Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-22

The True story Of Mrs. Langsry's Ua'
happy Marriage.

a WEEpLYsWk0N0ED WOMANs
The True story Of Mrs. Langssy's Us'
| happy Msrrisxs.
A London letter 10 the Graphic says:
Just before Mrs. Langtry sailed for Ameri-
On a supper was given her by few oil those
who know her best TO bid her goodbye ana
give her courage. Among those present
was Henry Irving, who said 20 her at part
ing: "God speed you, Mrs. Langtry, and
bring you safe In returning. hope we
shall see you very soon again.v
"Perbaps before youthlnk,' was the an.
swer. aft they greet me as they did be-
fore--l'm coming home and shall give II
up"
This little speech, with its bali.hearted
! laugh, was the most pathetic bit OF herself
| and OF her life that Lille Laugtry has ever
| given 70 any one. II meant much, and II
| conveyed more, perhaps, to those present
than II possibly could have 10 any one else,
Tor they knew her better and the lie she
has endured.
| With heightened interest, every word by
1 cable aud otherwise that ioretold the recep-
| ton TO be given Mrs. Lsngtry BY the Ame-
| rican press has been watched for eagerly by
l many anxious friends, by one or two init
1 mate friends in particular.
To-day word has come which seems to
| prove beyond doubt that the mean attacks
| Of previous wears have been omitted and
| tba, the unhappy woman is being forgotten
4 in the actress. 10 Il grateful news 10 Mrs.
| Laugtry's friends, although the cruelty OF
| the past can never be forgiven.
| They wonder, and with much reason, II
| the American press knew the woman whom
| they libelled, even by sight. 1t does not
seem as IL 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 po-
sitiou, 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 fails to recognize and give due
credit to an honest man or an honest wo-
man. / want your readers to know a side
OF one wOman's nature as il Is surely not
known In America.
IL / were 10 90 into details the details
might be disputed. | will state nothing
but facts which bear witness Of their own
truth simply those absolutely necessary
for conference.
Lille IaDgtry was married at the age OF
eighteen. She had been brought up very
quietly, but still, rs many girls are, with
the idea that sure happiness lay only where
there was money. When Mr.. Langtry adj
mired her and asked her hand in marriage
the one main thought in the child's mind
was her brother. This lad she was par
ticularly 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 offered marriage. From the day OF her
marriage TO the present time it IS to be
doubted If Mrs. Langtry ever saw her hus-
band for an hour free from the effects OF
LIQUOR. For a time there was compare
lively happy life, yachting and flying about
but Il was little happiness and Of short du.
ration.
Soon came the death Of her brother. He
was killed by fail 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.
and TO do for him what bis people could
not do, this girl, this almost child, had
thrown herself away. Absolutely and in
every sense il was complete sacrifice.
Her husband was a hopeless drunkard, a
beastly drunkard. In the three years that
slit lutu btiD uhN hbNNi
approached her with one word oil 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 confirmed drunkard.
What wonder is il that social triumphs
became dear; what wonder that the stage
and America seemed TO offer release to a
oman acknowledged TO be the most beau
tiful woman in England? Small wonder,
indeed.
But what did this unhappy woman get
for her endeayOr TO honestly put her talents
To account and to earn for herself an honest
living!
What, indeed, but elimination, scandal,
lies, unhappiness, misery. aud absolute ter
Tor! Nothing from the world. From one
man she cot a quiet, earnest devotion, that
in three years has never failed to be com
fort to her, which she has never failed to
honor
Did it bring any respect for herr In
stead, 1t brought down upon her head re-
doubled insult, more determined outrage,
and meaner, more contemplate lies. she,
whose only sin lay in toe fact that, being
bound by law TO a man who had absolutely
never claimed her rs his wife, permitted
the devotion Of man who would gladly
have given her his name-she, whose only
sin was this, was treated as a Magdalen, as
an outcast would De treated.
Do Americans and American newspaper
men ever think CT this, our side OF the
sioTyY Do they ever think that In all these
wears 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 hlmy DO
they ever think that it was hard thing to
10 cfannipr qlOoa aud hpinN
stoned by the entire population OF a country
like Americay Did they ever think OF the
| bravery, Of the womanliueSs, and OF the un-
| finching courage III woman that could
| hear and see and know all these things said
| OF her and never, even to her friends, com
J plain Of the wounds inflicted! DO you
| suppose that any insignificant paragraph
writer that attempted 10 be funny at this
| poor woman expense ever thought OF the
| Tears, the shame and heartsick misery his
wretched Joke would bring upon hers
Do you suppose that any woman who
! f0uted her because she had no husband or
child with her ever thought OF the longing
that there might he in this poor actress
] woman's heart for a home and husband
! and baby OF her own!
| In all mercy cannot think these things
have ever been presented TO these people
as some Of us feel 1t here. l do not think
those bitter lies will ever be brought up
again, since the victim is better known al
| her real value.
Stlll, II they are, hope some one will
bring to the authors mind the picture Of
this brave, unhappy soul. A beautiful
/ woman still, brave woman still, and
successful woman as well, we who know
her best know she would gladly give 1t all
for the home. the love, and, above all. the
/ reace hieh she ahovp all ofhor. couid so