Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-21
DIANA BLAkE.s GOOD FORTUNE.

DIANA BLAKE's GOOD FORTUNE.
Pretty Philadelphia Shop Girl Who De-
came q Peerless.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Forty years ago 9Th street from Market 10
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
limited old Mrs. Harbach making more money
in her little candy store than any merchant on
the street. Miss Rachel Lang kept a dry goods
and trimming store in the neighborhood Of 9th
and Hilbert. She was kindly old Scotch lady,
who would as soon have had o man behind her
counter AZ German band before the door.
So all her assistants were girls. Gloves were
the only mems wear sold in the shop and Miss
Lang noted with satisfaction that her sales in
this line were rapidly increasing, but it never
occurred to her that this was due to any other
cause than the excellence 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 unde-
niable social records and pockets full Of money
often visited the store and wondered by what
caprice OF fortune a common Irish shop girl
should have had such dover Of beauty which
in the fitness Of things ought to be the inherit
ance OF women having Quaker ancestors and
big bank accounts, and one of them went SO far
as to suggest to Miss Lang that Miss Blake g
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 wasa type
OF that Irish beauty IS scarce in these days, &C.
cording to John Brougham, as hens teeth. Dark
blue eyes. like wells of living water, shaped by
long, dark lashes, blue-black hair and a COM
plexion that was simply marvellous, were added
to sweet voice, graceful form and manners at
once piquant and modest. Her father was q
day lnbOrer and the family lived in Chester
street above Race.
Although Diana fully appreciated the exi-
gencies OF her position. there was one tempta-
ton she could not forego, and that was dancing.
When only six years old she had taken lessons
from Signor Julian, who had q school at 10th
and Vine streets. The fact that he was sn Irish
man named McCaskey did not make him less
efhclent as teacher, and when his pupil was
twelve years old he secured her employment at
the Walnut Street Theater in ons Of those eIab-
crate baliets that 80 delighted our unsophisti-
Gated grandfathers. Her talent soon won recog-
milton, and the dollar she received for each
performance did much for the family income
No whisper of this had reached her employer,
and it was not until she was eighteen that Man
ager Wood made her an offer of $l8 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 de-
struction, but Diana justified herself through
the family necessities, 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 jcunesse 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 compliments, at which
she laughed good naturedly, though she dis
creetly kept her admirers at distance.
About 1S43 one of the Earrings, a nephew Of
Lord Ashburton. visited this country and was
welcomed by the best society with effusion.
With him came a young Englishman named
Richard Hardy. He saw Miss Lee at the
theater, was struck with her grace and beauty
and secured an introduction. He was1 i
thorough gentleman and addressed her mt as
professional. but as lady. Diana fell in
love with rapidity that startled herself. After
a months quiet attentions 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 perfec-
ton, pointed out the evanescent character of
of professional life and advised her not to
neglect an opportunity Of securing a position
at once permanent and honorable, as he had no
doubt that her avenir as Q wife would be
happy one.
Diana accepted Hardy and they were married
at st. Joseph's by Father Barbelin. In society
it was regarded as a distinct mesalIiance-the
bride poor. an Irish girl and q stage dancer-but
Hardy and his pretty wife cared nothing for
the opinions Of the broadbrims and Aminidab
Sleeks 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 o marriage
would end all intercourse with his family, but
Richard had means of his own and found no
trouble in getting employment.
In less than q year old Hardy relented, and
his son and wife left for England to find the
fathers wealth swept away by reYerses in
trade.
Sir James Hardy was Richards uncle and
the head of the family. He was enormously
wealthy and had but one son. He also re-
sented the union his nephew had made, and
dying about this time, left him out OF his will
Between the inheritance to his vast Kefttish
property and Richard Hardy were the liveR bbf
eight people, and yet, by the caprice of fortnho,
became a baronet and his wife Lady Hardy.
She took her place in society with grace and
dignity that were her natural gifts and grew
more beautiful as time went by. Her first
great sorrow was the death Of her husband.
She was then thirty, with one son. Two years
after she married Count Egmont Flemish
nobleman of distinction connected with tho
Russian embassy at Paris, and when presented
Mt the court OF the emperor was regarded as
one Of the most beautiful women in Europe.
She survived both her last husband and son,
dying in 1869 in Brussels