The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-05-07
ROMANCE OF A LILY.
MAN WENT INSANE ON AC-
COUNT OF A BUTTERFLY,
The Jersey Lfly'' who Set tho Whole
World Agog few Years ago. Though
Both Rich and Beautiful Still, is Little
/ Heard or ::

| htaru OF. .
i This is the story OF q man who went in
| sane because Of his love for beautiful butter
fly Of wotnan. The mans name is Edward
Langtry and the woman is known the world
over as the Jersey Lily" Months. ago. she
secured divorce from him in California
court on the ground OF desertion. For eleven
! years he had not lived with her. and the
Epupllc generally said he, was very complals-
ant. Early in August It was announced that
Mrs. Langtry was gbing to marry Prince
t6anl EsteEha w de- AlantkAg sniAN&txta1and
| 1t was then the patient worm turned Mr..
Langtry came, out Of his retirement and de-
clared that he did not recognize the validity
of the divorce decree and that he intended
! instituting proceedings against his wife and
name seven correspondents. They were:
First, an exalted royal parsonage.
&, Second, an English lord.
! Third, another English lord.
Fourth, well-known young American mil
| lionaire and turf patron.
| Fifth, sporting baronet who died in the
United States while there backing a profess
sional prize fighter. .-.. = .-
Sixth, an officer of the Guards.
Seventh, a distinguished English baronet
OF sporting proclivities. s~
| The Lily and the Prince
OF course, Londoners, recalling the marked
| attentions paid the Jersey Lilly few years
ago by the Prince Of Wales, Immediately set
| to thinking upon the identity of the "exalted
| royal parsonage" Everybody was wonder
| Ing whether the name of his royal highness
| would be dragged through a divorce court.
| and, II so, what the result would be. Just
! then Mr.. Langtry lost his reason and now Mrs
| Langtry has come out in a public denial of
her reputed engagement to the Prince. =
Wat go o}o
! cured against Mrs. Langtry from the Prince
himself was not believed. His famous stand
| In the celebrated Mordaunt, case. when he
| declared that for lady he would 1t any time
! 'perjure himself like gentleman" is still
| fresh in the public mind. ~
| But there are several witnesses whom Mr.
Langtry might have called who would not
aave had the same nice sense of honor as the
Prince. -
But Mr.. Langtry expected to depend mainly
| on evidence secured while Mrs. Langtry was
cruising in the Mediterranean on the Whyte
Ladye with young and dashing officer Of the
| guards. He said that he did not believe tho
| suit would be contested, as the name of Ester
nazy would Of necessity figure largely in the
| court proceedings.
The Latest Favor1te. r..
| Prince Esterhazy is in London now and
very night he dimes with the Lily at thu,
| Savoy hotel. Meanwhile Mr.. Langtry went to
private sanitarium for the insane where
Mrs. Langtry's career has been a most
eventful one. She was born on the island
VI Jersey. Her father Rev. Mr.. LIE Breton
vas dean Of the island, and she came into
he heritage Of her marvellous beauty before
the was 16 years OF age. - 80
Edward Langtry, the son Of a Belfast
| quaker and young man OF large wealth, while
| Yachting In the channel, heard of the woman
who afterward became his wife and visited
and was entertained by her father at St.
Helers, where he and the girl were married.
The couple settled down in quiet cottage
| IN the Thames, but the wife, leaning in
'tinctively toward the glitter of smart So
,iety, induced her husband to take hand
ZONE house near Belgrave square, and they
,egan to entertain. The time was short be-
:ore she developed into a woman of extreme
fashion, and the Late Sir John Millais painted
| her portrait, exhibiting it in the Academy
IS "The Jersey Lily"
The Prince Of Wales saw the face, cravei
an Introduction, and from that time until
the crash that followed Mrs. Langtry was
The most conspicuous figure in London's social
whirl. 49,
| Downward.
Scandalous tales of Langtry and his bride
| began to float over London and into Paris
| md the mongers of aristocratic gossip spread
| | contagion Of shameful stories among the
| acquaintances and friends of the two There
was story that the entire Marlborough fam
| lily cut the Lily because in playful mood
she had slipped piece of ice down the Prince
| Of Wales collar at late and merry supper
Both she and Langtry dropped from the tor
branches Of the social tree to utter oblivion.
| With a business tact that has since de-
| veloped into genius, the Lily went on the
| stage and made an American tour. In this
country she was first under the guidance and
management of the late Henry e. Abbey
| SIZE was successful and made money, improv-
ing in artistic skill perhaps more than the
critics of the day were willing to admit.
Gebhard Enters.
In 1882 Freddie >Gebhard came into bel
life, and a memorable sleigh ride was had
one night after the play, and. her chaperon
Mrs. Labouchere, went home in anger and
confusion. Gebhard's subsequent successes
on the turf are said to be due very largely
TO her advice. F.- -
i Then there were Sir Robert Peel and Squire
Abingdon Baird, the latter having been &C
cused by Mrs. Langtry Of having beaten bel
on more than one occasion. Baird alone, Il
Is said, spent $500, 900 on her.
from time to time she came again into tn,
zone Of gossip, and Sir George Chetwyn, b
original social introduction, had q fist figh
with the Marquis Of Lonsdale over her. Sh
was also coupled with Lord Rosslyn in
. brief scandal. .'S
Numberless other men worshiped at he
shrine, but met with no success. She wa
busy with the rich. who would dare anv
} ching for her, and the m1noI devotees falle
in all things.
Il &. Finally Divorced. @@,a
Her first attempt at divorce was in vain
, but she made another and yet another, fnall
succeeding in California court, May IA, 1891
81 All over the United States she owns lands
and her name appears on the tax rolls Q
many Western states.
The Prince of Wales, according to tn
English press of that day. was even NOR
indiscreet or careless in 1870 than he ha
, been since. The Jersey Lily is said to hav
cast her wiles about him and made him agail
. oblivious to the dignity becoming an exalte
royal life.
During the Lady Mordaunt divorce case
begun In February, 1870, even the intensel
British and august London Times accuses
/ him of being very careless fellow, jeopardiz
ling his princely reputation. Then he was
J merry Prince Hail. who might some day
| q king Now he is half a king