The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-06
roLD OF DIR. JoHx NJ. GREENE.
ne cave Up Iiis Practice 90 lave ana Die IN
seeluuien 1T wading River.

seelusion at waainE River.
DR.. John wynantz Greene. who died at his
home at Wading River. N. J., on Dec. ~, was
the son OF ono of the best known physicians In
New York. In the days when Fourteenth
street was ''up town" tho first DIR. Greene lived
In LaiRht street, near 81. Johns Park, and
among his patients were nearly an OF the
wealthy residents Of Greenwich Village. The
old doctor brought his son up TO succeed to
his practice, and twenty OF thirty years ago
the son had q practice worth $4,000 or $4,000
a year. He had extravagant tastes and saved
little. One OF his patients told the following
story Of him yesterday:
II was In the doctors Office at III East
Nineteenth street one day about fifteen years
ago when the wife Of one of the best known
mon In Wal street came In to sec him. Tho
doctor did not even wait for me to get out
of the room.
"'what do you want Of mei' he asked, alb
ruptly.
1.-THE patient began q pitiful tale of symptoms.
"'No such thing said tho doctor, who was
famous for the rapidity with which he made n
diagnosis. There's nothing tho matter with
out into your garden and pull weeds. You
don't need any medicine. and you won't get it
from me. Get out Of my office. 49,.
word to DR.. Greene that sho was much worse,
and wanted him to come to the house at once.
He tore up the note and said to the messengers:
"'Tell her l won't come. She wasn't sick
the other day, and she isn't now. She can't
waste any Of my time. need 1t for sick peo-
At the meetings of the st. Nicholas Society,
Of, which, he was q life member, DR.. Greene ex.
hibited the same brusque disregard Of tho opin-
ions of others. Former Park Commissioner
Smith L. Lane, who was the Secretary Of the
had tho spirit Of opposition more strongly dc.
veloped than any other man l knew. ] was q
good friend Of his, though knew nothing of
his family affairs. ] doubt IL i ever made, a
did not Immediately and enthusiastically op.
pose. sometimes with much bitterness
The doctor. was married twice, the first time
T. Hart. the sister OF H. Ellis. Hart, tho coal
broker of 81 Broadway. In the interval be-
tween the death of his first wife and his sec.
ond marriage he was fond of inviting parties Of
River, where he owned nearly 1000 acres Of
shooting land. He was an enthusiastic hunter.
About three years ago he took n whim as unrea-
sonable, his friends say. as any Of those which
live alone. He sent his wife to her brothers
family and went TO Wading River. She knew
him well. enough not to oppose him. From
time to time ho made his continued affection
apparent to her. and:among his effects found at
tinually in his thoughts.
He prepared q coffin and kept 1t in his barn
and had marked a spot for his grave. He in.
him IL his friends did not make themselves
known within five days after his death. Ho
had been suffering, with q lingering illness for
several months. He was buried In the family
buryinc ground In Atlantic Highlands last Fri
day under Mrs. Greene's direction. He left
little property beyond the Wading River tract.
DR.. Greene's best friends in this city was WIZ
son De Peyster,