104-year-old heiress Huguette Clark's sad, secret life

NYP ^ | August 27, 2010 | TODD VENEZIA

[Daffynition]

I think the MSNBC article does a good job, as does this one. Or as a large PDF file.

There was a big scandal [payola] about his ascent to office as senator; Bettering the condition of others wasn't his concern. Clark cut timber on federal land, and he benefited from Arizona's "deportations" of union men who were kidnapped and driven out of state. Criticized for the sulfurous smoke and denuded landscape from his mines, he said, "Those who succeed us can well take care of themselves."

"Robber barons," some historians call the tycoons of that era. Others prefer "industrial statesmen." Unlike Carnegie or Rockefeller, Clark left little charity, only corruption and extravagance.

"Life was good to William A. Clark," wrote historian Michael Malone, "but due to his own excesses, history has been unkind."

Credit: William Merritt Chase, 1915, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington

[Daffynition]

Hardly the case for Huguette. She has been markedly more charitable than her father. You may enjoy reading the PDF file.

[Daffynition]

Huguette Clark in France, "Le Sénateur Qui Aimait La France," 2005 [sic], André Baeyens

[ccmay]

In old time photos, people seldom were seen smiling.

That's because they were instructed to do so by the photographers. The exposures were several seconds long and the subjects had to hold perfectly still the whole time. It is essentially impossible to hold a natural-appearing smile for that long.

[ccmay]

Clarkdale, Arizona, and Clark County, Nevada were named for this woman’s father. He was supposedly a real rogue, the very picture of a Gilded Age robber baron.

[Vide]

As in available for adoption

Thank goodness for that.

[JoeProBono]

The Clark family traveled often to Paris. A ship's registry from 1914 sets birthdates for the family: William Andrews Clark, age 75, Connellsville, Pa., Jan. 8, 1839; Anna E., age 36, Calumet, Mich., March 10, 1878; Andrée, age 12, Spain, Aug. 13, 1902; and Huguette, age 8, Paris, June 9, 1906. At home, they had 10 servants and a French chef.

[Daffynition]

Huguette Clark with one of her prized dolls around 1910. Doll collecting became a lifelong passion for the reclusive heiress. (William Andrews Clark Memorial Library)

[OldPossum]

Well, I suppose it would be nice to be rich based on somebody else’s efforts and then disburse some of one’s wealth to charity. I would be more impressed with someone who works hard and accumulates a lot of money and then gives just about all of it away.

I note that the lady has more than one house. If she were a true “humanitarian” she would sell just about everything (including all bur one house) and give the proceeds away.

As I said, I’m not impressed by a standard-issue heiress.

[Daffynition]

I'm not trying to defend her, yet if you read the PDF file, you would have learned that the New Canaan, CT home is up for sale.

*Now her 12,766-square-foot home, with 52 wooded acres, is for sale for $24 million, marked down from $34 million. Taxes are $161,000 a year.*

[OldPossum]

The woman is 104 years old, and now her excess homes are for sale. Kind of late, don’t you think?

I stand by my position that people who acquire wealth by inheritance are nothing special.

[Daffynition]

That's cool.

Clark bequeathed this advice as well: "The most essential elements of success in life are a purpose, increasing industry, temperate habits, scrupulous regard for one's word ... courteous manners, a generous regard for the rights of others, and, above all, integrity which admits of no qualification or variation."

[goat granny]

I think they look as they do because of the time lapse for the photo to take....too hard to keep a smile that long...it wasn’t just click and your done...

[goat granny]

If the dolls are still in existence, I'll bet its worth multimillion's of dollars.

[Daffynition]

They would have to be. I never played w/ dolls as a child and dolls that were gifts were kept in their original boxes, untouched. I was shocked to find the thousands they got at auction...and these were just run-o-the-mill US manufactured dolls. Especially with their *provenance*, her dolls would be worth a lot to collectors. ...[who are probably salivating as we type.]

[goat granny]

When I had the farm, I sold mohair to a lot of doll artists. I use to set up a table at all the shows. Got a little education about antique dolls that way and some go for thousands of dollars, depending on the maker and condition. Mint is worth a mint....:O)

[Daffynition]

That must have been interesting. To me dolls have always been *spooky* ...like many people abhor clowns ...I dislike dolls.

Poor Huguette ....Her grand half-nephew, Andre Baeyens, said the following: “Everything stopped for her when her mother died, she didn’t want to go out. She didn’t want to have beautiful things, no, no. She just wanted to be home and play with her dolls.”

[DollyCali]

Interesting thread/info Daffy = thanks!

[Daffynition]

You’re welcome Dolly. It sure makes you think about what makes you happy in life. ;)