Editing Lillie Langtry (section)

==William Ewart Gladstone – Prime Minister==
[[File:Acgladstone2.jpg|thumb|W.E. Gladstone in 1879 - Painted by J.E. Millais - National Portrait Gallery, London]]
[[File:Lillie Langtry by Millais.jpg|thumb|Lillie Langtry, painted by Millais in 1878 - A year before the Gladstone-portrait by Millais. Lillie Langry in her memoirs: 'I was while I was siting for Millais, by and by, that I made Gladstone's acquaintance, the artist being engaged at the same time in painting the familiar, speaking likeness of the great statesman which is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London.']]
During her stage career, Lillie Langtry became friendly with [[William Ewart Gladstone]] (1809–1898), who was the [[Prime Minister]] on four occasions during the reign of Queen Victoria. In her memoirs, Langtry says that she first met Gladstone when she was posing for her portrait at Millais' studio. Later he became a mentor to her.<ref>{{cite book|last=Langtry|first=Lillie|title=The Days I Knew|year=2000|publisher=Panoply Publications|page=Chapter 10 ("Young and Optimistic")}}</ref>

However, this was probably also a make-belief by Lillie Langtry herself. The biographers of William Ewart Gladstone think otherwise.They are also quite cynical about Lillie's motives.

Lillie Langtry in ''The Days I Knew'': 'One of the most gratifying features of my debut was the concern in my new departure displayed by that gifted being, W.E.Gladstone. Although we had met casually at Millais's studio I had not known him further. But now he came often to see me and would drop in (he was Prime Minister at the time) to find me eating my dinner before going to the theatre. How wonderful it seemed that this great and universally sought-after man should give me and my work even a passing thought. But he did more. His comprehensive mind and sweet nature grasped the difficult task that lay before me, the widely different orbit in which my life would henceforth move, and he knew how adrift I felt. And out of his vast knowledge of the public he realised how much he could help me – so the salmon advised the minnow. Never shall I forget the wisdom of Gladstone and the uplifting effects of his visits. Sometimes he read aloud his favourite passages from Shakespeare. Then, again, he would bring me books. He was truly religious, believing, he told me "with the simple faith of a child". And one could not be in his company without feeling that goodness emanating from him.... Among his many excellent admonitions I remember, and shall always remember, this sound piece of advice. He said. In "In your professional career, you will receive attacks, personal and critical, just and unjust. Bear them, never reply, and, above all, never rush into print to explain or defend yourself. And I never have.'<ref>Langtry, The Days I knew, 102-103</ref>

However, it was not Gladstone who sought Lillie out; the approach came from Lillie. Abraham Hayward, an influential journalist, wrote Gladstone a letter, dated 8 January 1882: 'Mrs Langtry, who is an enthusiastic admirer of yours, told me this afternoon that she should be feel highly flattered if you would call on her, and I tell you this, although I fear you have other more pressing overtures just at present. Her address is 18 Albert Mansions, Victoria Street, and she is generally at home about six.'<ref>Quoted by Aronson, ''King in Love'', 95-96. Aronson himself refers to the Gladstone Papers, in the British Manuscript Library, London, 44207/193, 8/1/1882</ref>

The published diaries of Gladstone show there were indeed contacts between Lillie Langtry and one of the most important British statesmen. However, the editor of Gladstone diaries doubts the friendship was, from Gladstone's point of view, important. Gladstone was a regular theatre-goer and moved enthusiastically among some theatre-sets. He frequently visited performances of drawing-room comedies and drama. Rumours were not surprising given Lillie's reputation and the gossip about Gladstone's nocturnal activities which circulated in London clubs. Gladstone was in the habit of wanting to "rescue" prostitutes by trying to convince them it was best not to live in sin and to find a decent job. Gladstone noted on 3 April 1882 in his diary: 'I hardly know what estimate to form of her. Her manners are very pleasing, & she has a working spirit in her'. On 16 February 1885 he wrote: 'Saw Mrs Langtry: probably for the last time.'<ref>H.C.G. Matthew, ''Gladstone 1809-1898 ''(Oxford 1997) 527. In the diaries themselves Gladstone only recorded that he saw Mrs Langtry (26 January 1882), saw a play in which she acted (4 February 1882), wrote her a letter (25 February 1882) and said goodbye to her in probably their last meeting (16 February 1885). Afterwards he only saw Lillie Langtry while she acting on stage Cleopatra (6 December 1890). ''The Gladstone Diaries with Cabinet minutes and pre-ministerial correspondence. Compiled by H.C.G. Matthews.'' Volume X (January 1881 - June 1883; Oxford 1990): 201, 207, 215, 230; volume XI (July 1883 - December 1886; Oxford 1990): 296; Volume XII (1887-1891; Oxford 1994): 348.</ref> Gladstone's private secretary was worried about the contacts between Lillie Langtry and Gladstone: he was afraid she tried to make social capital out of their contacts. 'Last week Mr. G. received an invitation to a Sunday "at home" from Mrs Langtry. He did not avail himself of it, but he went and called at her house. He did not even see her, but all kinds of rumours are already abroad about his intimacy with the "professional beauty". These rumours would have had much greater currency and better foundation, had he gone to the evening party, out of which I think we managed to frighten him and the card for which I first thought of hiding and saying nothing about. Certainly Rosebery spoke not a day too early about the night walks, which are now openly talked of in Society.'<ref>''The Diary of Sir Edward Walter Hamilton 1880-1885. Edited by Dudley W.R. Bahlman'' (Oxford 1972), volume I (1880-1882), 232 (7 March 1882).</ref> Things even became worse. Gladstone presented Lillie Langry a copy of his favourite book, ''Sister Dora'' – a biography of a high-born woman who worked as a nurse among the poor. Hamilton:'She is evidently trying to make social capital out the acquaintance which scraped with him. Most disagreeable things with all kinds of exaggeration are being said. I took the occasion of putting a word and cautioning him against the wiles of the woman, whose reputation is in such bad odour that, despite all the endeavours of H.R.H., nobody will receive in their houses.'<ref>''The Diary of Sir Edward Walter Hamilton'', I, 245 (1 April 1882).</ref> It seems Lillie Langtry had become by April 1882 a social outcast, with two important men who tried to help her: the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister. Hamilton tried to protect his boss, but had a shrewd woman against him. 'She had evidently been told to resort to the double-envelope system which secures respect from our rude hand; and she is now making pretty constant use of this privilege and boasting in proportion.'<ref>''The Diary of Sir Edward Walter Hamilton,'' I, 257 (20 April 1882).</ref> Hamilton could do nothing: the letters became more frequently, but he couldn't read them.<ref>''The Diary of Sir Edward Walter Hamilton'', I, 265 (5 May 1882).</ref> However, the much later published diaries of Gladstone himself show Hamilton had little to fear: there were little personal contacts with Lillie Langtry. Gladstone wrote her exactly one letter in the short period after Lillie tried to (re)make contact with him while Gladstone didn't know well how to deal with the situation.<ref>In his diaries Gladstone made notes of all people he met during the day, the letters he wrote and the books he read. The general index of ''The Gladstone Diaries'' (volume XIV, 1994) shows exactly 6 entries during his whole (fully recorded) life relating to Lillie Langtry. Biographers shared Hamilton's anxiety before the diaries were published: Philip Magnus, ''Gladstone. A Biography'' (London 1954) 305-306; Joyce Marlow, ''Mr and Mrs Gladstone'' (London 1977) 215-218.'' ''Em. professor Richard Shannon, who wrote the standard biography of Gladstone after the publication of the complete diaries: 'Being introduced on 3 April to the "Jersey Lily", the actress Mrs Langtry, was for Gladstone some of a puzzle. She seemed not to fit quite into any of the categories of ''demi-mondaines'' with which he was familiar. "I hardly know what estimate to form her. Her manners are very pleasing, and she had a working spirit".' Richard Shannon, ''Gladstone: Heroic Minister, 1865-1898'' (Allen Lane/The Penquin Press, London, 1999) 294. Prof. Travis L. Crosby just ignored Lillie Langtry in his psychobiographical study: Travis L. Crosby, ''The Two Mr. Gladstones. A Study in Psychology and History'' (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 1997). Richard Shannon did the same in his more revisionist,  
themed study on Gladstone (after finishing his biography): Richard Shannon, ''Gladstone - God and Politics'' (Continuum, London, 2007).</ref>

In 1925, Captain [[Peter Wright (writer)|Peter Emmanuel Wright]] published a book called ''Portraits and Criticisms''. In it, he claimed that Gladstone had numerous extramarital affairs, including one with Langtry. Gladstone's son [[Herbert Gladstone]] wrote a letter calling Wright a liar, a coward and a fool; Wright sued him. During the trial, a telegram, sent by Langtry from Monte Carlo, was read out in court saying, "I strongly repudiate the slanderous accusations of Peter Wright." The jury found against Wright, saying that the "gist of the defendant's letter of 27 July was true" and that the evidence vindicated the high moral standards of the late Gladstone.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40761504|title=THE GLADSTONE CASE.|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|location=Adelaide|date=3 February 1927|access-date=18 June 2015|page=13|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Gladston Case; Verdict Against Capt. Wright|issue=14|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=4 February 1927}}</ref>