The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-23
NEW YORK TOPICS
DRIFTS AND UNDERCURRENTs OF
THE METROPOLIS.
Mr.. E. D. MoRGAN'S NAME.
GOT s5.OOO,OOO FOR TAKING NAME
OF UNCLE.

How a Woman Has Made the Larg-
est Private Orchid Collection in
America-The Great Wealth of the
Men who VIII Defend the Cup
Against Sir Thomas LiptOn-OiI As
the Fuel for Three-Day Boats
Across the AtIantic-Mrs. Hum
phrey Wards Health and Her En-
gIish HOme-sOmethingA About the
Innocent Criminals and Healthy
Invalids Association.
New York, Nov. 22-The woman who
owns the largest private collection of
orchids in America sailed from this
port for Europe this week to inspect
several hundreds of rare orchids that
her old world agents had secured for
her She is Mrs. George B. Wilson of
Philadelphia.
Since Mrs. Wilson contracted the
orchid fever six years ago she has
Travelled thousands of miles in search
Of the plants that only multi-million-
aires can own in quantity. She has
made at least a score of trips across
the Atlantic, and twice she has gone
orchid dealers in that country's capt.
tai had at last came into possession
Of certain specimens that they had
been commissioned to secure regard
less of expense by Mrs. Wilson.
The last time Mrs. Wilson was in
than to carry back with her in a bas-
ket the biggest orchid yet brought out
of any orchid region in either the new
or old world. She was afraid that,
unless she carried the plant with her
In her sleeping-car berth, it would be
injured in shipment. 1t is laelia
magaliS alba, has over 400 bulbs, and
is worth $4,000. This is what Mrs.
Wilson has been offered for the speci-
men, but once an orchid comes. into
her possession no sum can buy it, no
matter how tempting.
have all the money l need" Mrs.
Wilson tells prospective purchasers,
and so I'll keep my plants. But, by
the way, do you want to sell me any
OF your collection ?"
For many years the White House
Conservatives contained the only
known specimens of the orchid called
by scientists dendrobium phaloenopsis
album. Several years after she began
her collection Mrs. Wilson endeav-
cred to secure a bulb from this plant,
put neither money ror f1attery nor the
influence of Pennsylvania United
states senators could secure her the
coveted bulb. A year ago, however,
Mrs Wilson's head gardener handed
MS employer young, but fine speei-
men of this much-sought after orchid.
How and where 1 got it I'm not
telling" he said; and that is his an
sWer to all questions concerning the
origin of this plant to this day.
Besides collecting orchids. Mrs.
wilson has fad for filling her big,
old-fashioned granite mansion with
parrots. Nearly every room has it's
pIrd or two. and their conversations
ian be heard at almost any hour of
Jay and night.
Mrs. Wilson's husband and two sons
axe much pride in her feat of getting
!.ogether 10000 rare orchids in less
enah a decade a collection that brings
Vrcnld lovers all the way from Europe
70 inspect it and rave over it and
make futile offers to buy this or that
Specimen.
90 A., =" Hot generally known Inat one
me richest men in America travels
,,,nl under an assumed name. This
RItlIhonaire is none other than f. d.
gan who has had a great deal TO
o with the keeping of the Americas
tup IN this country, and who will
IKE prominent part I'm offending
si trophy against the onslaughts that
re. lhomas Upton has planned for
"'ht summer.
,,"lf- Morgan'g legal name is Alta
,,olsan' He has never taken the
tiDupie TO have the law put its sane
on the initials OF y. D., but for