Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-05-02
FROM SHOP 10 COURT.
a PRETTY PHILADELPHIA SHOP
GIRL BECOMES A PEERLESS.
Tn. story of Diana BIske's Good Fortune.
Romance of Fifty Years Ago-she
Left the Stage for q Home In England.
Her Second Marriage.

Market TO afcn, was DOruerel with Two
story houses, most Of them contemporary
with 1890 and given over to small notion
stores, the proprietors living in the second
floors. The business done was very limit
ed old Mrs Hanback, making more money
10 her little candy store than any merchant
on the street Miss Rachel Lang kept
dry goods and trimming store in the neigh
borhood Of Eighth and bflbert. She was
a kindly old Scotch lady, wh2 would as
soon have had man behind her counter
a a German band before the door.
So al her assistants were girls Gloves
were the only mems wear sold in this shop,
and Miss Lang noted With satisfaction that
her sales iu this limo were rapidly increas
ing, lat Il never occurred to her that this
was due TO any other cause than the excel.
,ence Of her goods although 10 fact her
gentlemen customers cared very little for
the price and quality Of what they bought
so long as they were waited on by Diana
Blake, who was generally admitted to be
the logeliest girl within the city units
Long nosed, sallow faced ladies, with I'm
deaiahle social records and pockets fun Of
money, often visited the store and wondered
by what caprice Of fortune q common Irish
shop girl should nave had snch a dover Of
beauty which in she fitaess Of things ought
10 be the Inheritance OF women having
Quaker ancestors and bis bank accounts
AS A tDoP GIRL
One Of them went 70 far as TO suggest 70
Miss Lang thst/ad Blake's good looks
were too apparent Tor aee station in life,
but went away much Offended when the
little Scotch iady remarked that If every
one minded their own business we would
ell get along better"
Diana was born in Galway, Ireland, but
had come to America when an infant She
WIS a sype OF that Irish beauty as scarce ia
these days according to John Brougham,
as hens teeth. Dark blue eyes, like wells
of living water, shaded by long, dark
lashes, blue black hair, and u complexion
that was simply marvellous were ided 10
a sweet voice, graceful form and manners
at once piguant and modest Her father
was day iaborer, and the family lived in
Chester street, above Race
Although Diana fully appreciated the
eXigeucies Of her position there was one
temptation she could not forogo, and that
was dancjng When only 8 FEARS old she
had taken lessons from Siguor Julian, who
had school Gt Tenth and Vine streets.
The fact that he was an lrshman named
as teacher, ard when his pupil was l2
years old he secured her employment at
the Walnut Street theatre Ia one Of those
elaborate baliets that 81 delighted our un-
gophisticatcd grandfathers. Her talent
soon won recognition, and the dollar she
received for eech performance did much
for the family income.
DANCING WINS A HUSBAND
III, ,,Ft q. t. 4 i
ployey, aud II was not until she was IS that /
Manager wood made her an offer OF SIS a /
week and it became necessary for her 10
quit Miss Lang. That lady was good
PRESBYTERIAN, and looked on the stage rs
the broad road 10 destruction, but Diana I
justified herself through the family neces
stiles, and she now went on the stage as
danseuse premiere and took the name of
Sophia Lee.
Her success was pronounced from the |
first, and the jeunesse doree, represented in +
those days by gawky young gentlemen in 7.
gorgeous vests and clashes so tight that !
they looked as II skewered onto the wearor, /
paid the pretty dancer many squeaky com /
plinents. at which she laughed good ma. /
turedly, though she discreetly kept her .
admirers at a distance.
About 1913 one OF the Earrings, nephew .
Of Lord Ashburton, visited this country
and was welcomed by the best society with .
ehusion. With him came a young Eng
lishman named Richard Hardy. lie saw f.
MiSs Lee at the theatre, was struck with
her grace and beauty and secured an in
PRODUCTION. He was thorough gentleman, /
and addressed htrnot rs a professional but .
rs /. I.Gv.
Diana fell in love with a rapidity that
startled herself After a months quiet at (
teutious Hardy spoke ont He loved her
and wished 20 make her his wife. She |
smoke To kindly Billy Wood the manager.
He played the part OF heavy father to per /
fection: pointed out the evanescent char
acter Of success on the stage, the hardships
aud perils OF professional life and advised .
her not to neglect an opportunity y eecur- +
ing r. 7ition once permanent and hon +
oFa2- = Ao taS no aouoI that neF aVenir .
go . - - -, 80 ,. : 49, -, 9uo
V,o., s,-,.-+.1 TTsrdy a1J ,bs,, ,,s,.
rr,rrial en- 81 .Ios,-,.s nv F.tber Harha. /
lin. In society il was regarded as "A dis +
tiuot mesaliiance, tic bride poor, an Irish I
pretty wife cared nothing for the opinions Of I
e. O.. a HI H. H..