The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-11
MRS. LANGIRY'S
NEH PLlY
She Got the Plot from an In
Cident in Life.
YOUNG EARDS TROUBLES
Arising From the Purchase OF
a String of Pearls.
YOUNG EARpS TROUBLES

early Thursday morning and tdikeu enter
tainingly of matters. mice and men
The almost summer sunshine of the
beautiful day flooded the room lit up the
many photographs Of men, women ana
pIaces which adorned the mantel, lrradl-
ated the American beauty roses which
stood ia vases here and there and fell
upon Mrs Langtry herself. She was
gowned in a most becoming brown vel
vet. half street and half afternoon dress,
with a ruffe of lace at the wrists. Two
rare pearls in her ears were the only orna-
nents.
The conversation had taken wide
range and l asked Mrs. Langtry why
and how she had happened TO become a
playwright.
Twas rather odd she said. II was
doing the provinces last spring and one
afternoon when l was idle and my eyes
psined me my memory suddenly recalled
/ know not why or how, an incident OF
my experience u few years ago at Monte
Carlo The more / dwelt on it the more
its value as the main plot Of a play was
borne in upon me The incident was this:
i had met at Monte Carlo young noble
Nan whom / had known as a boy in Eng
land He had come into his title-was an
not large He was imprcvident and as a
rule what you Americans call hard up.
..One day he asked me TO accompany
him to the fashionable iewelrs shop in
Monte Carlo TO look al a string OF pearls
which he said he greatly admired and on
which he said he wished my opinion. L
consented and he then told me that he
hoped / would tell the jeweler that was
immensely pleased with the pearls. On
our return trip from the shop, where L
had gone as the Earl had asked-and [
was able to do this conscientiously, for
the pearls were beauties-I questioned
him as to why he had wished my pres
cree and opinion at the jewelers.. He then
confded to mel forgot that he had also
asked me to pose as his sister-that he
was out Of funds and that he thought
the jeweler would be much impressed
b. my endorsement of the pearls that he
would give them to him 'on tick His
pGrpose. then. he said. was to go to Nice
and pawn them there, or. failing this.
70 Paris for the same purpose and, having
having obtained the money, TO return to
Monte Carlo play, recoup himself and
either restore the pearls to the jeweler.
Or. if he were very lucky, pay for them
outright
Il think you will agree with me-" con-
tinued Mrs. Langtry. that here was a
good plot for play. and if you have seen
The Cross Ways" which / notice the
Herald says might better be called The
Great Pearl Robbery, You will at once
understand how this Incl lent in real lie
Was elaborated into the play.
ION my return to LLondon." continued
the actress, 4 called IN Mr.. Hartley Man
ners, who mad so cieverly put Nell
Gwynne' into shape for Mr.. Faul Kester.
an6 he collaborated with me in writing,
"Thc Cross-Ways.' from my plot. j show
ed the play to Mr.. Sydney Grundy, who
approved of It. with some alterations.
which were made. 1t was then produced
three times at Newcastle three of four
times at Southampton and elsewhere in
the country. and finally. as YOU know.
by royal command at the Imperial The
atre in London.
ION the night of its production in Lon
don ] invited the dramatic critics as my
guests and it was understood that no
criticisms should appear. I am told how
ever that the talk in the Hobbies was TO
the effect that had there been criticisms
they would have been favorable
Pursuing the subject of the play. l re-
marked that / thought the scene in which
the Duke calls the Duchess of Keensberry
CHE part she plays a 'wanton," and she
replies. stung by the insult, that this is
the end announces her intention of
leaving him. and proceeds to return him
the jewels he had given her. was hardly
true 10 life. 1t seems TO me-" l said.
that a woman. especially one of posi-
ton and refinement. goaded by an insult
TO such serious step as separation and
divorce, would either have flung her
jewels at the Dukes head in a rage. or
have left the house at once in silence.
telling him he could have all he had given
her; she would not have begun TO hand
the jewels over with expressions Of sem
timent such as do you remember you
gave me these amethysts that day etc"
Mrs Langtry smiled and replied: 4
agree with YOU. but this was not the
opinion of Mr.. Grundy and other play
wrights TO whom I showed the play. and
certainly no one can question the dictum
of such a playwright as Mr.. Grundy.
Did YOU select your company your
self?' I asked.
Yes. replied Mrs. Langtry. Mr.. Man
ners. my leading man. is not only a good
actor. but a charming fellow and SO
bright and clever. ] had a young Eng
lishman the Earl CT Rosslyn who has
recently been acting here. in my COM
pauy during my tour. Of the provinces
last winter and spring. j think he play
ed with rs for six weeks. ! have always
known HIM very well as well as his
family
1t was getting time for the actress 10
leave for the matinee. and I therefore
hurried on to ask her some things about
herself ana boy and how she felt about
coming hack 10 America again. 4 am
really glad TO be back. ana in sayin.
this ] DO not mean il in the conventional
way. l Ike your climate. especially in
winter. and like your people. You will
recall what ! said in my little speech on
Monday night ut the theatre that I had
spent five Of the happiest Years OF my
life here. l meant every word 81 that
what DO YOU really think Of our
American women wa sthe next ques-
ti0R.
To be honest. l like them have found
them sympathetic and most cordial. and
i am beginning TO believe that / shall
have my best audiences among the vvo-
men of the country What 1 most like
about the American woman is that as