The Portland daily press., 1896-10-02
HETTY GREEN.
Richest Woman in America Takes a
Hand at Cards.
HOW SHE MET THE PRINCE OF
=
WALES.

WALES.
Was Belle in Her Girlhood and Known
as"The New Bedford Beauty"
(Chicago Rscord.)
Mrs. Hetty r. Green, one of the UNIQUE
characters of this generation, q woman
possessing national reputation on ac-
count of her great wealth, extreme fru-
gality, simplicity of attire and notoriety
thrust upon her by the press of the land,
took her departure from this city last
Monday for st. Louis to spend a few
hours there and via Philadelphia re- ach
her final destination. New York, Thurs
day. to attend q lawsuit or two and to
enter protest against the sale of che
Philadelphia & Reading road, of which
she is large bondholder.
The queries are often made How was
Mrs. GREEN'S great wealth of SCI, OOo, 600
acquired, how does she spend her time,
what are her tastes and general appear
ance, and who we've her ancestorsP Is
she widow or has she any other heirs
but Nedp The Daily News will endeayor
to supply its readers with the desired in
formation gathered from a trustworthy
source. During her sojourn Of two
months in this city, Mrs. Hstty Green
has been the guest Of the hospitable Mrs.
P. R. Chandler, 1914 Langley avenue.
Her sabbatha have all been passed in a
similar manner. Breakfasting at 9, she
eagerly and carefully persued the Sun
day papers especially noticing the stock
market reports. commenting upon the
rise and fall of the leaders and clipping
any article in which her name was men
TONED, favorably OF otherwise. Mrs.
Green did not honor any church with her
presence. At o'clock she partook of a
substantial dinner, for the Chandler
table Is always supplied with the choio-
est food palatably prepared and served
on the most delicate china. The remain
der Of tho afternoon was usually spent
in drive through the south side par ks.
accompanied by Mr.. and Mrs. Chandler.
Mrs. Green entsrtains her callers in the
evening and Setires early to prepare for
her arduous duties Of the week.
The secular days of the week she arises
early. She is physically strong and hsv-
Ing wonderful health for q woman of 63,
her body free from aches and pains and
her mind from anxiety, for az she has no
notes to meet on the m orrow, her slum-
bers are undisturbed by troubled dreams.
Her important letters she reads before
leaving the house, the remainder she
stuffs into what she designatss as her
private Office" This consists OF q large
pocket extending from her waist to the
bottom Of her skirt; its contents would
fill a small grip sack. The majority of
her mail consists of begging letters.
These she reads and destroys as she jour-
cars to her heaqduarters in Rowland
block.
Under Mrs. Green's personal supervis-
ion the latter business structure has been
renovated, painted and papered. At
noon the owner sends out for a piece of
watermelon for her lunch or hastens to
a bakery for bread and milk. She is
often called upon by some OF the wealth.
est men OF this city seeking large loan
for a few months or some prominent
promoters who need her assistance. She
reserves her decisions until the next day.
as Mrs. Green desires the advice Of Mr..
Chandler in whom she has implicit CON-
fidenoe. After giving her final instruo-
tions to the janit3rs, the owner was the
last onessto leave her building and seek
the quiet domioile on Langley avenue.
AN ABL E PARTNER AT EUOHRE.
And there. after an hours convers
upon the business she has transacted or
will on the morrow If she can forget tenn
porariIy her ruinous investments, she
takes a hand at the card table, enjoying
. game of hearts, and Is an able partner
at euohrs. When in the mood ana In the
company Of intimate friends Mrs.
Green can be most charming ente rtain-
or or raconteur. This, however, IL sell
dom. AS Mrs. Green's privats vault In
New York 10 filled with bonds and mort
cages, SO her memory lie stored with inei-
dents and the names of the beaux and
bellies of New York upper-tendom over
thirty years ago.
Among the pleasant "reminiscences of
Mrs. Green's life which cause her gray
eyes to twinkle and sparkle was the visit
Of the Prince of Wales to Canada and tho
United States, for Hetty Robinson, then
called. "the New Bedford beauty" was
one of the bellies in that swell circle Of
New York's elite to which Prince Albert
WAS introduced rs the represen-
tativss Of the best blood and weHlthisst
families of this country. By birth al
well as by being an heiress Miss Robinon
(which was Mrs. Green's maiden name)
was entitled to move in the best society,
and she was also connected BY marriage
with the leading families. One cousin
was the Hon. Moses Grinnell, the f1nan-
cial banker Of an arctic expedition, and
another was August Belmont, the A meri
can agent of the Rothschilds and the
father of Perry and Oliver Belmont.
The latter ia the present husband of the
former Mrs. W. K. Vanderbilt.
The attractive Miss Hetty Robinson
was chosen as one of the few young ladies
to DO presented to the heir of the throne
of England. The unaffected air, the
natural style and the witty repartess Of
this Yankee girl used and fascinated
the prince and he sought her company
the second time for a promenade, the