The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-09-21
Rich but Unreaned.

In the large parlors of the Grand
Union Hotel. Saratoga. there is on ex-
hibition every evening q most remarks
BILE old lady. The old lady's name is
Grouse. She is from Syracuse, N. Y.
Her husband was. in early life, a grocer
in very small way. He worked hard
and became rich. The latter part of
his life he has devoted to his money, so
that it now amounts to several millions.
The husband and wife were uneducated,
and used to manuel 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 been rich, without losing for
one day the keen zest of the possession
and power of much money.
Let US look at her enthroned in the
grand main parlor, little to the left of
the main entrance, peering with her
keen black eyes at the passers-by. She
looks like great lay figure for the ex-
hibition 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 upward. Her mouth
is thin, and curved toward her double
chin. sinking down to a figure that is per-
fectly shapeless, hidden in pillows offa
The face is a kindly one, wearing an
almost childish look of pleasure. 1t is
made up as if for the stage. The lips
are tinted, the cheeks roughed, while
the layers of fat under the jaws are
powdered. Above this mask of artifi-
cial bloom is heavy jet-black wig of
curls, coming well down upon the fore
head. 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 attract 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 descend
other chains over surface of black
satin and point lace to girdle, where
| a watch and charms encrusted with
diamonds repose. The left hand is
joint of each finger with diamond rings.
Her hands are bony, and show the
! evidences of the hard manual labor of
her early life. But the large joints hold
on the rings better than more supple
hand. The right hand is adorned with
only one ring, but it is great, blazing
opal encircled with diamonds. Her
black satin dress, stiff enough to stand
alone, is covered with black thread
lace. White duchess lace is about her
heavy wrists, and fairly swaddles her
short neck.
This is the way she looked the evening
l first saw her. But l understand she
has dress for nearly every evening.
By her side sits her husband, her oppo-
site in everything so far as mere APP
pearances go. He is tall, handsome
old gentleman, with snowy-white hair
and beard. There is not the simplest
indication of display upon his part.
But he heartily sympathizes with his
wife, and admires her as artists do the
realization of their Hottest ideals. He
is always ready to talk about his wife.
He will say, with an amiable smile upon
his peaceful face: Glow do you think
she is looking to-night?''
.'Splendidn' you say.
swell, she is spleddid. She has all
the money she can spend. How do you
like those diamond earrings? l paid
$1,000 apiece for them"
"Beautiful!"
Beautiful, you say. Well, yes;
but they won't compare with that bar of
diamonds at mothers throat. l paid
$4,000 for those"
Mr.. Grouse will go lovingly over every
item of his wife wardrobe and check
off the price of each bit. He regards
her as the toy figure of the shop win
dow of his life. He is constantly think
ing of something that will cost much
money to hang upon mother.
Mrs. Grouse is equally free with her
information about the cost of articles
of her wardrobe. A few days ago q
neice of hers was here on visit. The
old lady introduced her neice to one
of the ladies of the hotel, and said:
Look at the lace on my neice's dress.
There are fifty yards of lace in that
trimming, and it cost 81 yard. y
(Hiru0o NelDS