The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-07
Facts of Interest
To Women Readers.
Symposium of Information, Partly Grave,
Partly Cosby and Partly Gay.

The coming Of the greatest living ac-
tor. Sir Henry Irving, to this country
has called up the question, Is there a
Lady Irving? This question Is satis-
factorily answered by London cor
respondent, Elwyn A. barron, who
writes: ut may be news to many
people across the Atlantic that he has
q wife living. but Lazy irving Is not
only alive, but very much alive. She
has a cottage in Pelham row. where
she spends most of her time. only leav-
ing London in the winter. She Is af-
fiicted with pulmonary troubles and Is
forced to spend the trying months of
the year in Italy. A slender, good
looking but melancholy lady Is the
wife of the great actor. If the truth
must be told, she has not been without
occasion for grief. The London public
knows little about her and cares less.
II II knew it would care no more. But
people who have an intimate knowledge
of many concerns say that Lady Irv-
ing has borne heavy burden for many
years. She was married to Irving
tyenty-siX or twenty-seven years ago.
when he was an inconsiderable player.
Her maiden name was O'Callaghan.
and she was the daughter of a regi-
mental surgeon Of the British army In
India. She was woman of imperious,
even violent temper. and she and Irv-
ing did not enjoy long period of felic'-
~. Two children We're born to them.
They were named Henry and Lau-
renee.
-:ll:-
When Laurence Irving was 2 weeks
old and Henry years. Mr.. and Mrs.
Irving separated. The actor left the
house and never returned. Except for
chance encounters the two never have
met since that day. His friends as
serted that she was insanely jealous;
her friends that he was careless OF her.
Tie had the stronger side. but her fami-
ly and relatives by marriage have con-
stantly reiterated their faith In her.
Her sister. Mrs. Morgan. wife Of a
member of the firm of Ashburne &
Co.. of Calcutta, and her mother have
persistently urged her cause and she
has had the constant support of Mrs.
Kendall, the actress, and of other
friends. "A reconciliation was impossi-
BILE between two such natures. Mrs.
Irving maintained an attitude Of hos
tility; Irving Is very proud, and his
natural indisposition to making over
lures was increased by the favors
showered upon him from all sides. 1t
was not in him to bend. Friends like
the Baroness Burdett-Coutts were dis
posed to believe that he was a much
suffering monument of domestic pa
thence, and the man-even actor-who
can resist the role of martyr has not
been born in this world.
-:I:-
In the absence of her husband Mrs.
irving lived with her mother. A num-
Der of years ago proceedings for separ-
ate maintenance were rumored. don't
know that a suit was actually brought,
but Mr.. Irving promptly settled upon
his wife for life an annuity of 1000.
l am in a position to know that Mrs.
irving has never used penny of 1t on
her own account, but that all the
money has been devoted to the care
and education of the sons. For these
boys Sir Henry has strong affection,
yet, strangely enough, he has seen them
but seldom. When they were little fell
lows they went to him once year. He
took them to supper after the play,
showered them with gifts and sent
them home. Unless he ran upon them
by accident, he did not see them again
Tor another year. Mrs. Irving, who is
possessed by mild aversion for the
stage as career, did her utmost to
prevent them from following their
fathers avocation. But the blood in
heritance was too strong. Henry Irv-
ing, Jr., became an actor, and his
mother. in spite of her feeling. was
moved to go to the west Of England to
see his debut. The other son, Lau-
renee, Is barrister A good example
OF the feeling between husband and
wife was afforded when Edwin Booth
came to this country. 1t may supply
information to the curious concerning
tne real reason for the separation. Mrs.
irving wrote to Booth, asking for tick
ets or admission to a performance of
IHamlet.' Il would like" she said.
10 nave the two sons Of Henry Irving
see an actor"
-:II:-
Mrs. Ballington Booths sermon in
New York last Sunday, on 'The New
woman, was healthful dissemina-
tion OF sound sense. IF I could get
hoiu new woman. or the so-called
new woman" she said, II would make
Her cnange her dress the first thing.
would take her big sleeves and make
them into dresses for the children
or the slums. I am sure a good many
little dresses could be made out of those
sieeves.. AS for some of her other gar
ments which / will not mention here I
wouid take them away and give them
70 the sex to which they belong" The
men IN the audience clapped so wildly
AT this sentiment that the fair speaker
mad to beg them to be quiet. "The
next thing would do she continued
would be to collect the books that the
new woman reads-books that any God
tearing, right feeling woman would
plush to have about her. / would pile
tnese books up all together and burn
them-burn them along with her Gig
arettes and chewing gum" The speaker
went on to say that the next step in
her plan for the reformation of the new
woman, or the prevented woman, as
she called her, would be TO induce
her to come to the Salvation Army
meetings and learn what 1t was to get
RID OF herself. to help the poor, the sick.
the lost and the Outcast and forever
abandon her vain self seeking.
-:N:-
Then" she said, "if that plan failed.
should get her strong willed, loving
husband, that she might come to recoe-
nize that there Is something great and
strong and noble In the other sex. Tho
tendency of the SO called new woman is
r. belittle man. She Graves emancipa-
ron. progression, she says, and IN her
mad rush after these idols she means
10 crush and mangle man beneath her
chariot wheels. We women of the Sal
voeAch timy' WHO OuTSeIVeS nave Deem
tei med new women. say to this repul-
s.ve, revolving creature, whose IDEAS
and aspirations ] hope have been OK
agerated. We don't want you among
u.s. ourideal new woman rises to mans
side. and In turn raises him higher.
The prevailing idea of the new woman
as she is commonly pictured is not the
advanced woman Of the age, with whom
] am heart and soul In sympathy. The
so called new woman Is very Door
copy Of mock man. She Is course,
unfeminine creature, from whom men
and women alike turn with aversion,
She initiates the garb and manner Of
not over nice type Of man even while
she belittles man In the abstract. She
does more she comes forward to trample
on the traditions Of our mothers-of the
mother who kissed her in the cradle
and made q woman Of her.
-:Il:-
at~