A Chicago heiress in Paris is reported to have recently taken a leaf from the book of Marie Bashkirtseff, the Russian artist, and to have made an ocular demonstration of her wealth to the money worshippers of Europe. Say what you may of money-worship in America, there is nowhere such a marketing of anything and everything for money as there is in Europe. You can buy titles, rank, orders of nobility, anything you want from European sovereigns if only you have money.

"How do they know we have any money?" inquired the Chicago heiress of her mother, who is her companion in their residence abroad. "They hear we have, but Chicago is a great way off. We must let them see that we have money." And so it happened that a great loan was immediately negotiated in Chicago on the security of boulevard and choice city property, and forthwith there was a letter of credit sent to Paris for a fabulous sum, payable to the order of the Chicago heiress. Then followed a withdrawal of the immense sum—reported to be upwards of 2,500,000 francs, or $500,000—from the Bank of France, and then a most unique exhibition of the heiress surrounded by evidences of her wealth. It was, in fact, an exhibition, although it was announced that she had been ill and that a remittance from her vast interests in Chicago had, by accident, been pail to her in her sickchamber. the whole affair was undoubtedly prearranged to impress all Paris by a great coup d'etat with the possessions of the la belle Americaine from the windy metropolis of World's Fair importance. It was cleverly worked and all Paris exclaims: "Mon Dieu, what a rich and clever people these Americans! How fascinating and what a lovely conquest for a great prince is the fair heiress from Chicago!"

Illustrated Police News, July 26,1890.