Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-29
DEFr FAIRY FINGERS.
HOW MISS GRACE BATES DECO
RATES TIE HOMES OF WEALTH..

A Bright idea Of tho PenniIess Daugh-
ter of a millionaire, by the Carrying
Out of which She Has Won Inde-
uendence and a High Reputation.
There is no woman in the country who
takes more practical interest in the strug
giles and trials of unframed girlhood to
gain a livelihood than Mrs. Stanford, of
California With "a generous heart and q
well filled purse it is as easy as it is cruel
in the end to help or relieve the wants of
that constantly increasing class of gentle
women who have been taught little of
everything but the useful, and whose sham
pride is less offended by delicatey proffer
ed charity than II suggestion Of manual
labor.
Mrs. Stanford has the aptitude for dis
covering what a girl can do, sometimes
unearthing unsupported and undeveloped
talent Now and then u maiden comes
! along who believes in her own capacity
but is lacking the chance to make use oft
Here is a little story from life that illus
trates my pCnt
A bright II! refined looking girl of sew
enteen came to see Mrs. Stanford one day
Her name was Grace Bates and she was
the granddaughter of Judson, one OF the
richest men the Pacific coast has ever
known and who made his fortune in Hon
olulu. Thee he lived on his magnificent
estate 81 prince; his children were
brought up and educated with every lux
ury and advantage, and their children in
turn were started on the same flowerS
path Misfortune, however, appeared witt
time and pursued the family with such APP
parent vindi tiveness that the millionaires
L. l.: Il nd I.
reft of male relatives penniless and wiz!
an invalid mother and two infant niece
dependent upon her.
There were some frientts of better day
who had offered the poor child a hcme, bu,
she had within her that precious germ OF
American independence that dies hard
Make struggle she must. So she wen.
I'D to the EreHt house that sat on the hill.
FER llRsT TRIAL.
"What can | do for you}' asked Mrs
Stanford with sympathy, for she knew the
family history and the girls sore straits.
Give me jdst one chance" said the gir
eagerly. ~ /, licve could decorate yo...
house and your table for an entertainment
in way that would please you. | under
stand colcr and form. | love flowers rs
dearly rs any japanese, and can arranG2
them If should fail it would do you 10
harm. If / succeed, my fortune will be
made, for other people will give mo or.
dcrs."
Now n hostess who entertains as Mrs
Stanford does, making novelty as much a
speciality as macuihcence, would far rat hel
give II Lils check than run the risk of haY
ing her decorations married; but this j.
just where the real generosity came in, and
Mrs Stanford hesitated but second be
fore conserving. The occasion that offered
was large dinner given in honor of .
military hero, TO be followed by Il recep
ton. Wishing to leave her new florist un.
embarrassed, Mrs. Stanford avoided visit.
ing he apartments in her hands until the
work was completed.
when did come down to receive my
guests" said that lady, 81 found the plac,
Transformed The girl seemed gifted witt
TIE fingers Of fairy and the Imagination
of Il poet. There were no reotypcd de
signs, but every plant, every flower car
rivd its effect, and there was so much grace
and originality in the arrangement of tn,
table that almost every woman VINO sal
down at it asked me as Il favor the addres,
Of my new decorator"
. 4 SIGNAL SUCCESS.
So little Miss Bates made her fortune
for orders flowed in, and California order
years ago, and today the young lady own,
her own carriage and horses, and her owl
handsome establishment. Her two littl
niecc- are receiving Il thorough education
ana he invalid mother has all the relic
, that science and love can bring her.
When the tour that President and Mrs
Harrison made through the west WAS frs
announced, the Stautords expressed a de
sire to entertain them, and on the accept
: ance of their invitation Mrs. STANFORD
tclcgraphed Miss Bates to make prepare
tions for he event, and gave carte blauch
as to expense. At o'clock on the morn
ing of the day set for the dinner Ms
y Bates drove to the house followed in Wag
ons by her corps of eighteen assistants, al
young girls, clad in uniform, with b.
white aprons and white caps. They brough
With them piles Of clean heavy sheets
t with which, as ii by magic, they covere
, the polished floors, the Turkish rugs an,
| the embroidery and tapestry of the w
holstered furniture,
2 All day long they worked silently ant
ninbly and mt o'clock Mrs. Stanford wa
. asked to make a tour OF inspection. Prett
girls and snowy sheets had vanished. Onl
} Miss Bates, flushed and little nervous
was left.
5 "Aro you satisiied?' she asked anxiously
r "SGtsied;" said Mrs. Stanford in speak
ing of it atterward. IL was speechless."
, All the wealth of Calitornia's nativ
fora had been called into requstion
! Sometimes The flowers We're heavily baukc
to serve as n back ground for n figure i
white marble, sometimes hung in airy qa
l lands from the ceiling, again massed il
: panels behind some gem Of painting
/ or lifted their lovely heads from hug