The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-29

A Widow Who Supports a Church and
Chaplain with Her Own Funds.
Conduct Themselves at Long Branch
Charity-Seekers at the Race Course.
Special to the Indianapolis journal.

Presbyterian, and there 10 a nominal board OF
trustees, but Mrs. Taylor paid every dollar of
the cost and is the owner outright. 1t is az
ornate edifee, and one of its features is q me-
moral stainsd-Glass window inscribed to her
dead husband. Blessed are they that die in
the Lord it says. The sinner might add that
those are considerably blest who live possessors
Of the enormous wealth accumulated by
Moses Taylor. He was rather loose and luxuri-
Gus in his earthly methods Of blessed
ness. but he professed Christianity a lit
tie while before he died. and so the wit
ness Of the window is not to be impeached. Mrs.
Taylors chaplain is the Rev. j. H. Young. who
conducts the services in The church during the
summer months but 10 at her III the year
round, for she pays his salary of $500 out OF
her own pocket. This religious, benevolent and
amiable lady does not put on airs over being the
richest widow in America. The fact is that she
and everybody else were astonished by the
amount of fortune left to her. One of the ex-
ecutors of the will has just been telling me
about il. That document did not enumerate the
testator's possessions, but merely Jumped the
personal property, consisting of bonds, stocks
and other securities" The general i'm
pkcseiOu hho bccu u o ldtlOE wac
worth fifteen to twenty millions. He had
made q great property by importing foreign
goods in his own ships. but o. to his investments
be had never been communicative. On an ap-
pointed day the widow and the executors opened
the doors of the particularly solid vault which
the old man had built into his Office. This struct-
ure was bank-like in invulnerability, and the
investigators expected to find the proofs of own
ership to the extent Of many millions in it. But
they were not prepared for what they found.
The 1lQeFmOet commandment WAS large enough
to hold certificates of stock and the like securi-
ties without folding. There was a high stack Of
these papers, lying neatly atop of one another.
unwrinkled and increased. They represented
Tayloris investments in hundreds of railroads,
banks, insurance companies and all manner
OF the soundest financial ventures. The amazed
finders Of this store of wealth handled them
over In q half-dazed way for an hour or NO..
Then they set about making an inventory.
When they came to add the totals IL was seen
that the market value of the lot was about thirty
millions, and when other property was added 10
this the aggregate reached forty millions, or
more than double the current estimate. Taylor
had disliked to figure as a superlatively rich
man. and therefore,, without any or tie misers
instinct, had concealed the facts from even his
most intimate friends. AS TO the widow and
heiress, she denies herself nothing that her
fancy demands, but she is as unostentatious as
her late husband. and her indulgence in achurch
and chaplain of her own constitutes her one re-
markable wbim Of extravaganee.
-
The most observed woman at Long Branch
this summer is the bride Of Berry Wall. The
ex-king OF the dudes is in q total eclipse beside
her. She Is q moderately tall, slender and ex-
ceedingly graceful blonde. somewhere between
eighteen and twenty-five years old, and with
the air and aspect of an ideal Guinevere. No
aspersion is meant. in likening her TO King
Arthur's erring wife, but only a compliment to
the refinement and Reptleness of her beauty.
At the hotel round-table where she takes her
meals as the only lady to five knights of sum-
mer idleness. the closest observation does not
disclose In her the slightest tendency toward
Irritation. The men are her husband and four
OF his iudish friends. She seems to be free and
unaffected in her intercourse with them, but
without the remotest indication of ROBUSTNESS.
AS she is the tsndsomest woman in the house,
as Well as the new wife of a noted
character, she is curiously watched in every
thing she does. she stands the scrutiny with
admirable GOODNESS and a successful affectation
Of Inconsistencies. Mr.. and Mrs. Wall seem
genuinely devoted to each other. Only q year
ago Berry was gallant to all the young women
in the Same hotel. married or single. who would
accept bis attentions. A number of these for
mer sweethesrts are there row, and it is anus
ing to regard their watcbfulness of his changed
conduct as q husban'. The understanding is
that his income has been cut down by his rich
mother since his marriage. which she did not
- LIZ kCko otbh tNhoo . NoiCI thlo
season, and his bride has no maid. He has sold
his horses. and 10 no longer a spendthrift. al
though living in sufficient luxury at a costly ho-
tel. He rides to the races in a railroad ear, in
longer puts horses into the races nor bets
heavily.
OF all the women who in one way or another
make themselves conspicuous at race-coursss
hereabouts, Sisters of Charity are the most re-
markable. Their sombre garb and solemn
manner are so different from everything else in
these immense sporting assemblages that they
seem strangely out Of place. But these
devotees of what they consider religious duty
are accustomed TO 60 wherever they are sent.
and 1t is on the order of their superiors
that they attend the races Only one
AZ a time goes to a course. Her purpose
is to collect contributions of MOI ey from those
who win bets. The question Of the pro-
priety Of these errands has been raised, and
Archbishop Corrigan has settled 1t, SO far as
this diocese Is concerned, by deciding In its
favor. II was Sister Irene whom | saw at Mon
mouth Park yesterday. / had ven,ured into the
spacious pool shed a little way. More than q
hundred betting stands, each QUILTED with its
black board. its several clerks, and especially its
voeiferous boss. were ranged rome the sides OF
a hollow square in which were a ~crowding null
titude of ~turfties, from million aires TO stable
boys. IL WAS between races. at & time of the
greatest turbulanc e in the selling OF tickets on
ue ensuing event and redeeming the
winning cards on the preceding event
One of the pool sellers famous for his
GLIB wit In Old Burton, who has q way
of maligniug himself that men laugh at, but
which women cannot well stay 20 hear. He
spices HE gable with ~profane denuncIatlous Of
himself for being such q fool as to offer too ia
vorabls odds. His language Is copious. and his
profanity 10 said TO be wonderfully interesting.
% this day he was at il with all his vocal might.
He WAS being rewarded with much more than
his proportionate share of the betting business
that was going on. Al 1 started TO fee from ear
shot of his voice, / encountered Sister Irene,
standing as placid and sweet as a Madonna, en-
during old Burton's blasphemous fun.
"How can you stand such shocking languaeef'
i asked, as droppeda coin into her outstretched
hand.
Il station myself here" the Sister of Charity
replied, because this wicked man does more
business than any of his competitors. and, pity
TO say, the winners at bis stand are more good
humored rs well as more numerous. l find that
/ get more contributions here than a. any other
point on the premises. So. while he blasphemes.
/ pray for him, and gratefully accept the little
good that comes out of his evil"
A Western politician registered st . big hotel
with his family. Asmall but not unimporiant
member Of the party was a bald headed infant