MRS LANGTRY.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 986, 19 January 1883, Page 4

MRS LANGTRY.

America is ablaze with Lily Langtry, and New York - has rushed to see “ tile " ■ most portrait-taken woman,”- as it b|ts never' rushed to gaze on any feminity since the days of Jenny Lind. Tickets : ; .for her first night’s performance fetched nearly £2OOO. Reporters (we’re afraid ’ to say how many) crowded the Arizona as it came up the bay to New York, and at five o’clock in the morning (how many beauties could stand that hour ?) they interviewed her. “ Flaneur)” .correspondent of the ’Frisco Argonaut, was the first man introduced ; ■ and the Tribune, Herald, ; World, Sun, Times, and Lord- knows who, followed. And then—she only smiled on them a feV minutes, and spoke some pleasant words —then they all went, on shore again . and nearly wrote their heads off. It’s worth reading what they say, too ; for some of it is well written. Here’s a picture Mrs Langtry had come up the companion-way, and she stood on the promenade gfacelully poised •upon shapely arid dainty feet that pooped out from under a short knitted skirt of blue serge. Her hands were : employed', with her gloves ; her eyes and features with welcoming smiles from her friends; and her appearance ■ and bearing presented a realisation of their ideal to the admirers of classic Greek beauty—in all things harmony ; everywhere gracefulness; in outline, speech, and action, repose. From under a simple little hat, which did not hide the* delicate moulding of her temples, « hung a heavy coil of lustrous, dark brown hair. Her photographs have made known the linos of her all but perfect profile, but they have not hinted at the loveliness of'her great violet eyes, nor suggested the marvellous mobility of her features. In them, and in the perfect parity of her complexion, lies the charm of her wondrous beauty.” That’s the I'ribune. The Sun says, “She stood erect, with her shoulders back, the full lines of -her figure perfectly revealed by a dress that fitted without a wrinkle. The dark, blue bodice was unrelieved except by a brilliant mass of gold braid down the front and around the collar, and the plaited skirt fell in straight lines within a few inches of the deck. Beneath were two remarkably small, English walking shoes, and on her head a small hat named after her. Her hair • was in loose and graceful ringlets over her forehead, and drawn in a simple knot behind. Her waist was very small, and her whole costume was characterised by elegant simplicity. Her hair is brown, with a tinge of rich auburn that looks like gold. Mrs Langtry is unquestionably, a very ■ beautiful woman. Her beauty'is of the kind that baffles photography, and those who have seen her pictures only have no conception of the charm of her face. Her complexion is pure white, and almost transparent. The mouth in repose has a pathetic or serious expres- * sion, and the lips are as clearly cut as a statue’s. _ The eyes, however,; are the most winning fea- : tnre of all.” -But the Sun man seems to have seen different eyes; he asserts “ they are grey, with little jet black pupil,s, and are shaded by long dark , lashes. They are wonderfully, expressive, and certainly very effective, for they did remarkable work yesterday. Mrs Langtry raised them slowly, and” —but we don’t think the Sun man is reliable beyond this; be seems to wander. No one appeared able to . decide the eye question. They either couldn’t get a chance to look at them ; or else, when they did look they couldn’t see 'anything. The Times judiciously refrained from touching the subject; when the Argonaut was asked what colour Lily’s eyes were, he at once observed that “ he was particularly struck with her complexionand the World, hesitating between two colours, takes refuge in poetical quotations, and says “they are eyes full of light, which kindles when she smiles.” Altogether, we opine that if the golden apple of Mount Ida had' to be again given away, Juhb, Minerva, and Venus would have a poor chance against the Jersey Belle —if New York reporters did the judging. /