Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1893-03-10
FROM SHOP TO COURT.
= PRETTY PHILADELPHIA SHOP
GIRL BECOMES A PEERLESS.


mo story Of Diana BIske's Good rort.,.
a Homance Of Fifty Years Axo-sb.
Left the Stage for = HON. In E,~,.s
Her Second Marriage.
Forty years ago Eighth street frcr,
market to Arch, was bordered with two.
rory houses, most OF them contemrnrarv
with ls1o and given over to small notion
stores, the proprietors living In the second
noors. The business done was very limit.
ed, old Mrs. Hanback, making more money
In her little candy store than any ynercIant
on the street. Miss Rachel Lang kent I
dry goods and trimming store In the pe;eh.
borhood Of Eighth and Filbert. She "a
kindly old Scotch lady, who would as
soon have had a man behind her counter
a. German band before the door.
20 an her assistants were girls. Gloves
were the only mems wear sold in this shop.
ana Miss Lang noted with satisfaction that
her sales in this line were rapidly increas
ing, but 1t never occurred to her that this
was due to any other cause than the excel
ience Of her goods. although In fact her
gentlemen customers cared very little for
the price and quality OF what they bought
30 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 nm
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
70 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 tn
Miss Lang that Miss Blake's good looks
were toe apparent for her station in life
but went away much offended when the
little Scotch lady remarked shat IL 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 a COMPLEXION
that was simply marvellous, were added 10
. sweet voice, graceful form and manners
at once piquant and modest. Her father
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 school at Tenth and Vine streets.
The fact that he was an Irishman named
McCaskey did not make him less efficient
as teacher, and when his pupil was IL
years old he secured her employment at
the Walnut Street theatre in one of those
elaborate ballots that so delighted our I'M
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 Is that
Manager Wood made her an offer Of $1s a
week and it became necessary for her to
quit Miss Lang. That lady was a good
Presbyterian, and looked On the stage as
the broad road to destruction, but Diana
justified herself through the family neces-
stiles, 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 ieunesse 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
pliments, at which she laughed good ma
turedly, though she discDeetly kept her
admirers at distance.
About 1913 one of the Earrings, 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
PRODUCTION. He was thorough gentleman,
and addressed her not as professional but
as lady.
Diana fell in love with O rapidity that
startled herself. After months quiet at
tentions Hardy spoke ont. 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-
fectien; pointed out the evanescent 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 avenir
as a wife 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 mesalliance; the bride poor, an Irish
girl and stage dancer; but Hardy and his
pretty wife cared nothing for the opinions OF
the broadbrims and Aminadab Sleeks that
prevailed then in Philadelphia, and left at
once for New York. Before the honey
moon was over the first trouble came.
Hardv's father warned his son that such a
marriage 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 a year old Hardy relented,
and 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 head of the family. He was enor-
mously wealthy, and had bat one son. He
also resented the union his nephew bad
made, and dying about this time, left him
ont of his will. Between the inheritance
to his vast Kentish property and Richard
HARDY were 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 a
grace and dignity that were natural gifts,
and grew more beautiful as time went by.
Her first sorrow was the death OF her hus'
hand. She. was then so, with one SON
Two years after she married Count Eg
mont. Flemish nobleman of distinction
connected with the Russian embassy at
Paris. and when presented at the court oil
the emperor was regarded as one OF tht