The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-08-06
WORLDS RIcHEsT WIDOW.
Something AboHt Her PersOnaIi'y-HsF
EHtravnEanee PrInesIy,

Something Ab0Ht Her PerS0nali'y-HsF
ETiFavaEanCs Prinesly,
She is called the COUNTESS OF Monte
cristo, but her real name is Donna Is
adora couslno. a Spanish woman, who
lives In Chile and who owns millions OF
acres of land and millions OF dollars in
money. The newspapers delight in de-
plotting her as young and beautiful, this
woman with the fairy purse, but here
Is her real pen picture: A shabby-loOk-
ing little brunette OF 55: deep wrinkles
carve her face, which has wonderfully
keen black eyes; hair once Jet black,
now streaked with grey; limp, the
result of rheumatism, dlshgures her
walk Naturally OF pleasant temper,
her business anXieties and Ill health
have made her irritable,
Sonora COuslnO comes of dis
tinguished family, figuring prominently
In the annals OF old Spain. one of her
ambitious ancestors came to Chile and
in the division of the lands and spells
he had large share, which he gradu-
ally increased by adding the lands given
his less careful neighbors. His de-
scendants followed In his footsteps and
the family's possessions increased until
when her father, the richest man in
Chile. died the vast estate fell to his
daughter, a mere child. Thirty years
| ago the child became the wife Of s,
Cousno, whose estates and wealth were
second in Chile only to hers. At his
death ten years ago Senior couslno be-
Queathed all his wealth to his wife,
making her the wealthiest widow In the
world. Her wealth is estimated at $685.
OOO,O 0O She has hundreds OF thousands
OF cattle and sheep; blocks and blocks
OF real estate; copper, coal and silver
mines; a fleet of steamers, smelling
works. two railroads and other property
which yield her an Income Of several
millions year. From her coal mines
alone she has an income OF $4,000 per
month
Though most of the time she is at
small mining town In rude house,
looking after her interests, she owns
magnificent homes. There are four OF
these homes In Santiago, one OF which
belonged to Henry Meigs, the Califor-
MIA absconder. This Is an elegant res
idence. superbly furnished, built OF red
oak, after the style OF Newport villa.
The others are OF stone. She has n
country IUullHlpH lIlul SVoN a lhilbll
standing In the middle Of the most mag
nlficent private park In the world-an
area OF 800 acres laid out with marvel
lous skill. requiring forty gardeners to
keep It in order Another park and pa
latial residence a short distance from
Santiago is not surpassed anywhere. 1t
extends from the suburbs of the capital
through a broad and fertile valley far
into the Andes, whose snowy submits
mark its eastern boundaries. II has
great stretches OF cultivated land. or
ehards and vineyards. iiocks and herds.
stables. racing stock-she Is devoted TO
the track. There are other handsome
homes OF hers scattered throughout
Chile.
Sonora Couslno's numerous agents
and superintendent are Obliged to send
her weekly reports, and any dlscrepan-
cles are pounced upon. Her genius for
| detail Is a constant worry to lazy en-
ployes. Her extravaganza. however Is
prlncely. Whatever she fancles she
buys regardless OF cost. Her collection
OF diamonds is one Of the finest In the
world and her toilets are ordered every
year from Paris. but seldom worn. Her
gifts and charities are munihcent. She
has three chldren-two daughters and
son. The girls are pretty, bright and
popular in society, while the son, aged
30, is thrifty, industrious and steady,
and makes a stand against what he
calls his mothers extravaganza. He
seldom takes part in social affairs.