Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-04-12
Mrs. GalBes'S Fortune.
THE WONDERFUL STRUGGLES OF \ WON.
pERFUL WOMAN.

the WONDERFUL STRUGGLES OF 4 WON.
pERFUL WOMAN.
Washington CorTesp ponience Of the Chic 20 Times
Mrs Myra Clark Gaines is being begged
10 death. She gets letters asking for
charity. aud thousands OF needy and dis
appointed oilicc-scekorS hang around Mrs.
Gaincs'S hotel. and follow after her along
the streets. hoping 10 pink up the gold
coin She j. supposed to have. and which
her pruverbial generosity would induce
her TO strcw broadcast. did she possess
them. Ms. Gaines has received ver-
diet emitting her TO $1,000, 600 from the
city Of Ncw Orleans Four million dol
lars is 10 much Tor one little woman to
spend. The impression has gone abroad
that the wealthy Mrs. Gaines has purchas-
ed Castle Stewart in this city for a home,
anG has, besides. clcgantly-iurnished resi-
dcnces Tor her occupancy in every city in
the Union, and summer dwellings on
mountain heights and along the sands OF
the houudlcs- sea; that she cant get rid
of her wealth. try hard rs she may, and
that the doubling up OF the compound in
tcrest Is almost driving her frantic by its
daily rolls ol money.
The truth OF il is, that Mrs. Gaines, al
though not now compelled aS formerly,
brave iittl. soul. To endure the sting of
actual want. TO wear shoes that are leak
in@. and 10 20 hungry 10 bed in 4 garnet
where IN" SHOWS driit through the chinks,
has MOI been benefited as laviShly as
rumor ha, II, by the verdict in her favor.
She wear a neat. plain black silk walking
dress. that clears the ground. She puts it
on ia the morning and puts it off at night /;
She has no time 10 spend in change OF
toilette When She rises She ties her hat,
spangled with jet. over her auburn curls,
and She wears that bonnet until she goes
10 bed: she has a comfortable room at L
good hotel She eats early in the day, and
then walk. about town, visiting and talk
ing business: she i CHEEKY. and hearty,
and garrulous. but there is no evidence of
unlimited wealth in dress, or manner, or
extravaganza.
She j. seen one evening al the White
House; the next at the grand reception,
always in a short black dress and bonnet
the next night her ringing laugh is heard
in The hotel office, where, little bonnet on
head and little muif in hand, she is walk
ing about the place, talking iamiliarly 10
gentlemen and attracting, by her animated
Conversations, dozens OF transients within
ear--hot, and may be in hall an hour she
Is the centre OF gay throng in n ball
room, or. aS | saw her once, nursing a
sick mother and child, pacing up and
down the floor with the baby's hot cheek
against her own bright old face. and
chirping The while cheerfully 10 the dis
courag,d Young mother.
4 bright witty, independent woman;
trndrI-hr.Itcd lady; sentimental girl;
q flLd child, Tie queer Mrs. Gaines ap-
pears ia turn to he; and acute lawyer. a
rlIilanlhropi~t. a lunaiic; undiSmayed by
disaster; gay in dress; generous in pros
pcriiy faithful 10 friends; believing in
God unwarerin"ly through all.
Mrs. Gancs's great ?i,0OO,0 900 suit is
gained. But she has not got the money.
The city of New Orleans is 50 impOverish-
ed that they cannot pay Mrs. Gaines
looks to the city Of New Orleans TO in
demnily her Tor the property confi-caicd
by the city. and sold with promise to
guarantee title to the purchasers, years
ago. The lady, understanding the diff
Gully. has now made Il proposition TO ac-
cept. in lieu oi the indemnity OF upward
OF $1,000. 900 for which the city is liable,
the sum of y, 900 600, yablc in 10 years.
in yearly instalmcnts, without interest
Ia case the city does not arcept the offer
OF lhis compromise, Ms. Gaines has offer
ed tp compromise with her tenants on the
mo-l liberal terms al the alternative
presents usclL7 -aid Mrs. Gaines, .'of
losing the property or turning the tenants
our Of home | will lose H. Divine
providence has preserved mo during 10
years struggle with misfortune have
been happy because my conscience was
void Of offence; / should be miserable in
my old age it | should turn poor uniort-
unaics out. and seize the home they al
ways thought their own. On account of
the stringent times, have not received
one cent from nv New Orleans property
for nine months
Mrs. Gaines. beside her Southern claim,
has a large amount Of property in Balti-
more, aud her litigation has been cxteIi-
siye and protractcd. The mistress of all
this amount Of valuable property is 20
years old, is springy, jaunly and impul-
sivc, with a straight nose, twinkling, dark
eyes, and auburn blonde hair. without
thread oi gray in ii. One never can get
the idea that she is an old woman, but
rather queer, precociouS child.
A Cedar county tNeb) youth named Will
liam Lister was while ago "liviug in clover"