davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Life Changed

The loss of Mr.. Green's for
tune deranged Hetty Green's en-
tire life. She determined money
must be retained at all costs
and never forgot the lesson
learned via her husbands mis-
fortune.
She went down TO Wall street
determined TO make" - and
never to spend" Money became
her god-and she gathered it in
from all corners of the globe.
There was a time when she
p loaned a Vanderbilt. in a bad
jam. millions. and at one time
the city of New York went 10
her 10 borrow 81. 500,000 it
needed badly. She received the
highest rate of interest the city
has ever paid.
Keeping expenses at low ebb
was mania with her. She
transacted much OF her business
at the Chemical National Bank
and forced them TO give her an
office free.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Marriage Pact

Hetty already was so fond of
her gold she didn't want to have
to part with any of IL.
For their honeymoon Mr..
Green prevailed upon her TO
make an extended sojourn in
Europe. 1t was the first and
last important trip she ever
undertaking to her was USE
less expense.
And while the Greens were in
London their only son, Edward
Rowland Robinson Green. was
born at the Langbam Hotel, on
Aug. %, 1868.
Shortly afterwards Hetty was
anxious to, return home TO look
after her continually mounting
investments and back in the
y. S. A., she and Mr.. Green
went TO make their hope in
Bellows Falls. But Hetty in
dulged in frequent trips to New
York-and Wall Street.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Fabulous Character

And when she -breathed her
last. on July 3. 1915. one of the
most fabulous characters of our
time passed from view.
Those who still remember
Hetty Green many of the
younger generation don't
think of her as miser. an
eagle-eyed old woman who, in
her quest for more and more
gold foreclosed mortgages on
churches and schools; a flint
hearted 'harpy" looking for
"handout" when she had mill
lions in the bank. etc.
s Few, however. realize she
was born 10 wealth and social
station. The blood of May
flower" descendants flowed in
her veins and had she so wished
she could have become a
queen" of society.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Watched Taxes

Never during her lifetime.
however. did she permit herself
TO own a stick Of furniture in
the State of New York and
never did she remain long at
one New York address. For her
great desire was TO avoid taxa
tion-especially New York taxes.
All went well. with Mr.. Green
paying all the bills and Hetty
constantly adding to her own
fortune until 1884 when Mr.,
Green, making a financial move
Hetty had cautioned him
against, lost his entire fortune.
Hetty was so furious - over
the loss of the money-she inn
mediately left her husband and
for the rest of his days gave
him a meager allowance which
permitted him TO live in the
most moderate circumstances.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Moved TO Hoboken

And. in order to keep the New
York tax collector on the jump,
she decided to move her resi-
dence across the Hudson River
to Hoboken. n. j., where she
rented a very modest fiat at
1903 Washington street, paying
S2S per month. At that time
her fortune totaled more than
S50,000.000!
From time to time. however.
she would return TO New York,
Harlem. and even down on the
Bowery.
That was the era when she
first started to wear shabby
clothes, in an effort not to
attract attention. And there
are many still alive who can
recall Hetty Green as she stood
on the front of a Hudson River
ferry-boat at $50 every morn
ing. attired in an old fashioned.
rusty-looking black alpaca gown,
with a bedraggled hat and a
torn veil covering her head and
face. She would take the trolley
car from her ffoboken apart
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
In Day Coach

And on the night of March II,
1902, when poor Edward II.
Green was breathing his last up
in Bellows Falls, VT, his wife
was seated in a lamplit day
coach en- route to Bellows Falls
TO have Mr.. Green sign some
papers which would make her
the sole owner of real estate he
owned in his native town.
After Mr.. Green's death
Hettys activities in Wall Street
increased. She lived only to
make money and outwit what
she described as those wicked
men trying TO wrest my money
from me-" A conservative esti-
mate of Hetty Green's fortune
at the turn of the century would
have been S100,000,000.
And she made it all herself.
Some years earlier she had
formed the only friendship she
enjoyed during her life-with
Annie Leary, a relative of pres
ent-day society's Beth Leary.
Annie Leary was rich and
social. She did everything Hetty
frowned upon. Yet they were
close friends to the end.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Weighed suitors

Annie Leary kept telling
Hetty Green it was high time
daughter Sylvia was marrying.
But Hetty imagined every man
was after the money her daugh-
ter would inherit. Not until
Matthew Aston Wilks. great
grandson of the original John
Jacob Aston, came along and
displayed an interest in Sylvia
would Hetty even consider per-
hitting her far from young
daughter 10 wed.
Wilks was rich in his own
right. But that didn't keep
Hetty from making him sign a
paper STIMULATING he waived all
rights to any monies Sylvia
might inherit. before she would
agree to accepting him as a son-
in-laW.
Prior to the announcement
of the Wilks-Green betrothal
Hetty. at Annie Leary's instiga-
ton. gave large dinner party
at the then new Plaza Hotel so
that many of Mrs. Green's
highly placed New York rela-
tives could meet daughter
Silvia.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

ment. then cross on the ferry
and take another trolley car to
her Office at the Chemical Ma
tional Bank.
Part of the time, over in Ho-
boken. Hetty Green had her
daughter living with her. The
daughter. born Jan. Z, 1871, was
named Harriet Sylvia Ann How
land Green. Both her son and
daughter always stood in awe of
Hetty Green and never dared
demonstrate with her over her
penuriousness. The daughter
would no more have dared to
suggest her mother purchase a
new hat or dress than she would
have suggested her mother find
a more comfortable home.
Hetty's was a will of iron
and she was a law unto herself.
Slowly tales of her economies
crept into print. She scorned
Pullman cars and always rode
in day coaches-even on rail-
roads in which she owned large
blocks of stocks.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Divided Fortune

No official estimate of her
fortune ever was given out. But
il is well known that she left
more than S150,000. 900. which
under the terms of a will made
March %. 1911, was divided
equally between her son and
daughter.
1t was a canny will. just the
kind shreW woman like
Hetty Green would make. She
saw to il no son-in-law or
daughter-in-law ever would get
any of the money she loved so
dearly and arranged matters so
that. if her son died ehildless.
his share would revert to her
daughter-and vice versa.
Edward Rowland Robinson
Green is dead and Matthew
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Noted Hostess

The latter lady. noted New
York hostess. expressed aston
ishment at the meager wardrobe
Hetty had brought with her 10
New York. But Hetty carefully
avoided mentioning her father
had given her $1,000 with which
TO secure clothes. So Mrs. Grin
nell. rather than have Hetty
Launched in society in drab
raiment. went out and purchased
the debutante the proper clothes,
paying for them herself.
Hetty. l might add. took
81 900 of her 81 200 and invested
il in bonds. That was the be-
ginning of her Wall Street ca
reer, And also opened her eyes
to the fact that you can get
something for nothing. if you
don't appear to possess too
much.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Papal Countess

A devout Catholic, Annie
Leary was a Papal countess, she
lived on Fifth avenue. had box
in the Golden Horseshoe" at
the Metropolitan Opera House
and P villa in Newport.
j.. the COS she prevailed upon
Hetty Green TO permit her TO
give a party in Newport for
Sylvia Greenland that was
about the only coming-out party
the daughter of the richest
woman in the world" ever had.
OF course Annie Leary paid for
il. Hetty wouldn't even attend
because it would mean spend
ing money for a new gownf
Hetty Green had been born a
Quakeress, but Annie Leary,
for years, sought TO have her
embrace the Church of Rome.
Not until several years before
her death did Hetty quietly slip
over to Jersey City where she
was baptized in the Episcopal
faith
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
A Keen Trader

Even in those days in New
Bedford Hetty Green kept an
close touch with the financial
marts and was proving keen
trader. She knew when to buy
and when to sell-and her
judgment regarding mortgages
was uncanny. Many well-born
local SWANS paid her ardent at
tentions. She was, however. too
busy and too suspicious to give
a thought to matrimony. Busy
making the fortune inherited
from her father earn additional
$SSS for her. and suspicious
suitors wanted to marry her for
her money.
Eventually Hetty moved TO
New York and astounded her
relatives by opening an office IN
Wall Street. In those days the
mere idea of a woman in busi-
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Men Too Slick

New York society didn't APP
peal to Hetty. She felt people
squandered money on parties
and that the young men she
met were too sleek and too slick.
II any one was going to be
slick" it was Hetty.
So she returned TO New Bed
ford and remained there until
her fathers death. He left a
fortune of $3.50. OPP 90 which
spikes" the story. oft repeated.
that Hetty started her financial
career from scratch.
Shortly after her fathers
death, an aunt. Sylvia Ann
Rowland. passed on into the
Great Beyond leaving $1,000, 900.
Hetty didn't receive the entire
estate and Immediately went to
court about il.
For the rest OF her life she
was involved in court actions.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Lunch for Women
Of New EnqIand

DETROIT COLONY, National
Society of New England Women.
will hold a luncheon meeting
Wednesday at 1890 o'clock in
the Women's City Club.
Mrs. Henry NJ. Booth will pre-
side and Mrs. Matte Jacobs will
outline plans for the regional
conference and national board
meeting. March pa. inclusive, in
the Book-Cadillac Hotel.
Hale Daggett will show
movie, Wheels Across Africa"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Colonial Descent

HettN Green most certainly
did not spring from the gutter.
even though she lived most Of
her life perilously close TO IL.
The names of her ancestors and
their noble deeds are written in
prominent letters on the pages
of the Colonial history of our
land.
That she developed into a
woman whose greatest love was
MONEY. and that she became
the Witch OF Wall Street" is
one of those strange pranks
Fate frequently plays.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

after 'Dewey's" death she
finally consented TO leave her
Hoboken fiat and take up her
residence with her son, Edward
Rowland Robinson Green. in a
modest hrown-stone house at )
West Ninetieth street.
There she breathed her last
on July 3. 1916. having previ-
ously stunned the attending
medicos by surviving six strokesl
She would have been 81 years
old her next birthday.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Feared by Tycoons

Thanks to Hetty Green's
financial manipula I ons land
they we're such that the late J.
Pierpont Morgan and the late
Jay Gould feared her more than
any male adversary her daugh-
ter. the widowed Mrs. Matthew
Aston Wilks. now ranks as the
richest woman in the United
States of America-just as her
mother before her gloried in the
title "the richest woman in the
world"
Mrs. Wilks is little known 10
the public. Yet she controls
more wealth today than Doris
Duke Cromwell and Barbara
Hutton HaugwitZ-Reventlow
combined. And lives in a Fifth
avenue apartment that probably
costs her as much per day as
her tight-fisted mother paid per
month for the humble fiat she
occupied for many years over in
Hoboken. ~. J.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
ForecIosed Mortgage

1t is a matter of record that
the afternoon after her first and
last expensive social entertain
ment she went to Wall Street
and foreclosed a mortgage on a
railroad in the Southwest-and
made sufficient profit TO more
than pay for her social "binge."
Sylvia Green became the
bride of Matthew Aston Wilks
in st. Peters Church, Norris
town. N. j.. on Feb. %. 1909.
She was 81 years old and he
was 81.
After Sylvia's marriage Mrs.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

Green lived alone in the Ho-
boken fiat with her pet terrier
whom she had named Dewey"
after the hero of the Spanish
American War. Her love for
Dewey" was one of the few
tendernesses she permitted her.
self. Frequently she'd carry
him under her arm to her office
and even though she. herself.
would scrimp on her food. she
kept Dewey" on a constant diet
of tenderloin steak and rice
pudding! 1t eventually killed
the dog-and his death so sad
dened Mrs. Green she all but
died herself from grief.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

Lakes to the
Gulf of Mex
leo.
New York's
Hetty reen
was unique in
I h a [ S h e
turned aside
from society
in order TO
amass a for
tune prob
a b ] y I h e
greatest for
tune ever ac-
cumulated by
a woman in
the history Of
the nation.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Dodeed Reporters

In an effort to keep reporters
from discovering her where
abouts and others in the dark
as to her movements, Hetty
Green had the name of her dog
on the doorbell at the Hoboken
fat-"C. Dewey" And she
frequently went under that
name in later life.
Shortly after the beginning of
the first World War she found
the volcanic-like movements of
the stock market too much for
her aging brain. And as her
health had never been the same
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

Astor Wilks Is dead. which
leaves Sylvia Green Wilks in
control of the vast fortune her
fam Gus mother amassed and
boarded.
Following in her mothers
footsteps. Mrs. Wilks takes no
part in society, she has strange
names placed at the entrance to
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

her country place in Greenwich.
Conn, to ward off sightseerB
and reporters and lives a quiet
placid life at the Fifth avenue
apartment which costs her AZ
much per day as her mother
paid per month over In Hobokens
New Jersey.
Tattle Tales of Old New York.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

Hetty/ Green knew society
would cost her money-that's
why she would have none of il,
despite having been born into
one of the u. s. AS oldest and
most distinguished families.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
TA71LE tales
ef0lpNEw York
Hetty Green Refused
To Pay Cost Of Socid|ite
BY NAuRy PAUL

(Rsgistersd U. 8. Patent Officer
TATTLE TALES of Old New
= York.
Today we read OF many
women who have squandered
vast fortunes chasing the social
will-o-the-wisp in various cities
spread out from the Atlantic to
the Pacific and from the Great
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Green Fascinated

There can be no question but
what Mr.. Green was fascinated
with the aggressive. opinionated
and self-sufficient Hetty. And
for months he was constantly at
her side (when she wasn't busy
in Wall street, asking her to
become his bride.
Here at last. figured Hetty.
was a man who didn't want
her for her money. He. too.
was rich. So she gave him her
yes" and they were married
on July II, 1867. at the home
of Henry Grinnell. at II Bond
street. then a fashionable resi-
Dental street in lower New
York.
Hetty at the time was 80
years old and Mr.. Green about
to ce brate his forty-sixth
birthday.
The marriage didn't take
place. however, until after Hetty
had drawn up. in her own hand
writing, a marriage agreement
in which Mr.. Green agreed to
support her and any children
they might have.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Shy as Child

In her childhood. every within
of the Robinson daughter was
gratified. Quiet and shy. she
made a great hit with her
straight-laced. and "well-fixed'
relatives-many of whom later
left her stable fortunes. When
she was Is years old. her father
felt she should be sent to New
York to make her debut among
her fashionable New York rela-
tives.
AS pocket-money old Mr.. Rob-
inson gave Hetty 1920 TO take
with her TO New York. Out OF
that sum she was expected 10
purchase clothes suitable for her
debut. an event TO be staged
under the aegis of a distant reIa-
tive, Mrs. Grinnell.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23

1884. the daughter Of Edward
Mott Robinson. a Quaker and a
prosperous ship-owner. Chris
tened Harriet Rowland Robin
son-the Rowland" was for her
Mayfiower ancestors-she was
known from childhood as
"Hetty."
And those who remember her
in her last years, an old and
wrinkled woman, bent and stoop-
shouldered from doing her own
housewofk and attired in clothes
that were tattered and thread
bare, can hardly believe she once
was a great beauty. But she
was. Early paintings and
sketches testify to her youthful
pulchritude.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
Quaker Family

Hetty Green was born in New
Bedford, Mass, in November,
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-02-23
MkhA Of MAN st. Spuned maxka@ FOR GeA

ness was unthinkable In polite
society-but for a maiden lady
to set herself up in an office
we'll, society was shocked.
Years rolled by, Hetty's for
tune increased by leaps and
bounds thanks to her sagacious
judgment and eventually, at the
home of a relative. she was pre-
sented to six-foot, 240-pound Ed
ward II. Green.
He and Hetty. generations
back, had had some of the same
ancestors and what caused Hetty
to smile upon him was the fact
that he was independently
wealthy. That he had accumu-
lated his riches himself made
him much more of a hero in her
crafty eyes.
Edward II. Green was born at
Bellows Falls, VT. and was con-
nected with such distinguished
New England clans as the
Lowells, Lawrences and Cabots.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23
COUNTRY TYPES: STEVE
POWERS.

Life has gone slowly here among
these mountains,
I walk between the handle ii my
pillow
Each spring to pillow among Wet
weather fountains
md scar eternal rocks tina ! may
SOW,
Hot summer DAYS | WELD tic
sprouting hoe
With muscles hard as steel and
sWeat-dimmed eyes,
clean the sprouts along the crock
ed row
But stop to listen to the wild bird
For soon, too soon. they Will be
southwark flying
And corn viii ripen with the sum
mcr over;
Rumlets will dWindlc: leaves VIII
then be dying;
The honey bees Will cease to WOrN
on clover.
With lonely thoughts to know the
vear is ending,
Nv face will color when | face the
My heart beat fast to know earth
IS befricnding.
Jesse Stuart in Progressive
Farmer.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23
Club Members Anticipate
7wo Very Gala Evenings

nual Christma,-NcW Year series =
dance, planned for the club durne
the coming season.
GA Friday night, the aulyaI Chr T.
me- dance VIII be GYM with Huo.g
IicatWolc and his popular orches5ra
pl;.,ing, and on Wednesday crCnl0s.
December 81, the annual New Yea
affair viii be staged.
The dane committee has 0eec
quite busy for the past several UsE-
locking after the dance deta,.-, and
the committee assures the club meta-
bcrs two very fine affairs.
Tn, dances during t1e past gem.
haVc hi9hlightcd social activities here
ccntcring around the Chri~tma--NoW
Year festivities, and this year. lhoHgn
there is a is expected 10 equal
any of the past affairs.
NUMEROUS visitors VII be IN the
city and the college SET is home ioG
] the holiday. These Will add a great
deal 10 the dances.
Guest cards may be secured from
members Of the dance committee lol
out-ot-toWn visitors.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23
Miss BlnCknnH Feted
At Purv And Sh01Cer

NJ. S. Gerber Joined the othcl guests
Tor refreshments.
Miss Parham served a salad plate
with ginger ale, and individual
Christmas cakes. She was assisted
in serving by her mother, Mrs. O. II.
Parham. Mrs. S. +. Jcnnette, and
Miss Lucille Parham.
Guests for the evening included
the following Miss Florence Black
nall. Miss Mary Turner, Miss Helen
Whitmore. Mis- Polly Mcintyre, Ms
Mary Frances Williams, Mrs. I. d
Rose. Jr., Mrs. w. T. NeWcomb, MIS-
Florence Brown, Miss Hilda Hun.
Miss Rose Speed, Miss Mary Finch
Miss Alice Warrick Rose, Mis- Mary
Sills Petty, Mrs. r. G.. BurWelI, Mrs
W. b. Gooding. Mrs. Bryan Adcoch
Miss Katherine Macon. Miss Mabe
Hayes, Miss Lucy Plummer Jones
Miss Ro a Long Thomas. Mrs. Wan
ner Moore, Miss Alice Wick. Mrs.
Jasper Parham, and Miss Nrgie Gar
Fat'
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23
Miss Allen Here.

Miss Mary Allen arrived Sunday
night from Chicago, where she has
been studying at the University of
Chicago. She viii spend about ten
days here with her parents, DR.. and
Mrs. B. G.. Allen.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23
Expected Today.

Mrs. Richard W. FoWlkcs, and
daughter. Fcrebee Fcnner Cooper.
are expected To- arrive today To spend
the houdays with Mr.. FoWlkcS' par
entS, Col. and Mrs. +. +. Fcnucr.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23
To FoIlochSVilIr.

Miss Edna Oliver plans to go to
her home in Pollock>Nllle to spend
the Christmas holidays with hc
family.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23

II. Leslie Perry Memorial Library
will be closed Wednesday and Thurs
day, December 81 and -, in obser-
vance of Christmas, 1t Wa stated
today.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23
To ROXbOrO.

W, Hall Brooks. county sanitary
officer, will go to his home in RoN-
boro for the holiday period.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1941-12-23

Cupid m ron a Lattr wr-t
meaning TO desire.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-04
STEINBORN ON ARENA
 MAT WITH HUMMER

New Haven, Oct. 4.-Milo Stein born, "The Man Tn The Red Mask, !" will lock horns with Lou Hummer, Texas star, in the star bout on next Wednesday nights wrestling card at the Arena, as Promoter Sam Siegal stages the first mat show here in two years. Steinborn and Hummer will wrestle one fall to finish.
 Promoter Siegal will introduce team wrestling to Connecticut when he presents Paul Boesch of New York, and Ace Freeman of Boston, against Jim Austeri, Newark, ard Angelo Savoldi, Chicago, in two out of three falls. Team wrestling has proven sensational sport in Jersey and Maryland rings. and Siegal is confident that it will go over here.
 Dynamite Joe Cox. Kansas City Crasher. recognized in Canada as the worlds heavyweight champion. will take on Fred Gruhmier of Oklahoma. in one of the time-li limit contests. Emil Dusek. Nebraska Bearsat. is paired with Eddie New man of California. in the other oEle- fall contest.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-10-04
Psychologist Reports
 On FlatbuSh Fans

and violence and, while these lkes are more or less repressed effective ly in an adult, they can be released vicaroiusly. Prize fighting is 8 more obvious illustration of this than baseball"
 That explained fans in general, maybe, but why should Brooklyn fans be such extreme examples?
 Underdogs?
 Gould, who was a Brokolyn paS- tor before he turned to the study of psychology and human relations, said 1t was because Brooklyn feels like an underdog in relation to its smoother neighbor, Manhattan"
 "So the symptoms are more pro- nounced," he said. 'The root of the whole thing goes back to the oldest struggle in human life-the strug- gle of the underdog to get his place In the sun-and, from the viewpoint of the psychoanalyst, the attitude of the child toward his parents, espe- cially his father. The son is always the underdog and the father is the topdog. Even though he may love his father dearly, he resents being an underdog. Discipline is repun- nant to the boys nature.
 So the boy grows up and throws pop bottles at the umpire. This is part of the battle of the genera tions, which is little older-at least--than the battle of the sexes. It is the conflict between barbarous instinct and civilized discipline"