HEIRESS OF FIVE

Hokitika Guardian, 20 April 1931, Page 2

HEIRESS OF FIVE

£2,030,003 IN THE FUTURE. “IF ONLY l HAD £IOO. RICH CHILD AND HER FANCIES Surrounded by half a d'Yen (logs, a baby girl who will one day own 02,000,000, told a correspondent of a London newspaper recently what she would do it her tairy godmother were to give £IOO.

The prospective millionairess is Jane Elizabeth Whitelaw, the not quite fhe-year-uhl daughter of Mr G. Id- Whitelaw, of Court 11(11, I.etcotnbe Kegis, near Wantage. When she reaches the age of 25 she will inherit 02,000,000 and tlie Mednieiihom Mansion, Danesfield. under the will of her great-aunt. Miss Hornby Lewis.

The child’s cheeks were flushed; with health as she greeted the interviewer on the steps ol her father’s home, lor she had just returned from a gallop oil her iioiiy Starlight. She does notknow yet of the wealth that will be hers some days, Her letller thinks it would he unwise to toil her of Hie golden d;i,\s ill store tot her. Tiin (.-Orfespondent asked Jane "fiat slit* would tio with £IOO. Her Lutie eyes widened. “1 would buy some infixes,” the little one replied will) decision, “Lots and lots of horses—fast ones.” “And what then?” Jane was asked. “ A lot of dogs.” the child said, after a pause for reflection. “Any dollies?” the questioner prompt ed. “No.” Jane shook her golden head emphatically. “I like dollies, but T would rather have horses and dogs—lots and lots of them.”

■ I WISH I WERE RICH.” Jane led the way to the lawn and introduced her visitor to her dogs. Grasping by their collars a massive Great Dane and a giant Alsatian she bore down on the writer, almost dragged off her feet by the rush of her giant pets, whose shoulders were on a level with her head. ‘Tt’s ali light,” Jane sfhouted “They’re quite safe. I’ve got them.” The mastiff was introduced as Lion and the Alsatian as Jimmy. Botli of them occasionally run behind Jane’s pony when she goes riding. In their wake were two more Alsatians, Susan and Moppy, followed by Velvet, a pant ing Sealvham, and Mnxie, a Dachshund. Jane next introduced lie liew-fouild friend to Sparkles alicl .Starlight, her ponies. Siiice her toddling dnVs she lids liiitl ridii!g lessoils li’oin heir lather’s stud groom, “Put” Redo, “I would rather have horses,” Juno confided to the visitor, “They go faster than ponies. If 1 had £IOO I would buy some horses and go hunting every day. Daddy will not let me ride to hounds every day, so on the other days l get- all my dogs and we go looking for hares on the hillside. But if I were rich I would hunt only foxes, not hares.” The blue eyes looked wistful. ‘T wish I were rich,” said Jane. ESTATE OF CHILDLESS WOMAN. A childless woman who was buried ill the rose garden of her beautiful house, with the special request that her age should not be engraved on the coffin and that it should for ever remain a secret, known only by her secretary and a few friends, has left this fortune of over £2,000,000. Mrs Helen Stewart Hornby-Lewis, owner of the historic country seat o ! f Danesfiekl, Medmenham, was the widow of a great Liverpool merchant, wJio was an early disciple of the tariff reform. It was always a great grief to her that she had no children, and for many years she worked for tlie Waifs and Strays Society. It is understood that she has made a generous bequest to this institution.

In addition to owning Danesficld. Mrs Hornby-Lewis had a luxurious chateau at Cannes, where she went to stay for three months every year. This is now for sale. The widowed woman also had a Park Lane house and a villa at Eastbourne. She died two days before Christmas. SAVING OF A BEAUTY SPOT. An Elizabethan house with its mullioned windows and clock tower is an object of interest to all who pass below it on the Thames. It is built on tlie site of an old Dutch camp and there was once an abbey on the spot. The ground surrounding the house is consecrated. This mansion, which royalty have visited, is now in the hands of servants In a few week’s time it will pass into new hands.

Mrs Hornby-Lewis, with her husband played a great part in saving for the nation the “Seven Sisters,” the famous beauty spot on the cliffs near Eastbourne, by a gift of LI 7(H). it was one of Mr Horn'-y-Lewis’s last public acts before lie died. “"With Mrs Hornby-Lewis.” a friend said, "lie was on his way back from France one evening. and as they passed the ‘Seven Sisters’ the sun was setting behind them. It- was so ineffably beautiful that the sight remained in his mind for over afterwards, and when there was a likelihood of the spot he lag built on he did all lie could to help save it.”

ELIZABETH'S FUTURE. An interviewer recently talked with til's Whiteiaw about her daughter's in heritanee. “Elizabeth will not come into tile estate until she is 26,'' sin l nd. “A eoining-of-nge at 26 instead of 21 is a tradition in my husband's family. When she roaches that age ‘hi/.aheth will have to change her name lrom Whiteiaw to Fiewart. as that is stipulated in the will/’ Al.’v \\ n tehnv cunnnned: “ltdizah; il/.s grandmother was Mrs llombyi.ewis s favourite sisier. am: Mrs ! lornhv-Lev, i> always had a great: al-f-'clion for Eliza bet h. Ihe legacy is not going (o make any difference to her life. l‘or t!i * present, shi‘ will remain here, riding, thnnling and playing w ith her little friends, and win n she gets older she n il! go to school. Elizabeth was an heiress before -Mrs Horn-by-!,ewi# died, tor my hnshand has wilh d half Is is fori one to her.”