The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-06-15
THE PRlNCEPS WILLOW.

lam Corridor A. Ward TX, Room 5.
Don mention it, You have all seen me
the little old man who wears blue morocco
slippers and long nankeen dressing gown.
stoops in his shoulders, meagre, spectacles
above nose. snuff under it-you must have
seen me, for | an the Oldest Inhabtant,
Jaaues Gouet-but don't mention it. |
have some odd ways, have always been
little droll think, but | am not insane. |
came here because it was expedient for me to
assume to be lunatic, to escape the punish
ment which my crmes-for misfortunes
are crimes-properly merited. But please
do not mention this whatever you do. 1t is
a dead secret | have been here hard upon
twenty five years; administrations have
charged, but have not; doctors have died
and their sons succeeded them; the build
inr been rebuilt repaired, restored while
have continued always the SAM, no signs Of
decay even in my top story, which. Of course
settles the question of lunacy adversely to
the doctoas-hut you nee int mention this.
They are gentry whom it is proper to let
down easy. They mean we'll and, besides,
they have saved me from much lnconven-
fence.
have servived my own generation. but
people Of Louis philippes time remember
me-even the Citizen King himself has done
me the honor to rest his umbrella against
my stall and take a pinch from my tabatlere.
Oh. | assure you, BIbiiophile Jacques
was well known in those times. any my little
book-stall on the DUAL NolIaire was a place
ofhrh resort Paroief hoaaeur! | have
seen three members Of the Academy touch
ing elbows at my shelves overy one with
| speclacles on nose with rose at button hole
entertained, absorbed. delighted All, those
gentlemen have the faculty Of appreciation.
| They know rare book when they see it,
| They have appraised the value OF literary
/ treasures. was always uneasy when they
came 10 look ut my rare books. They Cit
inadver ten;ly put them into their pockets
Or forget TO lay them down-such habits IF
profound meutal abstraction long III iulge
| Don meu.ion this
y on see was sort of bibllomauiae, an !
knew how To fuel rare books. Ibe only
Trouble hal was in parting with my liter
airy treasures after | rot theh am fond
IT money; | may say am something q j
niscr out there are--excuse the Iua finite
phrase--there are more pessiblliiles n a
rare book than in money When you nave
rot hold ct n perfect copy OF some e.st4a
princspy, when probably there are not more
than SIX other copies Of the edition extant.
and OF these four permanently locked up IN
| the libraries Of Vienna. tie British Museum
The National and the Mazarln-then you
NAV be said 20 nave a corner IN our rars
book aud YOU are safe 10 ask wnat prizes
yoa please Tor ii, and 10 get il. too. whei
the right Customer comes on but YOU
must wait till the right one comes. AMI n
mus, have a book craze that Is accQrdant L
the chord your rarity strikes This i !
trade secrst--don,t oetray il.
The Duke OF Saint Emihon was one OF m,
best patrons He was rich. he had Al ln-
come Of 500 600 livres. he had his ehateal
If Preiguac he had his vineyard that pro
lueed a hundred tuns Of white wines every
wear ne had his friends, his family, nj
library Twice year the Duke came 4
Paris for week. and had always TO wall
the stalls with him. help him find the novel
ties and dine with him At Couture's old res
iaurant in the Latin Quarter, where W
, knew how TO relieve the cellar Of three bot
ties of the best wine in Paris. Once moEt
the bake wrote me a formal letter. seaset
with bis crest. announcing the addition
made TO the library e Preguic, ami gIvlns
me commissions Every week | sent TO tn
Duke my bulletin Bibliograpaique. printes
for private circulation only
In the summer Of lS4a. NJ Saint Emi.i o'
sent me a formal invitation TO come spend /
week with him al preignac help him ar
range ms library. and view his treasures
went | left the railroad as Visiefranche
where the Duke met me With his coach an.
. isus. 40 foosmen-