The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
The r. w. Furnas.
Ice Cream
Company
WILLING TO Be AIDED
BY ANOTHER'S MONEY
Remarkable Letters Received by
the Wealthy Lady of the
Orchids"
MRS. WILSON'S TROUBLES

PHILADELPHIA, March 3. - Mrs.
George H. Wilson, of No. APPS Wal
nut street, the world-famed collector Of
orchids. whose collection is valued at ST.
100000, and to which she has devoted her
leisure hours, is not without her unpieas-
ant experiences, so that while in her green
houses she can happily lay claim to great
many beds of orchids she admits that her
fame as a collector of them at times makes
her life anything but bed of roses.
No millionaire philanthropist or ward
politician was ever beseiged with more APP
plications for assistance than this collector
OF orchids. Every day the mall brings a
letter from some individual who oEers 10
let THE Lady of the Orchids" support him
for the rest of his life.
\ letter that came from a young man
in Edinburgh, Scotland, some time ago was
at once amusing and pathetic: After writ,
ing a brief history of his early career ana
the hardships he had suffered the writer
takes THE Lady of the Orchids" into his
confidence and relates something OF his
heart affairs. Il have lately met girl
whom | love-" he says. land she loves me
in return, but, unfortunately owing to my
poor circumstances, il will be years before
/ can marry. / write TO you TO see IL
through the goodness of your heart you
may not help me to attain my hearts desire
and get married"
The respondent swain follows UP this
Wilson can place him in position TO
get married"
One aspiring orchidist wrote for sew
eral hundred dollars to help him put some
of his greenhouses in good condition and
then at the end OF the letter, fearing that
his first application was too modest, he
raised the sum Mrs. Wilson was TO donate
to $500. But the star crank letter came
from a young woman in the South who
prides herself upon belonging TO the Mary
McLane school of thinking. Some passages
are worth quoting:
"You see,' writes the girl, al claim TO be
a sort of human orchid myself. have
bloomed feebly, for have lived among the
shadows. Like your orchids l cling TO the
mother earth and reach out for the great
sun! Like them, in proud Isolation, have
tried to fulfill myself"
And then, lest any one accuse her oil
being unsophisticated, she continues:
May | tell you something of myself!
L am young, enthusiastic and virtuous- You
see L am like Mary McLane but, unlike
her, l have met Satan already. He Is
great, as attractive as she imagfnes, and
am congratulating myself that l met him
He is in the Holy Land, as l have proof
and as seems natural, after all. There he
is in his matchless strength and beauty
he is waiting. i have his picture and
kept a diary of his confessions. If l had
your money 1 would give up orchid culture
would have the world at your feet"
Unfortunately the writer of this letter
is actuated by other motives than enthusi-
aSm IOr OFCnlCS OF lOT HIS lllhJSSly
After asking Mrs. Wilson TO give her $50
to help her pay off a note she offers &c
hire herself out in any capacity to Mrs
Wilson in order to discharge her indebted
ness.
Il am willing to do anything honest tc
make the amount. / know how to sew, to
cook, to rock the baby, to read a book, tc
nurse the sick, and always to be on time
and get the best. L can wash and iron
beautifully, take charge of children, re-
ceive company; l am musician. Bible
student, have farmed, made crop last
year. and am not afraid of burglars or any
sort of man. / can shoot a pistol, dance
do acrobatic feats, but can't run an auto
mobile