The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-18
.LANGTRY MATCH.
Made by the Prince of Wales,
1t Is Said.
He introduced the Young Man
to the Jersey Ltlys
AND ENCOURAGED HIM
De Battle VIII Appear Before
the FOOtlights.
To BE Used as a Drawing Card
For His Wife.
AND ENCOURAGED HIM

London, Aug. 1S.-The indications are
that Mrs. Langtry will soon seek to
make an actor out of her youthful hus-
band Hugo Gerald de Battle, and that
an frreverent public will learn to apply
to the baronet's infatuated son the I'M
dignified pseudonym. Mr.. Langtry-"
1t is accepted as a fact that young
De Battle is indebted to the Prince Of
Wales for his bride-in other words,
that his royal highness goOd-naturedly
assumed the role Of schatchen for the
sake of old times.
The match is a better one for the
Jersey Lily than might appear at first
sight, for, though her husband IS Tor
the present dependent on his proud ana
wrathful old father. no amount OF
parental or social diSapprobat1on can
rob him of the title at the death OF Sir
Henry Perciva1 de Battle.
He and Mrs. Langtry met at Good
wood during the races two years ago
The Prince of Wales made them known
to each other. He afterward had OPP
pOrtunities to watch the ripening of
their acquaintance into love. He was
in the confidence of both. His attitude
was benign, paternal. He was one of
the few who knew of the marriage be-
forehand, and he wrote to each of them
a warm letter full of cOngratula tons
and good wishes.
1t is true that he was not present at
the ceremony to give the happy pair
his blessing, but that was because Mrs.
Langtry and Lieutenant de Battle wish
ed the wedding to be very quiet, and to
be a secret for the time being.
Besides, it would not have looked well
for the prince to display himself too
conspicuoUsly in his amiable role of
matchmaker.
Those who know Mrs. Langtry we'll
say that she wishes to begin now
where most women begin when they
leave the paterna1 roof for the altar
to have fireside, a husband. a rou-
tine of agreeable obligations, a social
niche, tranquil drifting into middle
age
Just for the present, these things are
out of reach, but they are by no means
out Of sight. Old Sir Henry has vowed
not to be reconciled to the daughter
in-law for whom he is indebted to his
heirs impulsiveness, but Mrs. Langtry
nobody thinks of calling her Lady de
she and her husband are spared the
discomforts that attend most runaway
matches.
Her reported intention to introduce
the lieutenant before the foOtlights in
conjunction with her own appearance
is quoted as another instance of her
business acumen. 1t is held that the
prospect of inspecting this young scion
OF a most ancient house, whose wife
will one day be entitled to the prefix
Lady" will add greatly to the public
interest IN Mrs Langtry's stage per-
formanceS, especially in America, to
say nothing of the additional salary
to triclzle into the domestic treasury.
But when this period of hard work |
and continued publicity has been end |
ed by the death of Sir Henry PercivaI |
de Battle, who traces his line back to |
the twelfth century, the famous woman, !
who will be Lady de Battle and chate- |
laine Of more than one noble estate, |
will have an opportunity to turn her
back on past full of variety and color /
In order to taste the tranquil pleasures |
Meanwhile the more punctilious ele- /
that belong to aristocratic matronhood. |
ment of society is censuring his royal !
h1ghness for having engaged in the |
polite diversion of mat CHINA king