New-York tribune., 1903-03-29
WHITAKER WRIGHTS ENGLISH COUNTRY SEAT.
An ABYSS OF EXPENSE IN SURREY EXPLOITED
THOUSAND MEN-MOVED 4 HILL

Whitaker Wright the meteoric promoter Of Eng.
land and America. whose arrest in this city the
other day attracted much attention. has many
sides to his character. For instance in Surrey he
lived the life of wealthy country gentleman.
Lea Park.
Like Versailles. says Percival Phillips in The
London Express Lea Park has been abyss of
expense but Surrey received each fresh outlay with
gratitude instead of complaint for the question of
the unemployed effectively solved Farmers
who were left shorthanded through universal de-
sire to work for Mr.. Whitaker Wright recall his
name with emphatic bitterness.
1t must be confessed that the Surrey side of Mr..
Whitaker Wright not the side known in 10th
bury. He may be open to criticism as a fnancier.
but as landscape gardener he is without
equal. No man-at least in Surrey-ever took such
liberties with the face OF nature thoroughly
shifted hills and valleys in order to crafty per-
sonal whin1.
At one time nearly thousand men were spend
ing Mr. Wrghts money in digging new lakes, fill
ing up old leveing hills for the sake Of a
view, and rebuilding portions of the house Mr..
Wright kept changing his mind.
In sharp contrast, the solitude is op-
pressive. The great rambling house at the summit
of gentle green slope silent shuttered, unfn-
ished. Capped by unsightly black dome. with
half-completed wing still hidden behind scaf-
folding, its loneliness melancholy in the ex-
treme
Whitaker Wrights private life wrapped
up in Lea Park. He enjoyed the time spent with
architects and contractors. Otherwise he hunted
little, smoked a great deal, and nursed a bad
liver. That Is about all the villagers around his
estate tell you about Mr.. Wright's personality
Many persons have applied at Lea Park for per-
mission to view the wonderful house Have you
e written authority from Mrs. Whitaker wrght?"
demands the lodgekeeper inhexiby. and the dis
comfted visitors drive back to Godalming.
local chemist vas endeared to Mr.. Wright
through certain brand OF liver pills. For years
he was apothecary to Lea, Park. but never save on
one occasion, did he ever Mr. Wright. Mrs.
Wright frequently called at his shop, and orders
from Mr.. Wright were transmitted through her
The exception referred to revealed Mr.. Whitaker
Wright in role A bazaar was held at Lea
Park some months before the Wrights removed to
Tigoourne Court Many villagers attended. and
great was their establishment to see Whitaker
Wright auction off a wonderfully dressed doll in
the cause of charity. The doll several hun
dred pounds, and, as the story was related to me-
the purchaser found an order for certain certiA-
Gates Of stock concealed in its dress
But few Of Mr. Wrght's Surrey neighbors lost
money IN the London and Globe crash One of
| them. a tradesman near Lea Park gave me an in
teresting illustration OF Mr.. Wright's wonderful
| personal magnetism. Believing Mr. Wright to be
| the Napoleon os france. the little tradesman had
sunk his savings unsolicited in companies 0oated
| by him
The squeeze came and the little tradesuan
joining the great pilgrimage Of stockholders four
neyed to Cannon Street Hotel planning meanwhile
an adequate revenge uron Mr.. Wright's person.
| he went TO fight. but he stayde to cheer and
| ne confessed. When ! got home / felt sorry
Tor Mr.. Wright instead OF myself. I don't blame
| MIN now He never wanted his friends to invest
| IN his companies and I am sure there isn't the
slightest resentment against him here
But why should there be? Mr. Wright drained
surrey OF Its availa bic labor. and back 10 the
land" argument could prevail with the enthusiastic
taFr hands who sOrsook pastoral pursuits to work