Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1909-12-11

$4,000 painting. If money talks, Mr..
Leeds was certainly an ardent wooer.
Women in Rivalry.
After the honeymoon, which was
passed quietly on Mr.. Leeds yacht, the
Getvan. the Mrs. Leeds that was again
appeared on the scene, and was re-
sponsible for a bit of comedy which
lasted over two years and made the
smart set sit up and take notice.
With her own private fortune and
the 100000 which Mr.. Leeds had
handed over to her, the former sharer
of the "tinplate kings" joys found life
rather easy, so she wandered forth in
search of amusement. 1t pleased her
to follow in the wake of the newly
welded pair from one end of the
country to the other. No matter where
Mrs. Leeds No. 2 decided to stop, it
was certain that in few hours Mrs.
Leeds No 1 would arrive, bag and bag
gage. At Palm Beach and other ia
vorite resorts of wealth and fashion
society was given a treat. Where one
woman appeared in public the other
one was to be found not far away.
Each We'd with the other in the
! matter of her artistic and expensive
gowns, and each wore every jewel
she owned. So keen and notorious
was this womanly duel that, at the
various hotels, the guests would line
up in rows to watch the contestants
as they entered or left the dining
| room.
The pace was evidently too nerve
racking for the first wife, for, after
the second year, she gave up and left
| her successor in peace.
Meanwhile the Leedses were getting
Weather each day and enjoying life
| to The full. Mr.. Leeds was power in
the railroad and financial worlds, while
his wife was cutting a wide swath in
society in New York, Newport and
| elsewhere.
Has Far-Famed Pearls.
Early in 1906, however, Mr.. Leeds
health began to fail. He was operated
on for appendicitis and was also
/ stricken with paralysis. He retired
from his position as president of the
Rock Island railroad and, from that
time until his death, spent most of his
time abroad, in search of health
During one of their visits to Paris
Mr.. Leeds bought his wife a wonderful
pearl necklace, valued at 100000, and
referred to in trade papers as the only
| one OIL us klnu III Tie WOIlu IL COa-
tanned 60 stones strung upon a silken
cord Ia inches long. They were of the
oriental variety and ranged in size
from twenty-five to forty grains, the
average being thirty-two. Each was
flawless.
But when the customs officials on
this side saw the necklace there was a
hot dispute over the duty payable on
it, For a perfectly matched necklace
the duty was 60 per cent, but for an
indiscriminate assortment it was only
IL per cent. The question arose as to
| whether it was necklace or not, and
whether Mrs. Leeds should pay $780,
900 or simply 100000 Mrs. Leeds won
out by carrying the dispute before Sec
rotary of the Treasury Shaw for settle
ment The dispute started pearl
craze at Newport, and these stones
displaced all others in the fashionable
taste for the time being.
In 1908 Mr. Leeds was suddenly
stricken again while in Paris, and died
in the Hotel Ritz on June 3d.
The bulk of his fortune, about $11.
OOO, 10000, went to his widow. There
was some talk at the time mat the
first wife would fight for her share, but
nothing ever came of it.
Welcomed Everywhere.
During the last year Mrs. Leeds has
lived mostly in Europe, where hel
beauty, wit and wealth have given hel
the entree into the most exclusive
circles. Her entertainments are at
tended by the elite society, and hel
gowns and jewels are the wonder OF
all. King Edward recently cook occa
sion to compliment her on the beauty
L e rx-Is -
himself had admired and would prob
ably have bought had she not been be
: fore him
Evidently, though, her association
with royalty has not turned her head
When the petty French princelei
turned up she turned him down will
: real grace
Several times rumor has connected
her name with aspiring Americans
One of them was De Wolf Cutting
of New York. who has been attentivs