Morning journal and courier., 1893-02-16
THE "JERsEY LILY3s,, STORY.
HOW Mrs. LanEtry Charmed Society and Was Charmed by ft.
 Hmm hn Narr N-s.-ir s....

and Was Charmed by ft
 From the New York Sun.
 Mrs. Lsngtry is reported as probably cut
 of danger, but is still very III in London, with no PrOppect of soon returning 10 .he stage "The story of how she became sn
 actress" ," said ore of her closo friends yes
 terday, ''has never been printed exactly. One of her husbands London aeorsiu,-
 sncss asked him to dine with him at his club
 one night. There was a meeting of the
 local sewing circle tha: evening at the
 Langtry cottage and it's owner wss glad to
 escape from the bsbbls of ihe church gos-
 sip. At dinner he me. Sir George Chet-
 wynd, bsronet, of GreniOn Hall, War
 wickshire. Sir George was an agreeable
 man of fine presence, excellent tact, and
 great knowledge of the world. The young
 Irish Quaker was first swed by his superior
 knowledge and then fascinated by it. Sir George liked good listener, and he ap- proved of Lsngtry. Before the gentlemen left the club early next morning, Sir George had asked bis young acquaintance to run down for bit of shooting at Gren- don Hall in the grouse season. MT. Lang try. in return for this unexpected courtesy
 invited the baronet to dine with him on
 the following Sunday evening. Mrs. Lang
 try was shocked to desecrate the Sabbath by giving dinner party. But she had sl- ready begun to tire of tho whist parties and sewing circle of the neighborhood and
 was timidly glad to make the acquaintance of man cf fashion, such as the owner of Grendon Hall was. She spent more than the usual time over her toilet that night, and when she extended welcome to her guest Sir George. although not easily sstOnished et anything, was amazed at her beauty. The interest was mutual. Mrs Lsngtry was speedily charmed by the tact, the tinesse, the brilliant conversation and delft tisttery of a barcnet. She WAS a new sensation to him, this tall, splendid, fair checked country girl, then blossoming in to the beauty cf womanhoCd that afterwsrd dazzled the world. Not to be behind hand in courtesy, the bsronet insisted that the young couple should pay an early visit to him ct GTsndon Hall. Then gradual but amazing change came over the young wife. She began to give more attention to dress, went to fashionable modisie, and startled her husbAod by 6 succession of milliner's bills. Mir. Langtry was proud of his wife's beauty, and, being well of, encouraged her expenditures in new gowns and Paris bon nets. Nor did he object when his wife coaxed him to sell the Thames cottage and move into q smarter neiGhborhood in Lon don. She gave enjoyable dinners and her receptsions were thropged. One of her new soqusintsnces in this sst was Millais. Struck by the color, the poise, the perfect form. and the simplicity of charm in his hostess, he asked permission to paint her portrait. IL was rare compliment, com ing from one of the foremost artists in Eng land Mrs Lsugtry readily consented to zT,s.- H. sensation u. tie Royal academy, where it was entitled in the catalogue "A Jersey Lily The Prince of Wales heard Of the picture. went to zee it, bought it, and in timstsd his willingness to meet the lady whose portrait It was. Thus Mrs. Langtry began her friendship with royalty. The only matter that concerned Mir. Lsngtry at that time was the iInpcssibility of making his income meet the expenses of the lavish entertainments given st his house. He ven- tured to remonstrats with his wife.
 "rhen came the cut 6irsct by ths Prince of Wales, and the Lsn2t.ys then found themselves in tine unfortunate predicament that beset Beau Brummsl after his quarrel with the heir apparent. Their little estste had been squsndered. When the news of royal disfGvor was known, the trsdesmen became iDportunate ard all that was left of the Lsngtry money went in payment of florists, caterers, wine merchants, dress makers, milllaers and musicians. Unable to pay every body who had a claim against them, the Lsngtrys were compelled to give up their fashionable house, and now found themselves homeless, o=,racjsed and in poverty. A week previously Lily LsDgtry had bssked in the sunshine of pTincely fsv- or. Now even the servants deserted her. To fall from ths pinnacle of being the most admired beauty in England to a position which was made douhly odious by the open contempt of birelings was disaster almost as kesnly felt by the husband es by the wife. Mr. Lsngtry, however, showed no recrimstory spirit. He still loved his wife, still believed that her character WAS ss fair as her face. Without Gftering any re- breaches for the reckless exiravsgance that had wasted his fortune, he secured cheap apartments in the cheap neighbuthOod of &ountford square and looked cut for situation which should bring him sufficient salary to pay the grocer and landlord. NIT. Lsngtry having no experience in business, and under the cloud If public scandsl, could not obtain & situation. In dire distress for enough money 10 keep body and soul to- gether he appealed again and again to bis