The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-02
PILES OF GOLD.
How Florence Views
Her Wealth.
IT'S QUITE APPALLING.
Grateful to Those Who
Stood by Her.
SHE TALKS ABOUT THE CASE.
r1rs. Hincl<iey Declines to Discuss BUSH
ness Matters, but Says She Will
Remain i'm California.
81 am glad Il is all over"

II am glad ii is all over"
The speaker was Florence Blythe, now
Mrs. Fred Hinckley. She sat in the parlor
OF her mother-iE-law's residence in Fruit
vale and was being interviewed. She SUBJ
mitted to the oroeal very gracefully, and
was charmingly unaffected in her converse
tion and manner. When questioned about
her business affairs she was frank in avow-
ing her Discrimination to talk without en-
barrassing the question by her refusal. OF
herself and her intentions she conversed
with great naiyete and modesty. At no
time did the little woman appear 1T all vain
or pose with insincere affectation.
Dressed in light blue gown, clingng
close to her petite figure, she looked very
young and very happy. There was flush
on her face, which perhaps came from a
bright FIRE in an old-fashoned crate. She
sat on the edge of a large dyan covered
with cloth, and made a very pretty picture.
But it vas evident she was in very
serious mood. TO flowing a strcng reaction.
Her gayety seemed somew hat strained. and
she frankly acknowledged that when she
spoke the words quoted above.
Il have been under terrible strain for
some wears" she said, 'and as grew older
L appreciated more and more the greatness
OF the risk in my suit, and its consequences
to me. tor on the result depended much in
my lie. Each phase OF tie case watched
with Interest, even IRON the start"
"Do you remember much about the first
proceedings so long ago?' asked her ques-
toner. who remembered having seen her at
that time sitting near old Grandpa Perry
with her hand under her little chin gazing
wonderIDgly at Judge Coffey, whose head
just peeped above the high desk. and then
start suddenly and shudder when old Judge
Taylor rose with bristling hair, and
fhftEf mad Euo ilxf Hon. I'm hpC 10 ta
books In front of him.
Not much do / remeu Der of those pro-
ceedlDgs," replied Florence, laughing, Eek
cept that Judge Coffey was 50 funny. l re-
member laughing when l did not know
what was laughing at, just because every
body else was doing so. | have since
learned that he has Attic salt on his tongue
He is dear. good man."
Bow about the oTatOrs?"
Orators returned the fodr-times mil
lionaire heiress with Just tinge Of some
thing suspicious OF irony in her voice. ''Uh,
yes. There were plenty of those NV
head sometimes ached with their long word $
and legal PHRASES Some OF them were
good speakers and others made me tired.
| liked old Judge Buait best as "A speaker !:
lie had such a pleasant voice and was so
nice in his manner. Then w. w. FOote was
good, and Others toe. They are what YOU
call forensic orators but they do not always
have a chance 10 show themselves off,
i
iscenSes, and looked relieved when she was
asked about how she had been treated since
the final decision in her favor
"Oh. you have no idea of the number of
letters / have received from all sorts of peu-
pie. They call that being treated with con-
sideratioD, but II is iiresome to read them
| don't pretend 10 now. There is hardly
favor under the sun they have not asked
for, from begging few dimes to ask for a
small fortune. have had communications
calling for all sorts Of requests in the shape
or asking Tor money. even to help TO put an
invention of a new airshipi in practical oper-
alton. What do l know about machinery.
or mines or Datentsp Do you think
Cught?" inquired the fair little woman, her
ewes demanding negative answer. which
she duly received and acknowledged with a
satisfied smile.
Did you not receive other letters request
ing your hand in marriageP" was timidiy
asked. for Fritz Hinckley, as he is called,
stood III the doorway OF the parl0r looking
every inch the big handsome man he is
Never mind Fritz, he's not a bit jealous.
are you, dear?" said the blue-gowned fairy
with fond laugh, whereat the big felow
blnshed furiously, yet looked the picture of
delight.
Yes. l have loads of them, / mean let
ters in the shape Of proposals." continued
Florence with the air OF a woman not at all
sad or hurt at having received so many
offers for her hand. You see this bundle"
she said going TO a writing desk and pulling
out what seemed about fifty letters of
various sizes. some long and others short,
some lied with blue ribbon and some with
red.
This bundle contains letters from ali
parts OF the world, but principally from
Europe. | am not proud of having received
them and never told anybody of them or
their contents, and how the natter got in 10
the papers don't know" and the heiress
of the Blythe block and the 1000, 600 acres
of land in Mexico frOwned which fact did
not break any OF the harmony OF her facial
lines.
Yes, there are lots of letters here from
titled persouages. some Counts and Wis.,
counts. some from Germany and France and
other countries In Europe. Some have great
big seals in red and gold and stamped Ivy
foreign COnsulS and some are smaller, with
no seals at all. Some of the letters / re-
ceived from very obscure people. who wrote
To marry millions. / destroyed many of
them, because / d d not want to read them
again. Some of them were couched in lam
guage the most respectful and others other
wise.
do you know" she said, rising from her
seat and ellnching one of her little hands,
II don't think any American girl should
look TO old Europe for husbands. Amerira
IS full Of those kind of men who make good
ones, and no American girl should sell her
self for title. 1 married Californian and
am proud OF him, yes, proud of him as
man" and her large dark eyes fairly blazed
out her protestation against American girls
selling themselves 10 European nOblenen.
Her listener cordially agreed with her and
suggested that the publication of q couple
OF the letters might have a wholesome eff
feet on other heiresses about TO marry.
This proposal somewhat staggered the
possessOr OF the letters and she was not
long in in:erposing a very emphatic mega
tive To the proposition saying that she had
no right TO publish the letters as IL would
react on her as seeking notoriety and would
be breach of what is called con6den tial
communications.
II cannot do it," she said. .It would
not be right" and this was emphasized
with toss Of her head.
The conversation then turned npon her
self and on her lie with her aunt, Mrs.
Perry. at San Anselme. OF her aunt she
spoke In the most excellent terms. being
deeply grateful for her services TO her dur
ing her lifetime. She said her
life in this beautiful spot was n
calm and happy one, where she could es-
cape from thin king too much of the great
lawsuit which was TO establish her parent
age and make her the heir to millions.
When asked about the early love affair
rumOrs al different times credited her with.
going so far as 10 say that she had engaged
herself TO this one ana then To that, she
gracefully avoided the subject by saying
that she had married the only man she ever
ngs engaged TO.
About her business affairs. her contracts
IS regards contingent fees with her coun-
sci. how much Of the estate they were to
get. she would not speak, but said sho was
deeply grateful 10 those who had won her
case for her-W. ii. ii. Hartand all the rest.
Have you any idea of your fortune? Do
you know what four million dollars means ?''
was asked.
Ii was like asking one il he knew wha,
Tour million miles in space were, when the
a. I'M Tar nj IN. =
25,COo. Florence was staggered and con
fessed that the magnitude Of the sum was
appalling.
Il have no idea OF that amount" she
answered. IT is piles on piles, and heaps
Oh heaps OF money"
when asked what She and her hu sha nd In