Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-22
run RICHMOND pIspArcH-sUNDAY, JANUARY o. 1893.

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seemed 10 have come. But nc tnis Gil,
max q fortuitous accident occurred
which changed the entire course OF MIS-
Lsngtry's life.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Labouchere were
at breakfast one morning. :,
"My dear" said tho journalists we
suddenly. "csn't you do something Tor
Mrs. Langtry?"
"For Mrs. Langtry p" calculated Lab
by. "What can I do for her? She has
done for herself most efiectunlly."
"Never mind that" returned the
lady. Everybody makes mistakes,
and that poor woman has raid a terrible
price for hers. Do something Tor her.
but what can do !?
"Giye her some writing"
"Fudge !" growled the editor;
"that's nonsense. But I'll put her on
the stage. She is stunningly beautiful
creature and dresses well. This scandal
piaues the public curiosity. OF course,
She can't act. But people will pay to
see her. I'll stop in at Bancroits this
morning" :.
The editor of Truth was as good as his
word. He dilated to Mr.. and Mrs. Ban
croft the financial advantages OF putting
the late favorite of royalty on the stage.
AT first dubious, the manager finally be-
came enthusiastic of the scheme, ana
before the interview was ended Mr..
Bancroft had written contract Offering
Mrs. Langtry $50 week provided she
should prove at a trial matinee that she
had sufficient dramatic ability to justify
uniting her forward. The offer was
eagerly, desperately accepted, and "She
Stops to Conquer was the play select
ed for tho trial performance.
HER DRAMATIC CAREER BEGUN.
Mrs. Langtry made her first appear
ancc "a "Miss Hardcastle in the Hay
market Mt a matinee. With audacious
confidence in her own charms she played
the part without facia makeup OF any
kind and withstood that most severe test
OF beauty. the glare Of the footllghts,
maryellouslv well. London was in ex-
citement over the matter. On the alter
noon Of the performance the Prince OF
Walesand his Marlborough House cotcric
filled the boxes of the Haymarket Thea
tire. The stalls held almost all the
fashionable people of London. She
was very crude in art, but her earnest
ness natural refinement OF manner, and
wonderful beauty engaged the sympathy
of the audience. She received cordial
applause and the question OF her future
career was settled. Lily Langtry was
the first woman who went from the
drawing-room to the stage, and she has
earned more fame and money than any
of her followers. Mr.. Bancroft selected
"Ours for her professional dcbut, and
Mrs. Langtry studied hard over the
character OF "Blanch Hayes" Mr..
Kyrle Bellew was engaged for the
part Of the hero, and the supporting
company was carefully selected.
MR.. LANGTRY CAST ASIDE.
Soon after tins Mrs. Langtry separated
from her husband. She had no further
use for an encumbrance in the dressing
room that interfered with the attentions
thatnow began to bclayished on her anew.
The Prince of Wales did not return, but
he publicly forgave the liberty she had
taken WITH his back, and this gracious
ness allowed the fashionable men OF
London 20 renew their allegiance to the
famous beauty. Mr. Bancroft made n
great deal Of money out of her engage
ment and was exceedingly grleyed when
Mrs. Langtry decided to go starring.
The critics and the dramatic profess
sion plainly disapproyed Of her new am
bition, but the public was willing to buy
tickets in order 10 see the woman whose
charms and exploits had long been a
theme in the newspapers. Mrs. Langtry
became wealthy. Her prosperity was
increased by a tour of America. The
Park Theatre was destroyed 10y fire II
few hours before she was announced to
make her American dcbW on It's stage.
This seemed to be an i'll omen. But an
other theatre was Immediately engaged,
and Mrs. Langtry began long season
of unexampled prosperity.
Her subsequent history is fresh IN
every ones memory. 1t Is not alto
gether pleasant record. Mr.. Langtry
has refused her many overtures to agree
to divorce, and she could not get new
husband more to her liking without do
ing bigamy. Still the lawful wife of the
IRISH Quaker, she has conducted herself
IN manner that is not quite consistent
with the general principles of domestic
life. On this point nothing need be said
further than that the last issues OF the
London Times, which have arrived in
this city, contain her advertisement
Offering $50 reward for the name Of the
author OF the story that she was forcibly
elected from the Savoy Hotel for disor-
DERBY conduct during a recent midnight
supper.
The Deans daughter has gone the pace
that kills. Cables of subsequent date
TO that OF her advertisement inform us
that after lying at the point of death she
is convalescent. Mrs. Langtry Is said to
be worth 100000, still beautiful, and
only 40 years of age, too young to quit
a world which she has enjoyed so tho
roughly.