The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-30
WIVES OF MONEYED MEN.
The Personal Appearance ofSome Wom-
en- Whose Husbands Are Famous.
Mrs. Jay GOulds Retiring Disposition
Cyrus W. Field at Home-Mrs Werishof-
fer, Widow of the late "Baar."

fer, Widow of the late Bear"
Written for the indianapolis Journal-Copyrighted
A few Sundays ago with friend / attended
an uptown Presbyterian Church. The day was
of summer mildness. Everything was quiet,
and the warm air from the open window gently
famed those assembled. A soft. low ripple from
the organ seemed to enhance the solemnity of
the scene Suddenly there was slight rustic.
The congregation turned towards the
aisle to watch lady, accompanied by
three little boys and young girl
just budding into womanhood, entering the
church. The lady was of medium size, and was
clad in dark costume. She was apparently
forty-two or forty-three years of age, with dark
hair, gentle eyes and an unmistakable air of re-
fnement. Quietly she and her family took their
seats. and then only did the congregation settle
themselves back into their former positions, as
the clergyman began the service. The lady who
had 80 claimed their attention was Mrs. Jay
Gould.
For years there has not been day that Jay
Gould's name has not appeared in the papers.
His influence has been felt all over the civilized
world, and his face is familiar to most New
Workers., if not to the rest of the world but little
is known of his wife, who reigns supreme in the
elegantly-appointed mansion on Fifth avenue. at
the corner of Forty seventh street.
Mrs. Gould is gentle affable, courteous. re-
firing. She would not be called handsome
woman, yet her face is far more attractive than
many beauty. She is we'll educated, and pos
sesses an air of refinement She convinces all
who come within the sphere of her influence that
through her retiring nature she has deprived
society of an important ornament Her inclina
tions have made her a devote to her family;
there is her enjoyment, and she cares little for
pleasures that do not in some way tend to bring
the entire family together. She is the conhdante
and constant companion of her daughter Nellie,
and passes several hours each day with the
three young boys, Edward, Frank and Harold
She participates in their pleasures and is never
so happy as when planning some surprise for
them. Her son George, young man of twenty
four, connected with his father in business is
source of great pride to her.
Mrs. Gould was a Miss Miller, whose father
was successful grocer of New York. She was
brought up in well appointed home, and has
been accustomed to all that wealth and refine
ment bring from her childhood. Mr.. Gould was
partner of a Mr.. Leupp in the leather business
at the time he married Miss Miller, and she
brought him q considerable fortune.
wife cares nothing for society and
takes no pleasure in entertaining, beyond q
pleasant dinner party of her few intimate
friends. Yet the fire residence and great wealth
most elaborate manner. Anything that savors
of ostentation is particularly distasteful to Mrs.
Gould. 1t is said that while naturally of re-
firing nature and adverse to display, she be-
came more SO at the time her husband was con-
nected with the late "Jim Fisk" Fisk's
blatant manner and vulgar 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 so
continually linked with that of Fisk gave her an
even stronger desire to appear modest. and to
make marked contrast. While Mrs. Gould
possesses some very valuable Jewels they arc
unobtruslve, and she is more apt to wear them
when alone with her husband and family than
in public. In her dress she is also modest in
color and style, although her costumes are of
very rich material
Mrs Gould is very fond of their country resi-
dence at Irvingtou. as there she can enjoy the
society of her husband, to whom she is greatly
attached, without fear of his being interrupted
Mr.. Gould built his fine greenhouses particu-
larry for his wife, who is fond of flowers. and
she spends portion of each day among them
Anything that her husband and children can en-
joy with her without intrusion from outsiders is
her special delight. For this reason she is very
fond of their yacht ATLANTA, aboard of which
they can sail away out of the reach of stocks or
bonds or Wall street
Mrs. Gould enjoys fine pictures, bronzes and
rare bric.a brac, and her houses are filled with
the finest She is fond of music and is there
fore giving their daughter Nellie very thorough
musical training. There is little doubt that IL
Mrs. Gould were asked what she most desired in
this world she would answer to have her hus-
band relinquish all business and devote his time
to home enjoyments with his family.
MRS. CYRUS w. FIELD.
nue., and nearly opposite the residence of Mr..
Samuel j. Tilden, stands the home Of Mr. and
Mrs Cyrus W. Field The house is large
brown-stone building, with side windows, extend
ing over hundred feet up Lexington avenue.
Creamery Park is quiet and exclusive neigh
borhood. In addition to Mr.. Field and Mr.. Til
den. the Harper family, the publishers, live
there; also Mr.. John Bigelow, ex- minister to
France Mr. David Dudly Field also occupies a
residence next that of his brother, and Editor
Pulitzer was recently dweller in the same quiet
quarter.
ring at the door of Mr. Fields house brings
to view pompous English butler, who looks as
it he were determined to exclude you if possible.
Be you friend or foe, you are admitted by the
naughty functionary only on compulsion Having
gained the hall, you observe that it is finely deco
rated while heavy curtain of terra Gotta silk
brocade. hangs directly before you, partly con-
cealing the staircase A Moorish lantern is sus-
pended from brass chain attached to the ceiling,
and hangs in front of the curtain. In cold
weather the curtain falls to the ground to pre-
vent the cold air striking in whenever the front