Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-31
JERSEY AND ITS LILY.
Mrs. Langtry's TombOy Youth and II er Sum-
merry Island Home.

Mrs. Langtry's TOmbOy Youth and II er Sum-
merry Island Home.
London Correspondence of Philadelphia Bulletin.
1 have been intimate, may say on loving
terms, with Jersey and Guernsey, especially
Jersey, for period Of nearly thirty-two years.
l have known the islands under every aspect
and at all times of the year, but never saw a
lovelier Jersey than that of Eastertide, 1898.
1t was hot enough for seabathing, and if the
sky had only exhibited deeper tint Of blue
one might have fancied oneself holiday keep
ing in the heart Of the poets June. Pear plum
and cherry, with the blackthorn hedges in full
bloom-and such masses Of it! The arum lily
and the camelia, all a-blowing and a-growing
in the open air! But it we're vain to expect the
reader to share the raptures of the writer so
cease from recording any more memories of
this brief but blissful holiday of a lifetime. l
may, however. remark that such late March
and early April-such a splendidly blossoming.
sunshiny Eastertide had not been experienced
in the land of Millais and Ouless and Mrs. Lang
try for period Of forty years.
When 1 left Jersey - with the lilac
and the apple trees in bloom-and re-
crossed to Southampton it was to find that we
on the mainland eve have a mainland. mind
you) were something like six weeks later in the
season than the sunny Island of Jersey.
mcHtiOiicu IduStTy. Inc dDlulug
popularity of that fair lady in her native place
is amazing. am not sure whether this feel
ing ON the part of her compatriots is not
one that leans to virtues side. At any rate
the Jersey folks are loyal to their lilly"
They will hear nothing against her. She may
have her faults-we all have-but she has had
much to excuse her. Depend upon it. she is
more slnned against than SHINING. was at
the pains when was in Jersey to correct some
impressions with regard to the Iady's age. I
knew her father, the late Dean LIE Breton
very we'll He was handsome old gentleman,
graceful il not a heart-rousing preacher Of
the Gospel. and correct and elegant elocu-
ZIONIST. On what might be termed the social
side Of his character he was much liked and
his memory il cherished with tenderness to
this day. Mrs. Langtry's governess was q
Miss Gruchy, and having known that and the
lady in the early sixties l had formed the i'm
preston that the lady whose name has beer
Mr.. Abingdon" Baird was older by four
or five years than she actually is. As matter
OF fact, she Is not yet forty years of age. She
was married when she was twenty to Mr..
Langtry, widower. and his age was twenty
six. She always of an adventurous. ro-
mantle turn Of mind, and IL born actress Had
she been taken in hand in early life and taught
the rudiments of the theatrical art she might
have become a great actress. Many a time
when she was a tomboy of a schoolgirl did she
and her brother disguise themselves as peas
ants, and. with a donkey and cart the latter
laden with vegetables, ''hawk' the latter in
the manner of regular traders, from house to
to house. Mrs. LanStry, who is a clever horse
woman, had bad fall from horse when she
was in her teens. Her companion on this occa-
sion was her fathers curate, rather dashing
Frenchman named Rey. When state that
she was married to Mr.. Langtry by torchlight
:! exhaust for the present my notes on 1.-The
Jersey Lily"