" advised her to listen
to the Garmoyle suit and ''land'' the young
aristocrat if possible. But she had about as
much love for him as she had for her pug
dog. The lordling was wanting in the gift
that captivates all danes de la cOuliSSeS, no
matter how obscure they may be-namely,
O. oomnIU W. nnaNtQ1
La Fortescue was conveyed to the home of
her finance, on approval. as 1t were. Lord
and Lady Cairns looked her over and pro-
nOunced her loud and too theatrical III style.
The young choriSter played her role
knew what she was about
and the end of it was the earl and countess
forbade the marriage. This was act one In
the comedy-act two was estrangement and
a sensation suit for breach of promise.
Here w. S. Mikado Gilbert appeared on
the scene as a special adviSer-it was as
piauant as connecting plot for an opera
bouffe to direct an affaire d'amour like this,
aud act three closed up with swinging
900. The curtain came down
with bang. the comedy had been well con-
sIdered. :leverly prompted. admirably acted,
and after the bullion was duly handed over,
THE LORDLING STOLE
off 70 forget his sorrows in such excitement
as he might find in the United States.
Now" said Gilbert. YOU must resume
the stage while the public are talking about
YOU. Don't lose moment me chere; !
will coach you. and you shall appear in
one of my plays" You see. Gilbert had a
hard eye to business Che always has), and
the result was, as a Tilted beauty with
10. 900 golden sOvereigns rafting in hel
pocket. the British public crushed to see
her. In the meanwhile she has been learn
inc and practicing her art, and by the time
she reaches New York / have no doubt she
viii be quite nice actress. T0 my mind,
when last saw her she was the perfe ction
OF what is called in theatrical parlOnce, "a
walking lady" OF power, emotional in
stincs and that indefinable, subtle charm
that is called genius. she has net a grain
But of the stage she is Immensely clever,
as the engineering of her balances and
courtship with GarmOyle prove. She has
no more meant 70 marry him than she did
the MAJ, in the moon. She knew trick
worth two OF that. Tel thousand pounds
to ''solace her bruised and outraged feel
ings'' was screaming caricature. Gilbert
ought to have been awarded commission.
AS the Arch Fiend of TOpSyturveydom he
never accomplished better stroke than
this He will make play OF it some day.
I'll be sworn ne has pigeon holed the Incl
dent for future expansion.
THE OTHER BEAUTY
we are to receivn in open arms. and who is
due about the middle Of September. is Miss
Violet Cameron. When slip of girl she
danced and warbled at Drury Lane. Then
she suddenly shot up into young woman
hood and came out in comic opera
prima donna, if you please, before she had
done growing. Her beau.e du diable and
affability made her magnet for the mash
ers. who admired her cold, white face,
long, shapely legs and agreeable voice.
But latterly she has not drawn in proper
ton to the salary she demands. and hence
the visit to America. When actors find
England no longer up to the financial mark
they turn their attention to this favored
land. just then it got about that Violet
had made a mesallianee. A dark young
man, with brilliant mustache, appeared
upon the scene who represented himself as