Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-01-22

not know that there were such deliBntiul
men in the world.
The next time Mr.. Lsngtry met his
friend at the club he ingeniously repeat
ed this remark and assured Sir George
that they would always be glad to see
him in the cottage by the edge of the
Thames. Not TO be behindhand IN
courtesy, the baronet insisted that the
young couple should pay an early visit
to him at Grendon Hall. The visit was
made. and before it came TO an end the
Deans beautiful daughter had learned
TO simulate an affection for her husband
which she no longer felt.
Then gradual but amazing change
came over the young wife. She was not
at home when the curate called, she
ceased to take interest in the sewing cir
Gle, she declared that the neighbors and
their six-penny rubbers were too stupid
to be endured. She began to give more
attention TO dress, went to a fashionable
modiste, and startled her husband by a
succession of milliner's bills. Mr..
Langtry was prond Of his wife's beauty,
and, being well off, encouraged her ex-
penditures in new gowns and Paris bon
nets.
THE FASHIONABLE JERSEY LILY"
Nor did he object when his wife
coaxed him to sell the Thames cottage
and move into smarter neighborhood
in London, near the charmed vicinity
of Belgrave Square. Good, easy man,
he thought no i'll of these new whims
and agreed with bis lovely wife that it
would he better, after all, il they would
go into the swim of society, where the
Sir George Chetwynds were plentiful.
In due time the cottage Was sold, the
residence in London was taken up, and
people began to ask:
"Who are these people-the Lang
trys ,"
The answer was always favorable.
Mrs. Langtry was very beautiful, very
well bred, and of excellent family. She
gave enjoyable dinners and her recep-
tons were thronged.
One of her new acquaintance in this
get WAS Millais. Struck 10y the color,
the poise, the perfect form, and the
simplicity of charm in his hostess, he
asked permission to paint her portrait.
1t was rare compliment coming from
one OF the foremost artists IN England.
Mrs. Langtry readily consented to pose
and the picture subsequently made a
sensation at the Royal Academy. where
it WAS entitled in the catalogue
"A Jersey Lily" The Prince of
Wales heard of the picture, went
to see it. bought it, and init
mated his willint n 50 to meet the laly
whose portrait it was. Thus Mrs. Lang
try began her friendship with royalty.
The Princess steadily ignored her ex-
istence and fastidious danes cut her.
But Mrs. Langtry was in high favor at
Marlborough House, whore her hus-
band, who even now suspected nothing
of his own dishoDor, was invited to ac-
company her. The only matter that
concerned Mr.. Langtry at that time was
the impossibility Of making his income
meet the expenses Of the lavish enter
tainments given at his house. He VEN
tured to demonstrate with his wife.
"My dear, she replied. sit cant be
done. Only think OF the position we
have If we begin to retrench the
Prince will cut us and everybody will
follow suit. Never mind your income.
Take your principal and everything will
come out all right before that is gone"
This did not seem very good logic, but
Mr.. Langtry was not a businessman,
and after puzzling over the problem OF
ultimate al..rightedness, he gave it up.
sold cut his bonds. and gave the money
to his wife. A union of julia in 1.-The
Hunchback and Peggy Thrift in
Wycerley's Country Girl, Mrs.
Langtry went into town extrava-
gances with a vigor that would have
amazed Dean lie Breton if he had not
died some time before the untoward
change in his daughter took place. Mrs.
Langtry's dinners, suppers, gowns,
oduipages, and diamonds were celebrated
as her beauty. The Prince of Wales
continued i'll his attachment for her, and
she was for brief term the idol Of the
brilliant Marlborough House set.
TRICK on THE PRINCE.
But an imprudent bit of audacity su d.
denly tumbled over the house of cards.
Mrs. Langtry gave one of her famous
suppers one night after the opera to II.
r. ii. ana half dozen of his familiars.
1t was a Jolly party, and merriment was
at its height when instantly a social
earthquake occurred. Every one had
been drinking costly wines, and the
Deans daughter, not less lively than
her guests, playfuIly slipped bit Of ice
inside the collar of II. Il. II. Such n
matter is not to be Immediately rene
died. The slippery object Slid slowly
hut surely down the royal spine, chilling
as it fell
The Prince said nothing, but his face
underwent a change that petritied the
company. A moment later lie arose and
left the house never to enter it or recog-
nize its hostess again. ii. II. Ii. is the
most afIable, democratic, and good
natured prince that ever waited for the
throne OF England. But Mrs. Langtry
is the only person that has been 50 fool
ish as to take a liberty with him. Next
day during her usual drive in Rotten
Row the whilom favorite of royalty was
cut dead by each member of the Mari
borough House set, and ON subsequent
meeting II. Il. II. looked her through as
if she interposed no more density than
air against the distant landscape.
The LanRtrys then found themselves
in the unfortunate predicament that be-
set Beau Brummel after his quarrel with
the heir-apparent. Their little estate
had been squandered. When the news
Of royal disfavor was known tradesmen
became importunate, and all that. was lett
of the Langtry money went III payment
of florists, caterers, wine merchants,
dressmakers, milliners, and musicians.
Unable to pay everybody who had q
claim against them, the Langtrys were
compelled to give up their fashionable
house and now found themselves home
less, ostracised, and in poverty.
A week previously Lilly Langtry had
basked in the sunshine of princely favor.
Now even the servants deserted her.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lsngtry had an exceed
ingly bad quarter of an hour. To fall
from the pinnacle of being the most ad-
mired beauty in England to a position
which was made doubly odious by the
open contempt of hirelings was a disas-
ter almost as keenly felt by the husband
as by his wife. Mr.. Lsngtry, however,
showed no recrimatory spirit He still
loved his wife, still believed that her
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