The Washington times., 1919-04-06

-FHEN Hetty Green, the richest
M woman in America, died recently
w she left a large bundle Of her
millions to her daughter, Mrs. Sylvia
Green WiIks.
The daughter bought a very delightful
and extensive country place at Green
wich, Just outside Of New York. Mrs.
Sylvia Green Wilks's husband, Matthew
Wilks, is a great-grandson Of the old John
Jacob Astor.
So to the Green multi-millions was
added somewhat of the social prestige of
the Astors, and thus the Greenwich estate,
Alta Crest, became one Of the show places
Of the neighborhood. OF course, the
WiIks had neighbors. In a neighborly way
some of them called, found the Wilks not
at home, left cards, waited hopefuIly-but
their neighborly advances were not re-
ciprocated.
The Wilks's neighbors could not see
where they were getting any advantage
out Of such distinguished neighbors as
the Hetty Green millions and the Astor
prestige. The WIIks never did anything
for them; they were not in frame of
mind to do anything for the Wilks.
And this was the rather unneighborly
atmosphere around the Alta Crest estate
when a good-natured dog innocently pre-
cipitated a lively squabble which is now
in the courts and involves some interest
ing and rather fine questions.
Mrs. Sylvia Green WiIks may not care
much for Mr.. L. B. Price, her nearest
neighbor, but she does care a great deal
for her brown collie dog Jack. Mrs Wilks
is not inclined to spend even a nickel to
please neighbor Price, but she will gladly
spend several thousands for the comfort
and safety of Jack.
Jack, the collie, is a pet Of no small
consequence on the Alta Crest estate.
Jack, being a very broad-minded dog, has
kindly feelings for his neighbors, and often
scampered across the lawn and over to
the neighbors' back doors, where a bone
in neighbor Prices garbage can smelt Just
as good as anything on the big estate Of
the dogs owner.
This promiscuous habit Of Jack was dis
countenaHced by the Wilks household.
ShrfI cries Of "Come here, Jack% pursued
the dog whenever he wandered over to the
neighbors. And then something happened
"a hydrophobia scare ran through the
town and reports were spread of dogs be-
ing shot.
That settled the Wilks's in determine
ton to do something which they had often
thought about They would build a fence.
And while they were doing it they would
build a good One-about twelve feet high.
A fence like that would keep Jack from
wandering of to the neighbors.
Now, the Wilks and the Prices, though
near neighbors. are not at all on intimate
terms. Mrs. Wilks did not consult Mr.
Price about the big fence she decided to
build on their boundary line. But Mr.
Price heard of II and sent his neighbor
Of Alta Crest notification that if she built
such fence or any fence on the boundary
Of their respective lawns she would be
violating his rights and he would take
steps accordingly"
Which. to use the nOvelist's phrase, gave
pause to Mrs. Wilks. For a time she
dropped the subject, but conferences with
the contractor for fences were resumed.
Mr.. Price heard of them. Again he served
notice by letter written upon the station
ery Of the mercantile firm Of which he is
the head. He reminded her that to build
a fence upon the border between their
estates would be Illegal. There was
silence and seeming inactivity upon Alta
Crest
But last month the vigilant Mr.. Price
relaxed his vigilance. He decided that in
his capacity Of neighbor Of Hetty Green's
daughter, as in other capacities that in
volVed alertneTs, he was entitled to a vaca-
tion. While he was in the South some
thing happened Mrs. Wilks's apprehen-
sions about the safety of her pet Jack
coincided in intensity with Mr. Prices
departure.
While he was away there was unusual
activity at the Alta Crest. The fence that
had been under discussion for a year was
now under way. Mr.. Price, at Hot Springs
Va, received this telegram:
Mrs. Wilks is building the threatened
fence. Men were at work"
Mr.. Price dispatched a telegram with