Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-12
SOME WEALTHY WOMEN.
I One Who Enjoys an Income OF fromn
SIS,OO0,O0O TO $4,000, 900.


NEW YORK, Dec. 1l.-Fhe richest single
aud richest married lady in the United
| States are said to be lying at the point OF
death in this city. The unwedded lady Is
Miss Catherine l.. Wolfe and the wife is
Mrs. William Astor. Miss Wolfe enjoys
the income OF between $4,000, 600 and
$4,000, 900. The most OF this money is
settled on her life only. Her income is
estimated at $500 600 a year, and she has
! had many offers of marriage. Miss Wolfe
has arlstocratic features and slight
hgure. Her hair Is gray and she dresses
superbly. Her diamonds are large and
| dazzling. Sne is a prominent figure in
society, and she is loved aud esteemed by
all who know her. She spends her income
where she thinks it will do the most good.
Ter almoner for years has been Bishop
Potter, formerly rector of Grace Church.
Indeed. Miss Wolfe, herself, has long been
the main pillar Of this patriciau house OF
worship. She 1t was VINO spent $4,000
Tor It's marble chantry, and who sub
scrlOed so literally toward erecting It's
beautiful spire. When Bishop Potter
called for $4,000 with which to build
church in Mulberry street not long ago
Miss Wolfe was the first to respond. She
sent him a check for $45, 900. Miss W olfe's
father was prominent merchant OF this
city. Although one OF the most generous
OF men, he rapidly accommodated for
tune. This fortune was enlarged by his
marriages. He welded in succession two
sisters of the late Peter Lorillard. Their
dots were immense. Three great fortunes
rolled into one We're inherited by Miss
Wolfe on the death other father. An only
sister had died some time before this event.
Miss Wolfe lives in an elegant brown
stone mansion fronting Madison square.
II is corner house, within a stones
throw OF the residence of 5. l.. u. Barlow.
She owns some OF the finest paintings IN
America. A picture by Knaus is among
them. 1t was painted for the Emperor of
Russia. While the Gar was haggling
about the price Miss Wolfe secured it and
brought il TO New York. Very few per-
sons are admitted to her galleries. Some
of her intimate friends are said to have
sought admission in vain.
Mrs. William Astor, who is also said to
be beyond nope Of recovery, is a wife OF a
grandson Of old John Jacob AstOr and of
son Of William b. Aston. She is an Off
shoot OF the ancient and noble house OF
Schermerhorn. Mrs. Astor is tall, dis
tDgue in bearing and ia woman of
graceful carriage. She has black hair,
black eyes and an olive complexion. she
10 leader among the real leaders OF fash
ionable life in New York. Sne has very
generous disposition. Her charity is pos
slbly more practical than that OF Mrs.
Wolfe. The latter makes most OF her do
nations to the church, although they are
by no means confined to the religious
community. Mrs. Astor, on the contrary,
seeks individual cases of distress, and has
made many a humble Preside cheerful
and happy. She takes great interest in
young people in her sphere OF lite, and
gives them many dinners and receptions.
She takes special pride in rising young
men, and has frequently aided them at
critical periods IN their lives. No woman
would be more missed in social orioles.
Mrs. AstOr owns probably the finest col
lection Of jewels in America. When at
lending the opera or private receptions
she has frequently appeared in a blaze of
diamonds. At an entertainment In Del
monico's last winter her throat was en-
circled with three strands Of these jewels
each stone OF great size. Triple stands
of similar precious stones were wound
around her white shoulders, and her cors-
age sparkled like the buckler of Ptolemy
Philadelphus. Living jewels sparked In
rainbow scintillated from her rinRed
fingers. She has frequently been seen at
the opera wearing 500, 900 worth Of dia-
monds, put on this occasion she surpassed
herself, the display being valued at more
than 100000. Mrs. Astor has three
daughters and no son. One OF her daught-
ers is the wife OF Roosevelt Roosevelt, a
second is married to j. Coleman Dray-
ton and the third is Mrs. Orme Wilson.
ZISKA