The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-08-20
The Life Of Lille Langtfv.

u Sne poSlIiOn OF most ADMIRED woman IN
the set ruled by His Royal Highness the
Prince OF Wales.
Emily Charlotte lie Breton, according
to the biographers. was born In the Is
land OF Jersey In 1853, the daughter OF
Dean LIE Breton, poor and reputable.
There came many suitors. The favored
one was Edward Langtry. not over rich,
but a gentleman with q comfortable for
tune.
She was mere girl then. not beautiful
In youth, but with the promise of great
beauty.
Those who have known her since have
said that it was an ill-advised match
that her ambition rather than her heart
was engaged. At all events. as time
proved, her social ambitions ran clean
away with her home life.
The Jangtrys took social root In Lon
don. and the Prince OF Wales. social ar
bitter, smiled upon the 1.-THE, classic girl
from the Isle of Jersey. II Is said that
the late Sir John Millais presented her to
the prince.
Endorsed by the ruler Of the Beauty
Stakes, she became at once THE Jersey
Lily The Langtry profile became the
only proper one. The Langtry gowns were
the hallmark Of fashion. She ruled.
1t cost pretty penny. Edward Langtry.
plain gentleman, was not able to go the
pace. But Mrs. Langtry went on. leaping
from peak to peak of notoriety.
All this did not suit the quiet country
gentleman. Edward Langtry. He wanted
a wife, not social comet. So there was
a separation. and finally In May. 1897.
AIRS. Langtry, who had previously tried
twice to secure divorce, obtained a de-
cree in California. Shortly afterward Mr..
Langtry, who had refused to recognize
the legality Of the divorce. died In an in
sane asylum at Chester. England.
The Prince of Wales and Mrs. Langtry
we're inseparable friends until. at one un-
lucky revel. she presumed upon his infat-
uation for her and dropped a piece of ice
down his back. England's future king
never permits any trespass upon his dig
nifty. From that moment ne and the Lily
were strangers.
Then Mrs. JangtrU went upon the stage
and people went to see her for what she
had been, not because she could act for
she was almost entirely devoid OF any
talent for the profession she adopted.
She came to this country under Henry
p. Abbey's management and made meney.
From the start she was the friend of
Frederick Gebhard, who went all over the
country with her. The wound up long
tour In California, where Gerhard bought
a ranch for her. and there they lived
happily for some time.
The association became irksome to both,
however, and It ended. While there Mrs.
Gangtry obtained a divorce from Der hus-
band. the validity OF which. however. was
doubtful. Mr.. I1angtry never recognized
1t.
Iangtry became less discreet. She return
ed to the stage and her name was asso-
ciatcd with the names Of many.
The Earl OF Ionsdale and Sir George
Chetwyn had a fist fight over her In Hyde
Park, in full view Of a delighted pub
lie. Both were married men,
A serious episode in her career was
her association with Squire Abingdon
Baird, who best her and blackened her
eyes. He was the only man who ever
governed her. When he died he left her
$4,000 as a recompense for the blows she
had received from him.
Five years ago Mrs. I.angtry took
new lease OF life. both on the stage and In
society. The prince took her up again.
but she could never regain the vogue she
once had.
She began racing horses under the name
of "Mr jersey" and winning. After a
lapse of twenty years her name was In
the mouth of every one.
At that time-August. 1s97-the Lilly"
1t was reported. was TO marry Prince Es-
terhazy de Galantha, a man with scraggy,
mutton chop whiskers, a most pelebian
face, and very little to recommend him
except his horsemanstip.
Mrs. Langtry's first racing partner was
the ridiculous Lord Rosslyn. They start
ed out with fine string Of horses be-
longing to Rosslyn.
When the partnership ended Mrs. Lang
try had the horses and her partner the
experience. She next had as a racing part
ner Lord Shrewsbury.
Mrs. Gangtry has daughter sixteen
years old, who is on the eve Of making
her debut in the society in which her
mother moves.
The Prince of Wales recently brought
on a match between the Jersy Lily and
Hugo Gerald de Battle, q years old. Mrs.
Langtry is a..
General De Battle. the father OF the
bridegroom, some years ago d!sinherited
the boy Hugo In favor of the second
son and the young man, without dis
tress was thus left with but 800 a
year, which he has in his own right.
The happy couple are well enough pre-
pared for the situation, however. as the
bride Is wealthy. and as Hugo will doubt
less in course of time get the baronetcy.
she will round out her career as Lady
De Battle.
The husband is a handsome. smart-look-
ing, dark complexioned fellow. At the
wedding they seemed very happ, the bride
almost blooming again, and chatting with
unusual animation.
De Battle has been paying his addresses
for some months. He was desperately in
fatuated. and. as in the case Of young Sir
Robert Peel. the fresh sincerity OF his
"a ssion awakened a response In the heart
of the Jersey lily"
His people have never fancied the
match. He informed his father OF his
intention to wed the actress a week be-
forehaud.
De Bathe's sisters are all pretty, and.
ike him. have married fortunes
The eldest Is Mrs. McAlmont. the wife
OF the millionaire owner OF the steam
yacht GIraldI: the second IL Lady Cross
leg, wife OF a Lancashire millionaire. and
the third. Mrs. lawson. IL the wife OF the
eldest son OF the owner Of the Daily Tee
graph, also a millionaire.
OF course, people are asking how long
the love match will last.
Mrs Lanetry proposes 10 proceed with
her Haymarket season, though her mar
riage was not contemplated when she
planned 10 return to the stage.
SIR Henry A. De Bath has seats n
Devonshire. Sussex ard County Meath.
to which the bridegroom Is heir.
Hugo De Battle, an ancestor. accom-
panied Earl strongbow in his expedi-
ton TO Ireland in II7z and had grants OF
manors and lands IN the couuHties Of
Dublin Meath. T>ou,h and IN D-oRhea for