The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-08
MRS. LANGTRY ARRIVES.
She and Lady Debathe the Only Ones
Who Didn't Want Hugo to
Go to War.

New York, Jan. S-AIrs. Hugo De
battle, who is still professionally known
as Mrs. Langtry, arrived in the city on
the steamer Lucania- Accompanied by
the principal members Of her theatrical
company, she proceeded Immediately to
the Hotel Manhattan. Her parlOr was
fairly filled with flowers sent by friends
this afternoon. She had already at
tached a map of South Africa to the
wall and placed in position the dozen
pins with Boer and British flags to rep
resent the positions of the rival forces
as nearly as she could determine them
from the newspaper accounts. Her table
was Uttered with new books relating to
the war.
4 received a cablegram from my hus-
band she remarked, announcing his
safe arrival at the Cape He was form
erly a, lieutenant in the Cape Mounted
Rifles and he may join his old regiment,
but 1 can not tell. He has more in
f1uence now, and Sir Forester Walker
has promised to push him along. He
may be placed on the staff
How terrible this war is. Lady De-
battle and were the only ones who did
not wish him to go to the front, but of
course he could not stay back. Those
who do not go may be considered cow
ards. The flower of England has al
ready left, and if the war continues
there may not be an able bodied man
there It is not right for me to say that
I do not wish to have my husband see
service, but it would be nice if he could
be taken prisoner right off Nobody
attends the theater any more Some Of
the best productions have not had TWEEN
ty persons in the house.
L think [ was very lucky, as The
Degenerates' paid up to the end. 1t was
a great success. 1t is the same sort of
a play as Wheels Within Wheels, which
is being done here. In fact, while Mr..
Grundy was writing The Degenerates'
for me he attended the opening of
Wheels Within Wheels and telegraphed
to me: My play was produced at the
Crown There are some points of SIM
ilaritv though the plot works out in a
different manner.
7 shall appear in nothing except The
Degenerates' here My company remains
the same as it was in London, with
the exception of Miss Ethel Henry, who
takes the part created by Miss Han
bury, and my second cousin, Miss Lucie
Miner, who succeeds Miss Grundy, the
authors daughter Miss Grundy, it was
claimed, looked so much like Miss Lang
try and acted so much like her that
some persons believed she was my
daughter"
Mrs Debathe has grown more slen-
der and wi1lowy since she was last in
America. The resulting change has
added to her charms. She is most en-
thusiastic in her patriotism, and she
proposes to organize while here what
she terms THE Concert similar to the
successful entertainment recently given
in London under the auspices of Ameri-
can women to equip the hospital ship
The Maine. The proceeds here will be
devoted to the hospital ship and relief
work IN the field She may conclude
that 1t would be advisable to divide
the funds between the English army in
Africa and the Americans in the Philip
pines. Her plans for The Concert"
are not fully matured, but, as she puts
1t, 1.-The ladies will sell flags and pilfer
people," The place she has selected is
the WaldOrf-AstOria hotel Her own
part will include a recitation of Rud-
yard Kipling's Absent Minded Beg
gar" with which she created something
of a sensation in England.
The Degenerates' viii open at the
Garden theater January 10 for a run of
five weeks.