The sun., 1904-08-31
RICHEST WOMAN Is BESIEGED.
ARMY or CAMERA FIENDS DIS
APPOINTED BY MRS. WALKER.
She Just wouldn't He SnRpped-Will Garry
on the Imnense Business Left by Her
Father-lias Four ads. la ce 3, business.
Charity and Napoleon-Her Home Life

Father-Has Four Fads. I.aces. business.
Charity ana Napoleon-HerH Home Life.
PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 3O.-Mrs. II. j. G.
Walker heiress to fortune estimated at
from 500 OO0. 900 to 10000, 600, which was
left to her by her father. William Weight
man, was bcsieged to-day in her Walnut
street mansion.
Police guarded her doors and patrolled
the street, driving onward the crowd of
photographers who sought to snap her for
the benefit Of curious world,
Mrs. Walker refused to be snapped. All
day she sat and wrote at her desk in the
second story front of the Walnut street
house, which has been turned into mag
nifcent suite of offices and from which
the business her father built up will be
carried on.
1t is a large apartment with bay win
dow which looks out into the famous Lip
pincott mansion grounds. 1t is not elaborate
ly furnished, but everywhere are indications
OF one of the few hobbies Mrs. Walker pos
sesses. Lace curtains hang from the win
dows, lace falls from draperies over doors,
and in little crevices and corners bits OF
'filmy white relieve the severity OF the rooms.
for the richest business woman in the world
has four hobbies: business, lace. charity
and Napoleon. These may not be arranged
in order of their strength, but certainly
business comes first with Chemist Weight
mans daughter.
She had been trained under her father
and husband. Now q widow OF fifty she
has well in hand all the details OF the busi-
ness from which grew the millions she in
herited. But Mrs. Walker likes to move
quietly. Hence the police and the disap-
pointed photographers. She wanted to go
out, for the big red automobile in which she
travels to her laboratories fitted about
the house all day, but was blocked by the
cameras. Indignant relatives and servants
scowled and scolded and threatened the
men of plate and film, but the camera
defences were impregnable. -Four OF the
tripod artists we're arrested, but others
heroically took their places.
When night fell q few artists fingered
about, but the lady Of millions did not show
herself. She dined at O clock. read until
8 and at 10 went to bed. All the pho
tographers had been released by that time
and the red automobile had ceased Its
painting and was at rest.
Never did a more modest and retiring
little woman become the ruler OF such eS-
tended enterprises and never did inheri-
tance fall into the hands OF one more nearly
q replica OF the person who made the in
heritance possible William Weightman's
characteristics, aside from personal mod
esty were habits as methodical as clock
and strict attention to the smallest det9 lis
OF his business. His diversion was in his
home circle Hie kindliness for and care OF
his employees were a proverb and his chari-
ties were many, large and always secret.
So 1t is with Mrs. Walker.
Her hair is red, tinged with gray; she
wears it In waves over her temples and
caught up in coil back Of the ears Her
nose is snub and her complexion shows
, numerous freckles. There are traces OF
dluples about the mouth and the chin Is
square and masculine. the eyes are sunken.
Mrs. Walkers face is the kind that shows
the lights and shadows Of the mind. She
rarely shows anger, hut she has n keen
sense of humor and her smile makes her
look twenty years younger. For the rest
she is slight of physique and nervous in
manner. Her ewes are steey blue.
Everywhere about her lace is used as
hanainps and decorations. Priceless laces
from many lands fill curiously carved
cabinets. Rich old laces cover tables and
hang over mirrors Dressed always in
black. Mrs. Walker relieves the sombre-
ness OF her attire by the same fabric. Lace
hangs at her wrists and falls about her
shoulders. Curiously contrasted with this
! love for the delicate is her admiration for
! strong men and women. Napoleon is
| her hero Most OF the paintings and etch-
inps on her walls reflect scenes from the life
Of the great Emperor.
Her collection of Napo!eonic literature
and relics is one Of the most complete in
the United States She seldom reads flc-
ton. Mrs. Walker is a cultured and accom-
plished woman. She has gained her knowl-
edge by study and personal contact with
| the world Both for pleasure and through
contact with the worldwide business inter-
ests of her father. she has visited practically
every important spot on the globe, with
i the exception OF Australia. In this way
she has learned things at first hand. 1t is
now a fund OF knowledge OF vast i'm
| portance to her. She knows the details
of the Weightman business In Persia. Lon
don and Venezuela almost as intimately as
she does the secrets OF the great Phiade-
phia laboratories. Mrs. Walkers prepara-
ton for the immense burden has been
gradual.
When the two sons, John Fair Weight
man and William Weightman. Jr., reached
maturity, William Weightman diverted
the profits Of his business to the children.
Each drew a third Of the income. which
often exceeded si,20O,OOo a year. The
brothers died, and now Mrs, Walker owns all.
r. j. Walker, her husband, was lawyer
and much Of the early life OF the couple
was spent in Williamsport. Pa. There the
Walkers occupied mansion at West Fourth
street and Fifth avenue, which is now the
home of j. Henry Cochran. millionaire
banker, lumberman and State Senator.
| The Walkers were even then immensely
wealthy. Mrs. Walker never cared for
society and had a small circle Of friends
to whom she was devotedly attached.
These she enteS aimed avishlv. II gave
her the keenest pleasure to make up, parti les
Of her friends and AXE them TO Eaglesmere
and other nearby resorts. Sometimes she
would entertain these parties for eeks at n
| time.
To the poor she gave bount fully, and in
most cases the recipients did not know
| .ho;r anafo nj raoa's ideptity Her char.