Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-09-01


Queer Characters nc Saratoga.
Correspondence Chicago News
In the large parlors of the Grand Union hotel
there is on exhibition every evening most re-
markable old lady. II she were to be placed on
the stage just as she appears in this room, she
would be called gross exaggeration. It would
be hard to make the public believe that her like
could be found in real life. She occupies a
stuffed arm chair, which elevates her as upon
throne, and calmly passes the guests in review
until 93O, when she retires with great sOlem-
Unity, followed by her admiriDg husband.
The old lady's name is Grouse. She is from
Syracuse. Her husband was in early life
grocer, In very small way. He W orked hard
and became rich. The latter part of his life he
has devoted to his money, 50 that it now
amounts to several millions. The husband and
wife were uneducated, and used to manual labor
at the outset OF their life. and so when their
money came they enjoyed its possession as few
do who love money. For forty years they have
of the possession and power of much money,
Every year ofthat time they have come to Sara
toga to spend the season. They remain here
for two months. and are so well known that
they hold regular receptions whenever they APP
pear in public. SO we'll are their peculiarities en-
jOyed. Mrs. Grouse is over seventy years of
age.
Let us look at her enthroned in the grand
main parlOr. little to the left of the main en-
trance, peering with her keen black ewes at the
passers-by. She looks like great lay figure
for the exhibition of jewelry. laces and silks.
Her face is cOarse-featured. heavy lined and
highly rouged. Her eyes are clear and bright
Her nose is large and straight, inclining up
ward. Her mouth is thin and curved toward
her double chin, sinking down to figure that
is perfectly shapeless, hidden in pillows of fat.
The face is a kindly one, wearing an almost
childish look of pleasure. 1t is made up as if
&C., A;,,ko
/ rouged, while the layers of fat under the jaws
are powdered. Above this mask Of artificial
bloom is heavy jet-black wig of curls coming
| well down upon her forehead. The eyebrows,
too are artificial. being perfectly curved and jet
black. Upon the black wig is great wreath of
artificial flowers, so glaring in color as to at
| tract as much attention as an electric light
| Back OF this crown of color is purple-trimmed
| lace cap. In the ears of this strange old lady
| blaze great solitaire diamond earrings price
$4,000. Around her neck Is gold chain twice
| as heavy as any dOg-cOllar ever made. In the
| middle is bar of huge diamonds. From this
| descends other chains over a surface of black
| satin and point lace to girdle, where watch
The left hand is loaded from the knuckles to
| the right joint of each finger with diamond
| rings Her hands are bony. and show the evil
| dence of the hard manual labor of her early lfe
But the large joints hold on the rings better
| than a more supple hand. The right hand is
| adorned with only one ring, but it is great,
blazing OPAL encirced with diamonds Her
black satin dress, stiff enough to stand alone is
covered with black thread lace. White duch-
esse lace Is about her heavy wrists, and fairly
swaddles her short neck.
This is the way she looked the evening first
saw her. But understand she has dress for
nearly every evening. Sometimes she will come
down with pale yellow and tea or China blue
but always wearing on her head the variegated
crest of flowers. She talks of nothing but
dresses, her laces, and her diamonds. When
she meets any new lady acquaintance she in
variably asks about their laces and their dia-
| monds, and If they can not tell q good story in
this connection she takes no interest in them
She has no desire to know people who have no
laces or diamonds. By her side sits her husband,
her opposite in everything so far as mere ap-
pearances go. He is tall. handsome old gen.
tleman. with snowy white hair and beard He
is plainly and most tastdiOusly dressed. There
is not the simplest indication of display upon his
part. But he heartily sympathiZes with his wiIe
| and admires her as artists do the realization of
their lOftiest ideals He is always ready to talk
about his wife. He will say, with an amiable
smile upon his peaceful face: How do you think
she is looking Tonight"
"Splendid!" you say.
''Well, she is splendid. She has all the money
she can spend. How do you like those diamond
| earrings! paid $4,000 piece for them"
Beautiful
Beautiful you say: Well. yes; but they
won't compare with that bar of diamonds at
mothers throat. paid S15, 600 for those"
Mr.. Grouse will go lovingly over every item of
his wife's wardrobe and check off the prices of
each bit. He regards her as the toy figure of
the shop-window of his life. He is constantly
thinking OF something that will cost much
money to hang upon mother.
Mrs. Grouse is equally free with her informa-
ton about the cost of articles OF her wardrobe
A few days ago niece of hers was here on
visit. The old lady introduced her niece to one
of the ladies of the hotel, and said: "Look at
| the lace on my nieces dress. There are fifty
yards OF lace in that trimming, and it costs SIT
yard"
Nearly all the ladies of the hotel know this
couple. and always make it point to talk with
them during the evening, humOring their most
innocent vanity. When the hour comes for
them to leave the parlor every one turns and
watches Mrs. Grouse. She is 80 fat that she
rolls from side to side like low-laden craft in
heavy sea. Her husband acts as a convoy to
this most precious freight. walking just behind
her, feasting his pale-blue eyes upon the blazing
lights OF the diamonds.
At home, it is said. the Crouses are perfect
models OF kindly hospitality and generosity.
Mrs. Grouse gives away thousands every year in
| charity. If anybody who calls upon her hap
pens to admire anything especial, the article is
sure to be sent home to her after the call. The
CrOuses and their sayings at Saratoga are an
endless source of entertainment.
After all. they get apparently more amuse-
ment out OF their money than any other of the
mllllOnalres at Saratoga. The United States
hotel Is the headquarters Of the millionares,
and it is the dullest place in town. The old
gentlemen about the place look dull and bored.
They talk with each other on regulation sub
jects, take little routine rides, always over the
same roads, play the same game of cards at the
same hours. and lead as monotonous lives as If
they had only moderate income.
American Need of sleep.
DR.. Selden H. Talcot, superintendent of the
state homeopathic asylum for the insane at Mid