Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/568

 THE WORLD OF WOMEN In this section will be included articles which will place in array before the reader women born to fill thrones and great positions, and women who, through their own genius, have achieved fame. It will also deal with great societies that are working in the interests of women. M^otnan's Who's Who The Queens of the World Famous Women of the Past Women's Societies Great Writers, Artists, and Actresses Women of Wealth Women's Clubs Wives of Great Alen Mothers of Great Men, etc., etc. Lady Shackleton Fleet Agency WOMAM'S LADY SHACKLETON " Absolutely fit. Home June." Such was the •*^ cablegram which Lady Shackleton received on March 26th, 1909, announcing the safety of her husband, Sir Ernest Shackleton, the hero of the famous dash to the South Pole. For twelve months she had anxiously awaited news, and yet she frankly confesses that the night she knew that her hus- band was absolutely safe was the only night she was totally unable to sleep, A rather tall, fair woman, with a delicate complexion, it is difficult to credit Lady Shackleton with the strong nerves which she must possess. She was Miss Dorman before she married the explorer in 1903, and is the happy mother of two children, Raymond and Cecily, the former being born in 1905, and Cecily two years later. Since her husband's return, they have made their home at Sydenham, but formerly lived in Edinburgh. It was in a dainty house on the western border of that city that Lady Shackleton spent the anxious days while her husband was searching for the South Pole. A thoroughly homely, domesticated woman, Lady Shackleton devotes her whole time and attention to her home, husband, and children, and tells with con- siderable amusement how Raymond once remarked to her: "Mother, I am a hero like father, for I fell off my chair and didn't cry a bit." LADY DE BATHE Langtry, was born as long ago as 1852. She is a native of vSt. Heliers, Jersey, her father, the Rev. W. C. Le Breton, being at one time Dean of that Channel island. Lillie' Le Breton was the only girl amongst WHO'S WflO seven children. At the age of 22 she married] Mr. Langtry, a Belfast widower. Such were] her personal attractions that when she camel to London she was the reigning beauty for number of years. Sir John Everett Millais painted her portrait and called it th Lily." Tiring of the whirl of fashionable life, Mrs. Langtry decided to go on the stage, and on Decem- ber 15th, 1 88 1, made her debut at the Hay- market Theatre in " She Stoops to Conquer." Then she " starred " the provinces, made an American tour, and ac- cumulated a fortune of over ;^6o,ooo in six years. In 1897 her first husband died, and two years later Mrs. Langtry married Hugo Gerald de Bathe, who succeeded to the baronetcy in 1907. Sir Hugo is nineteen years younger than his wife, and but a little older than Lady de Bathe's daughter Jeanne, who in 1902 married that rising politician Mr. Ian Malcolm. Successful on the stage and in society, Lady de Bathe has also won distinction on the Turf, and as " Mr. Jersey " was known to the public as the owner of several successful horses. Although she makes hei home in this country, for over twenty years hei ladyship has been a naturalised American citizei MISS VALLI VALLI '^^^ on the stage at Terry's Theatre in 1 896 — she was only fourteen years of age at the time — as Nora in " The Holly Tree Inn." For the next three or four years she appeared in a number of small parts, her first real " hit " being made as the bride in " Veronique " at the Apollo Theatre in 1903. She also made a huge success in this part in New York, afterwards appearing in London in such plays as " Her Love Against Miss Valli Valli Haroity, New Vork
 * t is difficult to believe that Lady
 * de Bathe, better known as Mrs.
 * /Tiss Valli Valli made her debut