Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-16
LILY LANGTRY WEEDS HEIR To AN
ENGLISH KNIGHTHooD.
WEDDING WAS KEPT A SECRET
HUGO GERALD DE BATTLE, rs YEARS
OLD, THE NEW HUSBAND.
Ceremony Took Place in Her Fathers
Old Church, Isle of Jersey
Prince of Wales aThousht-
full" and Sends Com
RratuIations.

LONDON, Aug. 15.-Mrs. Lilly Langtry,
the actress, was married July q at the
Island Of Jersey to Hugo Gerald de Bathc
IS years old, the eldest son of Sir Henry
Percival de Battle Bart, retired general
and Crimean veteran. The ceremony was
private, the only witness being Mrs. Lang
try's daughter. The Prince of Wales is
said TO have been in the confidence of the
pair and he sent them a telegram of con-
gratulations. The wedding occurred the
day ''Mr. Jerseys" CNrs. Langtry) horse
Norman won the Goodwood cup.
Sir Henry. de Battle has seats in Devon
shire. Sussex and County Meath, to which
the bridegroom IS heir.
Mrs. Langtry, in an interview at the the
ater, said to a reporter of the Associated
Press:
Yes. it is quite true am married to
Mr.. De Battle The wedding occurred very
quietly at my old church, st. Saviour's
Island of Jersey. where my dear old father
officiated so often. 1t was pretty much in
the nature Of a runaway match. as we kept
it to ourselves. hoping it would leak out
gradually. i see the papers put me down
as a years old Well, a few years either
way does not matter; but am only 80, for
the old clerk at st. Saviour's took my age
from the church register of births.
II know nothing Of Hugo's estates. In
deed, i have not been there yet Newspa-
pers, as a rule, don't spare me, and have
often criticised me when / did not deserve
it. The very idea of newspaper comment
makes me nervous. hope the newspapers
will speak nicely of our wedding now that
the news has leaked OUT
''The Prince of Wales was, as he always
is, thoughtful. He remembered us kindly
by congratulations. But, I am sorry his
name was mentioned, as what he did was
done privately and out of pure friendship.
Mr.. Frohman is arranging with me for
an American tour. long to go, for 1 love
the people of that country. of course my
husband will accompany me-"
The life history of the Jersey Lily" is
unique among the worlds celebrities. Born
on the Isle of Jersey, the ingenious daugh-
ter Of an obscure clergyman, Lily LIE Bre-
ton fell in love and married Edward Lang
try, who was persuaded to take his bride
to London. Her simple manner and incon-
spicuous beauty attracted little attention
until the Prince OF Wales asked to have
her presented. From that day dates Mrs.
Langtry's pyrotechnic career.
Delirious from successes into which She
plunged with an abandonment which scan
dalized two continents, she at last forced
a separation from her husband, and be-
came an actress with every requisite for
success upon the stage save talent.
Her most notorious escapade which Sc
cured her the temporary disfavor of the
Prince of Wales, but conduced to high
favor among theatrical devotees, was at
a supper in London, when she dropped q
piece OF ice under the collar of his royal
lighness. This little pleasantly caused
ADDED interest to her career.
Coming to America she starred in sew
eral plays. among which las In Looking
Glass" will ne well remembered. 1t was
on this tour that Freddy Gebhard, gilded
youth of New York, with $4,000 year in
come more than he could spend sensibly,
became infatuated with the Lily" and was
enough with her TO keep the tongues OF
scandal waggtng.
OF late much speculation has been rife
as to Mrs. Langtry's matrimonial designs
which have now eliminated IN the wealthy
young De Battle. 49,