The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-08-25
TIE HIGHEST WIDOW IN AMERICA.

1 For adoption at any ones option,
An infant three weeks old;
| Though worth its weight in gold. .
TIE RICHEST WIDOW IN AMERICA.
Her income for the Yearl87O amount
ed to the aignified figures Of SAG 600
She lives in the bright and busting
city of Hartford, CT, and she is famili-
arly but always respectfully known to
the majority of the jewellers in that
nest of hourishing insurance companies
| - the Widow Colt.
She is the handsome and well pre-
served relict of Samuel Colt, the man
who, if he did not invent the revolving
fresrm, was shrewd enough to reap the
principal profit that accrued from the
discovery of that eminently American
institution.
Having, with true Yankee tact, avail
ed himself Of the fruit of another
mans brains, Colt progressively i'm
proved upon all the worlds pfecon-
ceived idea Of facility in the popping
off our fellSw-men, and at the same
time heaped up q remarkably handsome
fortune for himself. Departing some
ten years ago, he left q magnificent
properly, including q nice little estate
valued at 5000, 600, to his wife.
This estate, situated but short dis
lance from the very business heart of
the city, comprises vast stretch of
beautiful hill and meadow land, so
complete in all of its appointments as
TO rank with the best of the Old World
baronial properties. Mr.. Colt had him
self purchased the grounds, superinten-
ded the major portion of their laying
out, erected several fine buildings, in
clading the family mansion and the
principal manufactures, and, as can be
Judged from the value of the place at
his death, had created one Of the hand
soonest of estates.
But the work achieved by the enter
prisine husband has been so improved
upon BY the widow that even the orig
i1ai value and beauty of the place have
been vastly increased.
Among the singular attractions of
the estate is one of the most artistically
designed and most completely appoint
ed church edifices in the country.
1t has been reserved for New Eng
land wife to give tangible proof of her
esteem and Veneration for her dead
husband by building a meeting house
to his memory. And a right noble
mausoleum it is, too. In point of arch
itectural elegance she has succeeded in
giving to the country religious struc-
ture that is simply unequaled. To be
sure, she expended in the erection of
the affair a comfortable 5000, 200, but
that is mere bagatelle to wealthy
widow who set out to show the world,
in stone and mortar, how much she re-
spects the worth of her departed liege.
MAGNIFICENCE UNSURPASSED.
The structure, which is known as the
Church of the Good Shepherd, is built
in the pure Gothic, of Portland stone,
faced with trimmings of white Ohio
stone. Without drifting into the dreary
details Of an architects specifications,
it may be stated that the structure is or
nately embellished with everything
that correct taste, backed mp by an all
ways open pocketbook, could furnish.
The stained glass windows, the elab-
orately carved columns, the superb or
gan, the lectern fairly emblaZenned
with jewels, the carved emblems of
numerous family of saints, costly
woods, and richly designed altar pieces
all bear testimony to the lavish hand
that brought them so happily together.
The memorial window contains q
candid scriptural admission, in the
words:
"And God blessed him and made all
that he did to prosper"
place of worship for the village of
Workmen and their families, who are
employed in the vast shops upon the
estate. A portion of these employees
are engaged in the manufacture Of will
low ware in commodious building
put up for the purpose by Mrs. Colt.
An interesting fact is hinged upon this.
THE STORY OF THE WILLOWS.
When Mr.. Colt procured his present
property, which stretches up from the
broad meadow that forms the western
bank of theConnecticut river, he found
that Its value was much impaired by
certain little Irregularities on the part
of that stream. Regularly every spring
the well-covered hills and valleys of
Massachusetts and Vermont empty
their melting SHOWS Into the waters of
the Connecticut, and q very decided
freshet is the invsriable result. a gene
raj flooding of meadow lands always
ensues. .---
Mr.. Colt discovered that this annual
exuberance on the part Of the riyer con-
verted his broad grounds into extern
siye, bat altogether useless, ponds and
lakes, and so, like Horace Greeley, at
the appearance of any new dilena, he
commenced a Systematic course of dam
ming.
He at once built an enormous dyke,
that in length, and uniform solidity
would have delighted q Hollander.
Then, to prevent the waters from wash
ing ont aad gfadaallv undermining his
work, he proceeded to plant the. sides OF
the embankment With the famous
Swiss willow, the INTERVIEWING roots of
which are so close and compact IS t.
defy the angriest action of the foods.
TO combine active business with COM
plete business was the handspring of
energetic Mr.. Colts life The Willows,
which in the importation and setting
out had cost him deal of money, must
be made to return him q handsome re-
venue. To this end he coaxed over a
large number of Swiss makers of viii
low ware, built them dozen or more
beautiful little chatelets, and set them
to work at their trade at double the
wages they had been receiving in their
own tight little republic.
TIE SWISS FROM THE CoUETY KERRY
A wide carriage road, fianked by
pleasant foot-paths, extends over the
dixie at present, the willows, which in
root and branch are doing such excel
lent service, forming pleasant fringe
of verdure along its entire length. The
chatelets are still occupied by Swiss,
most of them, however, from County
Kerry and the land of the blarney
stone.
Mrs. Colt has continued TO wear at
least half mourning ever since her hus-
bands death. This must not by any
means indicate that che is woman
who reVels in Q chronic state Of gloom.
To the contrary, abe is . brilliant lady
who receives and entertains her friends
/ in manner so pleasant as to render 1t
q particular favor to be ranked among
her acquaintances. Her "Wednesday
evening outdoor coteries are to be rated
as the most elegant and enjoyable of
the american summer social season.
As stated the beautiful memorial
chucrh was erected by her as place Of
Worship for the operatives in her shops,
and 0thsF families. The form of ser.