St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-11-09
SAINT PAUL.
Additional city News on the Eighth Page
LENA DESPAkD.

Mrs. Langtry Plays in Her F'a-
nous Character to a Large
Audience at the Grand Last
Night.
Mrs. Langtry has come again, and
away-up house Of away-up people
created her return last evening at the
Grand, where she appeared in the char
acter of Lena Despard in LAS In
Looking Glass" Right nicely. too,
did her audience treat her, for through
out the entire performance close
and critical attention was paid to the
play and frequent bursts of applause
testified to the enjoyment the audience
derived from the performance. Inc
story of Lena DeSpard is an Interesting
one, and true to life. The society OF to-
day is full OF Lena DeSpards, not good
women. 1t is true, and yet not altogether
bad. 1t is pot the character of a Ca
mile we have manufactured here but
that of "a woman of the world" as the
preachers would call her. She moves in
the very fashionable set, she is seen
i'm the opera box, In the
church society, at the German, and yet
you may think you do not know her, OF
imagine that she is net claSSed among
your acquaintances. Yet you are mis-
taken. You have not found her out,
that IS all. She is woman who has
brilliant mind, but has been demoral-
lied by poverty. She has not thrown
herself away, but has she used her VIE
to crafty her taste for line gowns. Jew
elry and luXuries of all kinds. ana ac-
ceptS the means offered to gam the ENDS
desired. The Lena Despard OF the play
e. IL Il
who uses her as decey for
his Matchmaking schemes. Though
the disinterested kindness Of an old
man she is finally released from the
power of her prosecutor. Her passionate
love for Balfour temptS her to trick
trusting young girl TO discard him In
order that she may gain him. 70 her
the end seemed to justify the means, and
whencShe has won and married him she
becomes the good wife and would have
been a devoted mother but for the
ayenging Nemesis whOf0tlaws the err
ing into the sacred precincts OF repent
ance, and either drives them back to a
life of shame or into the suicides grave.
When Lena's sins are found out she
dies by her own hand rather than infiict
disgrace upon the husband who had be-
come her idol.
Mrs. Langtry's representation of this
character is we'll nigh faaltless. With
a little more warmth in the strong
emotional parts it would reach the
highest perfection OF art. The char
acter itself Is one true TO life; Mrs.
Langtry'S representation is true to the
character. That she has given it study
is evident from the fact that she never
forgets the fine points that may be
made. She looks the woman whom she
impersonates, the cool, perfectly poised
English woman, we'll hammered, ele-
gantly dressed, and everything done
with delicate directnesS. 1t is fortun
ate for Mrs Lanytry that she got this
play. When last in st. Paul. in speak
ing of her conscientious IN teayUrs to
advance in her possession. she re-
marked: lit is an actre S | want to be,
and not to pose as a beauty"
By her comprehension of the many
sides of this cliaracter.a by her faith I'll
rendition of it she has proved to even
the doubters her ability, and has
demonstrated to our st. Paul people
that she has made great advance in her
art. Mrs. Langtry is supported by an
excellent company. Charles Coghlan.
her leading man, did not seem to suS-
tain himself last evening as well as
usual. He appeared to be suffering
from some physical infirmity.
Tonight Lady of Lyons" with Mrs.
Langtry as Pauline.
Advance sale OF seats for R0Sina
Vokes' engagement next week opens at
the Grand this morning. Her repertoire
is as follows: Mond ", Tuesday,
Wednesday and Saturday evenings a
bill of three one-act comedies entitled
"a Game of Cards" "a Milliner's
Bill" and 1.-THE Rough Diamond"
Thursday, Friday and Saturday mat
inee. "1he Circus Rider" and "A PAIL
tomime Rehearsal"
Mrs. Langtry wore five magnificent
costumes in the part of Lena Despard
last night. The first was gros grain
silk OF deep rose color; next a pink silk
embroidered in black and gold then a
black Satir with front Of yellow lace,
richly beaded. large. black lace hat; the
fourth is white crepe, the cuirass bod
ice being entirely covered with gold
embroidery, and the last dress is of
black du nord, its front a blaze of jet
from neck to hem. In the first act the
graceful woman wears royal mantle
of blue stamped plush, lined throughout
with finest chinchilla fur.