The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-18
FKUM SHUP To COURT.
a PRETTY PHILADELPHIA SHOP
GIRL BECOMES A PEERESS.

A Romance of Fifty Years Ago-she
Left the Stage for a Homo in England.
Her Second Marriage.
Forty years ago Eighth street, from
Market to Arch, was bordered with two
story houses, most of them contemporary
with 1920 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
in 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 Filbert. She was
a kindly old Scotch lady, who would as
soon have had man behind her counter
as German band before the door.
So ali her assistants were girls. Gloves
were the only mems wear sold IN this shop,
and Miss Lang noted with satisfaction that
her sales in this line were rapidly increas-
ing, but it never occurred to her that this
was due to any other cause than he'excel-
lence of her goods, although IN 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 loveliest girl within the city limits.
Long nosed, sallow faced ladies, with un-
deniable social records and pockets full OF
money, often visited the store and wondered
by what caprice of fortune common Irish
shop girl should have had such dover OF
beauty which in the fitness of things ought
to be the inheritance of women having
Quaker ancestors and big bank accounts.
AS A SHOP GIRL.
One of them went 20 far as to suggest to
Miss Lang that Miss Blake's good looks
were too apparent for her station in life,
but went away much offended when the
little Scotch lady remarked that if every
one minded their own business we would
all get along better"
Diana was born in Galway, Ireland, but
had come to America when an infant. She
was type of that Irish beauty as scarce In
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 complexion
that was simply marvellous, were added TO
sweet voice, graceful form and manners
at once piquant and modest. Her father
was day laborer, and the family lived in
Chester street, above Race.
Although Diana fully appreciated the
exigencies of her position, there was one
temptation she could not forego, and that
was dancing. When only years old she
had taken lessons from Signor Julian, who
had a school at Tenth and Vine streets.
The fact that he was an Irishman named
McCaskey did not make him less efficient
as a teacher, and when his pupil was Il
years old he secured her employment at
the Walnut Street theatre in one of those
elaborate ballets that SO delighted our un-
sophisticated grandfathers. Her talent
soon won recognition, and the dollar she
received for each performance did much
for the family income.
DANCING WINS a HUSBAND.
No whisper of this had reached her en-
ployer, and it was not until she was 1S that
Manager Wood made her an offer of SIS a
week and it became necessary for her to
quit Miss Lang That lady was good
Presbyterian, and looked on the stage as
the broad road to destruction, but Diana
justified herself through the family neces-
sites, 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 she jeunesse doree, represented in
those days by gawky young gentlemen in
gorgeous vests and clashes SO tight that
they looked as if skewered onto the wearer,
paid the pretty dancer many squeaky COM
pIiments, at which she laughed good ma
turedly, though she discreetly kept her
admirers at distance.
About 1S43 one of the Barings, a nephew
of Lord Ashburton, visited this country
and was welcomed by the best society with
effusion. With him came young Eng
lishman named Richard Hardy. He saw
Miss Lee at the theatre, was struck with
her grace and beauty and secured an in
He was thorough gentleman,
and addressed her not as a professional but
as lady.
Diana fell in love with q rapidity that |
startled herself. After a months q4iet at
tentions Hardy spoke out. He loved her
and wished to make her his wife. She
spoke to kindly Billy Wood the manager.
He played the part of heavy father to per- |
fection; pointed out the epanescent char
acter of success on the stage, the hardships !
and perils of professional life and advised |
her not to neglect an opportunity of secUr- |
ing position at once permanent and hon |
orable, as he had no doubt that her ayenir |
as vile would be happy one.
A BEAUTIFUL WIFE
Diana accepted Hardy, and they were |
married at st. Joseph's by Father Harbe- |
lin. In society it was regarded as dis |
tinct mesalhance; the bride poor, an Irish |
girl and a stage dancer; but Hardy aud his |
pretty wife cared nothing for the opinions Of |
the broadbrims and Aninadab Sieeks that |
prevailed then in Philadelphia, and left at |
once for New York. Before the honey
moon was over the first trouble came. |
Hardy's father warned his son that such a |
would end all intercourse with |
his family, but Richard had means of his |
own and found no trouble in getting en-
ployment.
In less than q year old Hardy relented, |
aud his son and wife left for England TO |
find the fathers wealth swept away by re-
verses in trade.
Sir James Hardy was Richards uncle, |
and the bead Of the family. He was enor-
wealthy. and had but one son. He
also resented the union his nephew had
made, and dying about this tirno, left him
out of his will. Between the Inheritance
10 his vast kentish property and Richard
Hardy We're the lives of eight people, and
yet, by the caprice of fortune, all these van
ished in two years and Richard became Q
baronet and his wife Lady Hardy.
She took her place in society with
grace and dignity that were natural gifts,
and grew more beautiful as time went by.
Her first sorrow was the death OF her hus-
band She was then 80, with one son.
Two years after she married Count Es,-
mont, a Flemish noblcrnan of distinction |
connected with the Russian embassy st
Paris, and when presented at the cosrt of /
the emperor was regarded as one of the |
most beautiful women in Europe. She /
survived both her last husband and son. |
diving IN 1853 in BrysSelS -phIiadalDhiz