The Washington weekly post., 1900-04-17
WANTED TO DIE IN ENGLAND.
''Chicago" smith Paid Victeria'- Govern
ment n Biz sun for the Privilege.
From the Philadelphia Press.

''s - D's wv" hSA
From the Philadelphia Press
LondOn's Staid old newspapers have been
agitated unduly lately over the case OF
Chicago" Smith-and all because il cost
this particular member OF the Smith clan
$4,000 to die
And another feature is exciting these
Journals" the fact that for many years
of his life II cost Chicago" Smith not
more than 10 shillings day to live n
West End club in London.
Moreover, Parliament has been highly
interested in this strange character.
Listen to what the chancellor Of the
exchequer. in a recent budget speech, told
the English lawmakers, and perceive how
the speech was received:
We have received during this wear from
the estates of millionaires no less than
Ell. CO., -(cheers)-and f900 600 OF that vast
sum has come from the estates of ona
man, foreigner-(cheers and laughier)-
who | am told. lived on IL shillinss a day
in a West End London club. daughter.
That one person, however. unwittingly-
uaughter)-has contributed to the ex-
Chequer more than the cost of an IRON
clad. CHEERS and laughteD." 1t wiIl bs
learned with interest that the man was
not a foreigner, but Scotsman. a native
Oh Aberdeenshire- He made his money in
the United States. but he never became an
American citizen. He was a subject of
the queen to the last. He died at the age
OF ninety-two, and he knew perfectly well
What ne was about when he made his
VIII. from which the British public has
realized in death duties 10000.
But England has received only a por-
non of Chicago Smiths estate He Ies,
property valued at about fl2O0O60. and
oil TINS all but i@0.c00 he left in mis- viii to
son OF cousin. James Henry Smith
OF New York. and to George Alexander
cooper. of Elgin. ILL.,, who married q,
niece: Each receives an equal share.
And thus the United States gets the
better or England once more
chicago Smith is a name eouivarapt
to pure luck, eccentricity, and miserIV
ways. A''oii'
When still a youth Caorgo c.,i,t,
reached Elgin, H., from the old ooIInfrv trSi
10 carve his fortune. He worked ear,y
ana late-and spent little. So that when
the great fire occurred i'm Chicago. Smith
had comfortable bank account
with this he proceeded to buy up large
tracts OF building sites In the fire-devas-
tated city. Then he waited for the ro
turn or order and the rebuilding of the
CITY. And then when men began to Gre
ate a new city on the ashes of ;be "a
they found that Smith owned many yaITS.
able sites, and that he would haye tn h.
reckored with. So Smith became known
as Chicago Smith; at the same time
ne found that he had become a multi
millionaire
Still Smith spent no money.
one day. however, twenty years ago.
ne took IL into his head to go back Tn
England. Arrived there. he put up at
lived in frugal manner to the day nf
MS death. his sole desire apparently being
TO enshroud himself in obscurity.
so successful was he in this, that not
untli the contents of his will were made
known that the servants of the cI'ib
knew that they had been sent AWAY
without tips time and again by "A man
capable OF writing a check. and having
1t honOred for f12, 900 800
For twenty years he lived in n badroop,
at the top of the Reform Club. which he
rented by the year. A few years ago the
rent was put up SO, and this reduced him
almost TO despair.
He used to creep about the club Ijks a
lizard. seldom speaking TO any one. and
eithef grumpily answering IL he were ad
dressed, or protesting not to hear what
had been said. for he either was deaf or
pretended to be so.
Each day he went out for a walk but
ne never slept outside the club, except
when II was closed for cleaning
Even this at last he regarded ss such
grievance that In the end he managed
to occupy his bedroom while the club was
closed ~
A niece used to come sometimes to SEQ
him in the hall of the club. She had 10
baWl her sympathetic inquiries This
seemed to displease him, and he reduced
an annuity which he had left her of e2000
TO G2O0.
He had tele2 raphed to another niece.
who had married In America, to come
over TO see him in the last year of his
life; She did not come, so he left her
nothing.
His personal expenditures never exceed
ed G4D per annum.
Chicago" Smith never married A
niece, whom he adopted as a daughter.
lives in Elgin, ILL.,, and Is married to Mr..
Cooper, who. with James Henry Smith.
are bequeathed the greater portion of the
estate.
The younger Smith also has unIdue
personality. He is a bachelor. good look
ing, and forty-fve. Since his inheritance
he has been known by hts friends as the
mysterious Mr.. Smith," and the "siIeDt
Mr.. Smith" but the title that will cling tn
him Is Fifty Million Dollar Smith" What
will he do with IT? has been asked by the
curious I'm Wall street. but that James
Henry refuses 10 say.
Unlike his uncle he IS n society man.
and his attention to the opera and the
stage IL pretty well divided His chief
amusement consists OF yachting, and he
has crossed the ocean dozens Of times To
visit his uncle. Even before his good for
tune he was always looked upon as a rich
man. He is railroad director, and many
mammas are debating whether he will get
married soon-and to whom.