Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-02-24
GILDED POVERTY.
A Strange Story of Two Female Misers-Riches II
Rags--A Sickhing Sight.

If there is such thing as "gilded
poverty. an exemplifcaton of it was
strikingly manifested in Camden during
the past week. From infancy to the
ripe age of so years, two twin sisters,
named Grace and Charity Kaighn, have
resided in that city. They owned in
their own right, property said to be worth
at least one hundred thousand dollars in
very eligible locations, and we're possess
ed Of other property of value. Yet these
two females Ghey never marriedD lived
together in perfect seclusion. in the
most eccentric manner. Their house on
Kahn's avenue was almost always kept
closed, and no one admitted except such
as came to aid them in their business
transactions, and they were few. Their
apartments were kept almost as gloomy
as prison dungeons, and day after day.
week after week, month after month and
year after year, they CROPPED about in the
darkness of their own created prison,
denying themselves even the comforts
and necessaries of life.
For many years this was their way of
living, and those who knew them best
believed that.at any time they might be
found dead in their house from self-de-
NAL and neglect. Some time last Sum-
mer they purchased a fine new dwelling
house on Market street, above Fourth.
and moved into it early in the Fall.
What articles of furniture they had were
set in the parlor, but were never put in
their proper places. From that time up
to Thursday last week they lived in their
old way, without comforts or anything
that would contribute to comfort.
From the Thursday alluded to, moth
ing had been seen of them, and no noise
was made in the house to indicate thai
they were alive. This created suspi
cion that something was wrong, and Of
. ficer Hofiager was instructed to force al
entrance This was accomplished, whel
he found, to his horror, the most sick
ening sight he had ever met with. Tn,
room was bare of furniture, dark ant
dirty; no fire had been in the stove 70
three days, and there, on a setee, witt
nothing over her but an old ragged an,
r dirty quilt, lay Grace Kaighn, cold an
+ stiff in death. Her sister, Charity, wa
found in corner of room, almos
doubled up, and in perishing condi
ton. She was Immediately taken car
of, and under the direction of DIR. Arm
8 strong, Coroner, she is doing we'll. Sh
h did not know that Grace was dead. o
table near by was loaf of bread an
) some butter which had not been touched
The Coroner took charge of the bod,
/. and had it appropriately disposed o
/ He found some thirteen dollars OF I'll
4 person of the deceased, and took posse
sion of such papers and valuables as we
;. found until rightful parties to them a
d pear Among the papers are sever
g tax bills for real estate, one of whit
q calls for 5000, which, at the rate of ia,
# ation-S2 so on S100-would be for &
f assessed property of $4,000. This vi
for one square of ground, facing Broa
way, between Line and Pine street
They owned large amounts of real esta
in other parts of Camden. Notwit
IS standing all this, they were in the mo
D. abject state of exposure and destitutio
a -GermantoaOn Telegraph.