The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-11
DIANA BLAKe's CAREER.
How a PhiIade' phia shop Girl became a
Peerrss.
fPhUadainhfa Tf,oasI

How a PhiIade' phia shop Girl became a
Peer~ss.
lPhiladelphis TiInes.l
Forty years ago Eighlh-st., from Market
TO Arch, was bordered with two-storv
houses, most OF them contemporary with
1920 and given over 10 small notion stores,
the proprie,ors living in the second floors.
The business done was very limited, old
Mrs Harbach making more money III her
little candy store than any merchant on
the street. Miss Rachel Lang kept dry
goods and trimming store in the ueighbor-
hood of Eighth and Hilbert. She was q
kindly old Scotch lady, who would as soon
have had man behind her counter a. a
German band before the door. So all her
assistants where girls. Gloves we're the
only mems wear sold in this 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 thant the excellence OF Der
goods, although in TACT her gentlemen
customers cared very little foT 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 I'M
deniable social records and pockets full of
money often visited the Store and Won
dered by what caprice of fortune a corl-
mon Irish shop girl should have had sucn
2 dover OF beauty which in the illness OF
things ought To be the inheritance of
women who had Quaker ancestors and big
hank accounts, and one OF them went 20
lar a. to suggest to Miss Lang that Miss
BlRke's eOod looks were too apparent for
her station in life, but went away much
offended when the little Scotch lady re-
marked that if every one minded their
own business We would all get along bet
err"
Diana was born in Galway, Ireland, but
had come to America when an infant.
She was type OF that lTi-h be iuty as
scarce in these days, according TO John
Brougham, as hens teeth. Dark blue
eyes, like we is of living water, shaded by
long, dark iashes; bue-black hair and a
complexion that was simply marvellous
were added TO a sweet voice, graceful form
and manners at once piquant and modest
Her father was a day laborer, and the
family lived on Chester-st., above race.
Although Diana fu ly appreciated the
exigencirs of her position, there was one
temptation she could not iorrgo, and that
was dancing. When only six years old
che had taken lessons from Signor Julian.
who had school al Tenth and >Vine-stS
The TACT that he was an lrishman named
McCaskey did not make him less efficient
as a teacher, and when his pupil was
twelve years old he secured her employ
ment at the Walnut-st. theater in one of
those elaborate haliets that so &c lighted
our unsophisticated grandfathers. Her
talents soon Won recognition, and the dol
lar 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 SIS
week, and il became necessary for her TO
quit Miss Lang. That lady was a good
presbyter 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 tie stage as
danseuse premiere and took the name Of
Sophia Lee.
first, and the 'jeunesse dore," Represented
in those days by gawky young gentlemen
in gorgeous vests and C ashes so tight that
they looked as if skewered on 70 the
wearer, paid the pretty dancer many
squeaky compliments, at which she
laughed good-naturetily, though she dis
creetly kept her admirers at distance.
About ls43 one of the Earrings, a nephew
of Lord Ashburton. visited this country
and was welcomed by the best society
with effusi0n. With him came a Young
Englishnan named Richard Hardy. He
saw Miss Lee st the theater, was struck
with her grace and beauty, and secured
an introduction. He was thorough
gentleman and addressed her, not as
professional, but or lady. Diana fell in
love with rapidity that startled herself
After month's Quist attentions Hardy
spoke out. He loved her and wished to
make her his wife. She spoke to kind
Billy Wood, the manager. He played the
part OF heavy father to perfection; pointed
out the evanescent character of success on
the stage. the hardships and peris of pro-
fessional lie, and advised her not TO ne.
eject an opportunity of securing position
at once permanent and honorable, as he
had no doubt that her avenir rs wife
would be happy one.
Diana accepted Hardy. and they were
married at ST. Joseph's by Father Barbe-
lin. In society it was regarded as dis
tinct mesal.iance; the bride poor an Irish