The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-08-04
A RETIRING WOMAN.
The Disposition of Mrs. Jay Gould-Who
and What She Was and Is.

The Disposition of Mrs. Jay Gould-Who
and What She Was and Is.
The wife of the great railroad mag
nate is gentle, atfable, courteous, retir-
ing. She would not be called a hand
some woman. yet her face is far more
attractive than many beauty. She is
we'll educated, and possesses an air OF
refinement. She convinces all who come
within the sphere of her influence that
through her retiring nature she has de-
prived society at an important orna-
ment. Her inclinations have made her
devotee to her family. There is her
enioyment and she cares little for the
pleasures that do not in some way tend
to bring the entire family together.
She is the confidant and constant COM
panion of her daughter Nellie, and
passes several hours daily with the three
young boys, Edward, Frank and Har-
old. She participates in their pleas
ures, and is never so happy as when
planning some surprise for them. Her
son George, a young man of twenty
four, connected with his father in bust
ness, is source of great pride to her.
Mrs. Gould was Miss Miller, whose
father was successful grocer of New
York. She was brought up in we'll
appointed home and has been accus-
toned to all that wealth and refinement
bring from her childhood. Mr.. Gould
was partner of Mr.. Leupp in the
leather business at the time he married
Miss Miller and she brought him con-
siderable fortune. The grocer's daugh-
ter and magnate's wife cares nothing
for society and takes no pleasure in en-
tertaining, beyond a pleasant dinner
party of her few intimate friends. Yet
the fine residence and great wealth OF
the Goulds would well fit them to en-
terrain ia the most elaborate manner.
Anything that savors of ostentation is
particularly distasteful to Mrs. Gould.
It is said that while naturally of retir-
ing nature and adverse to display, she
became more &C at the time her hus-
band was connected with the late "Jim
Fisk" Fisk's blatant manner and vul-
gar prominence, his open carriages
drawn by four horses. his loud style Of
dress and display of jewelry, were all
very obnoxious to Mrs. Gould, and the
fact that her husbands name was sc
continually linked with that Of Fisk
gave her an even stronger desire to ap.
pear modest and to make marked
contrast. While Mrs. Gould posses.es
some very valuable Jewels, they are I'M
obtrusive, and she is more apt to veal
them when alone with her husband
and family than in public. In hel
dress she is also modest in color ant
style, although her costumes are of very
rich material.
Mrs. Gould is very fond of their coun
try residence at lrvington, as there SHIT
can enjoy the society of her husband, tx
whom she is greatly attached, withou
fear of his being interrupted. MIR
Gould built his fine greenhouses partic
ularly for his wife, who is fond of flow
ers, and she spends portien of eacl
day among them. Anything that he
husband and children can enjoy with he
without intrusion from outsiders is he
special delight. For this reason she j
very fond of their yacht Atlanta, aboar'
of which they can sail away out of tn
reach of stocks or bonds or Wall street
Mrs. Gould enjoys fine pictures
bronzcs and rare bric-a-brac, and he
houses are filled with the finest. She
fond of music and is therefore givin
her daughter Nellie a very thoroug
musical training. There is little dout
that if Mrs. Gould were asked what sh
most desired in this world she woul
answer to have her husband relinquis
all business and devote his time to HON
enjoyments with his family. Philade
phia Times.