The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-21

CTS which surmount the beautiful build ing which she caused to be constructed
 there in sentimental recollection of her girlhood days. Sut after her death it
 was not occupied by MT. Searles It remained a sort of mystery place, not ac- cessible to those who would have been glad to visit it. for it was in the hands of a caretaker.
 He moved to Metheun. near Boston. having bought rather modest house sur rounded by sufficient grounds for such farm culture and decorating of fields and
 lawns as well as was gratifying to him
 For he had really exquisite taste in mat ters of that kind. although he was self taught. It was this qualification which brought him in touch with the Hopkins family.
 HOPKINS CALIFORNIA HOME
 All of the reports when have been pub lished since MT Searles death a few weeks ago refer to the fact that Mrs. Hopkins first met MT. Searles when she | engaged him for the decoration of her l'great Harrington home. He was many years her junior. He was quite man nered and always gentleman in every sense of the term. and could be com Emunicative enough when talking with
 any one who appreciated decorative work
 or landscaping gardens or music.
 But from one who knew Mir. Searles
 we'll even from the time when Mir. Searles played the organ :n New York church
 without fee. came this morning a state | ment that it was in California and not at Great Harrington, where Mrs Hopkins ] first met Searles. He went to California. is this statement be accurate. upon her summons for the purpose of aiding in
 decorating her California home. The ac- quaintance with him then began. Mrs.
 Hopkins admired ,he young man. had
 great respect for his ability. while he on the other hand found that her artistic | taste was like his own. At all events the relation began when Mrs. Hopkins em-
 ployed Searles for interior decoration work It ripened into such intimacy that some year after the death Of MT. Hop- ] kins she married Mir. Searles. Their mar l ried life greatly in excess of. his years i as were her own. was very happy.
 I If was inevitable that some gossip con taining suggestions of contest of the will should have been occasioned by the ] fact that the greater part of Mir searles' i fortune was bequeatned to Arthur T. Walker. This young man has been for 1 some years secretary and then business 1 confident of MT. Searles, but he was or no kin to SearIes. There are hints that some of the relatives of Mir. Searles are
 making inquiries about the will and also about this young man, who suddenly has become. through this bequest, one Of the wealthiest citizens of New York
 | After Mark Hopkins died. having De- oueathed the greater part of his forT | tune to Mrs. Hopkins. some who were
 next of kin and who lived in San Fran cisco began preparations for contest or
 the will But there was no contest, A i New York lawyer not now living received
 fee of s5o,o0o for giving an opinion that if there were contest the will could 1 he successfully defended. The next oi 1 kin who purposed contesting the will
 however accepted compromise which
 was offered by Mrs. Hopkins, and report ! ed to have been s1o0o,o0o for each one, ! there being five in all