Smyrna times., 1873-02-12
Gilded Poverty.

A Camden, N. j., paper Of Jan. 10th, says
If there is such a thing as ''gilded poverty,
an exemplfcation of it was strikingly mani
tested in Camden during the past week. From
infancy to the ripe old age of eighty years,
two twin sisters, named Grace and Charity
Kaighn, have resided in that city. They own
ed in their own right property said to be
worth at least one hundred thousand dollars
in very eligible locations, and were possessed
of other property of value. Yet these two fe
males (they were never married) lived together
in almost perfect seclusiOn, in the most eccen
trio manner. Their house on Kaighn' avenue
was 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 any
time they might be found dead in their house
| from sell. denial and neglect. Some time last
summer 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 week they
lived i'll their old way, without comforts OF
anything that would contribute to comfort
From the Thursday alluded to until Monday
last nothing had been seen Of them, and NJ
noise was made in the house to indicate tha
they were alive. This created suspicion
that something was wrong, and Officer Hof
finger was instructed to force an entrance
This was accomplished when he found to hi
horror the most sickening sight he ever me
with. The room was bare of furniture, darl
and dirty; no fire had been in the stove fo
three days, and there, on settee with moth
ing over her but an old ragged and dirty quill
lay Grace Kaighn, cold and stiff in death
Her sister, Charity, was found in corner o
the room almost doubled up and in perish
ing condition. She was Immediately takel
care of and, under the direction of DIR. Arm
strong, Coroner, she is doing well. She diC
not know that Grace was dead. On tabl
near by was loaf of bread and some butter
which had not been touched The Corone
took charge of the body, and had it appropri
ately disposed Of He found some thirteel
dollars on the person of deceased, and tool
possession of such papers and valuables a
were found until rightful parties to them ap
pear. Among the papers are several tax bill
for real estate, one of which calls for 5000
which at the rate of taxation, 50 80 on tn
, 500, would be for an assessed property o
, $26, 900. This was for one square of groun'
> facing Broadway, between Line and Pine Sts
They owned large amounts OF real estate i
] other parts of Camden. Notwithstanding a
. this, they were in the most abject state OF ez
: posure and destituticn. The circumstance ha
created universal comment, and the wonder
q how people with means of which they ar
possessed could consent to live in such
, miserly and torlorn way. They were peculia
! in their eccentricities almost to lunacy. The
, = had inherited and possessed in their own righ
. a very large estate, but preferred to live as
they never had dollar. Such are some {
the freaks of human nature.