RED HAIR NEARLY
LOST HER FORTUNE
BABY BRUENING GETS $42,000
IN SPITE OF HER TRESSES.
GRANDFATHER LEFT NO WILL
ESTATE IS DIVIDED AMONG HIS
NEAREST RELATIVES.
Color of Infant's Locks Was Source
of Worry to the Elderly Bruen-
ing in His Declining
Years.
Just last week Sarah Theresa Bruening, 1416 Central street, was sent around the corner to a private kindergarten in Thirteenth street. There are a lot of boarders at the Bruening home and Mrs. Bruening needed all her time to earn a living for herself and the baby. So Sarah Theresa was sent to kindergarten mornings while her mother did the work and, within a week, little Theresa was taught a lot of discipline. That gave the hard-working little mother of the child time -- and it meant more money and nice clothes for Theresa.
Today Sarah Theresa Bruening is one of the richest children in Kansas City. She was 4 years old September 26, and yesterday the stroke of an official pen in court estimated her holdings in notes, mortgages, stocks and bonds at $42,000. It is her share of the estate of her grandfather, Theodore Bruening, who lived at 2102 Troost avenue before his recent death. The elder Mr. Bruening did not have time to write a will -- he spent his time worrying because he feared little Sarah Theresa would have red hair. So the estate was divided among the widow, a son, three daughters and 4-year-old Sarah Theresa Bruening, whose father died before she was born.
A GOOD EDUCATION.
Little Sarah Theresa hasn't planned on the manner in which she will spend or invest her suddenly acquired wealth. She doesn't know she has any wealth. But the child's mother, Mrs. Anna Smyth Bruening, has formulated a plan. She is going to devote her talents and time to realize it. Here it is:
"A good Catholic education; that's all the plan I have ever made for the baby."
Anna Smyth Bruening was born in Ireland. Little Sarah Theresa was born with blue eyes and light golden hair. And Ireland and golden hair worried the doting grandfather. His constant query when he visited his daughter-in-law was "Will she have red hair?" He often asked about Mrs. Bruening's father and mother and traced her family tree in search for the golden tresses. Finally he gave it up and said it was all account of the Irish. But the grandfather never ceased to worry because his little granddaughter had been endowed with golden locks, which her mother prized and knows will some day become the envy among Sarah Theresa's grownup women companions.
The old brick mansion at 1416 Central street doesn't belong to Mrs. Bruening. A trim little sign on the front door of the stately old house says "Board and Rooms." Mrs. Bruening's mother lives there too and the house is full of young men. By this means Mrs. Bruening has supported those dependent upon her efforts as a provider. She is only 30, but a life of endurance and work has powdered her hair silver. The young looking face is heavily shaded by a wealth of white hair, which one might expect to see a woman of twice her age possess.
SHE'LL KEEP ON WORKING.
Mrs. Bruening came from Ireland when she was 8 years old and her parents lived at St. Mary's Kas., where she was educated in a convent. When she left the convent she was married to Theodore Bruening, Jr., and he died a year and a half later. Then Sarah Theresa was born with her red hair and blue eyes and Mrs. Bruening has been working ever since. She doesn't intend to quit working now because her child has a fortune.
When the little girl was introduced to a Journal reporter she put her arm about her young mother's neck and whispered: "Honey, may I have a nickel?"
"Not today, dear," said the mother.
"Then mamma, honey, make it a penny," replied the child, with the resignation of a plutocrat willing to take all that was available.
When the penny, in turn, was declined, the child went out to play. She didn't cry.
MAY KEEP THE BOARDERS.
It isn't likely that the board and room sign will come down form the front of the Bruening home. Sarah Theresa's mother, though young and pretty, has got into the way of making a living and wishes to keep busy. It is understood a settlement will be made upon her, too, and the income of the baby's holdings will be available, but Mrs. Bruening doesn't care much about spending money.
She has requested that a son of the baby's grandfather and benefactor, Henry Bruening, 3800 Washington street, be appointed guardian of the child. If Henry Bruening should not live long enough to hand over Sarah Theresa's property when she becomes of age, then Mrs. Bruening thinks maybe she will have time to be in a position to look after her daughter's stocks and bonds and things.
There was over $200,000 in the estate of the elder Theodore Bruening and about $115,000 of it was personal property. He was a general contractor and his son, Sarah Theresa's father, was his employe until the younger man's death.
Sarah Theresa will continue at the kindergarten for a while. Later, according to her mother's plans, she will enter St. Theresa's or the Loretta academy for the finished education Mrs. Bruening has dreamed about so long and worked so hard for.
