The New York herald., 1879-02-01
QUIZZING The COUSINS AND The AUNTS.
A Sample of the insecurity in Which
Rich Old Bachelors Live.
EVIDENCE OF AN UNSOUND MIND.
Relatives in SwarnS Suddenly
Appear on the Scene.

upderstandinely on q range Of topics bounded by
byron real estate women and the palm leaf trade OF
thirty years ago. would seem to an ordinary mind to
possess average intelligence say the least and to
be quite competent to manage his own affairs Such
q man Jonathan Tremain Wells was found to be yes
terday afternoon when under the shadow OF the Su-
preme Courts frown, hedged in by anxious friends
and crippled by loving cousins, he held long
converse with representative OF the HERALD.
Mr.. Wells stands in boot and one gaiter. the
latter united and both rather rusty. not far from
six feet tall and quite thin i'll body. His head is
high narrow and well covered by silvered hair that
runs into little side whiskers his cheeks His
eyes. close together, gray and piercing his
nose straight and well shaped. his lips thin and
bloodless. On the back of his hands the dark
swollen veins stand out prominently and his
throat displays the wrinkles of old age. He
dressed in thin outercoat, thin undercoat- two
vests, badly soiled pair of trousers, an Old fash-
toned cravat standing collar. looking not unlike the
bronzed pictures that adorn the parors and sitting
rooms Of hundreds of New England homes. His
is quick and bright his regard eager. his
bearing that of Of one idea. and his CONVERSE
tion interesting dull according to the topic-like
that of everybody else.
WHAT HE SAYS AUToBIoGRAPHIcALLY.
Passing deliberately from adjoining Office to the
dark little passage that leads to his oldtime loft Mr.
Wells tried the door, shook the paddock placed there
by the receiver of his estate and with deep sigh
returned and, shaking his venerable head said Well
this is irksome Why, can't even take look at my
things, much less control them.
'How long have you been in there, Mr.. WellsY"
'Oh many years; about forty. should say.
cant say exactly"
"were you born in New York-wels is an Eastern
name?
"No. My parents Connecticut people, but
any father moved to Franklin county when
about two years DID,
"What was his business?'
'He was a drover and took care of cattle bound to
the New York and Boston markets."
Were you only child?"
'No there were three sons and two daughters. left
home early and came here to make the fortune my
kind friends seek to relieve me Of"
'Did you have any money when you began?"
mot SO mnch as l have now"
s'No but, seriously, you one OF these self-made
men? Did you have anything when you began?"
Nothing. All had in the world was q few dollars
in my jacket pocket"
"who is this Mr.. Sibley that seeks to take such
good care of your
"Ohl he's lawyer. and very odicous man. He
In simply pursuing his vocation. can't say that
appreciate his attentions. My relatives are very
numerous all of sudden"
1.-The rafts are relatives, too, are they not?"
$50 it seems so it seems There's plenty of 'em
now. Why, of 'em got hold of me this afternoon
and talked and held to me for an hour. meant to
have been back here in half hour. met him at
my lawyer's.
1.-The who looks like Byron?'
''well, don't know about Byron. The fact is
didn't think much about Byron in my young days.
was devoted to my business"
.sThe straw business The firm was Wells & Miles,
and we did a very large business in palm leaves"
Leaves or hatsT
and sold them to the hat makers. You remember the
old scoop bonnets and the Dunstaole straws too. of
courseY
..well, mind; but this lawyer, Mr.. Kent-is
he your present counselg'
Yes have placed myself in his hands and I
rather think my ofiicious friends on the other side
will find their hands full next Wednesday"
''Ycu are living with Miss Sophia Ruckel, and have
been a. long time. Is she a true friend p
''oh. bless your heart, yes. Let see; there
Ave Ruckel sisters. They moved to Brooklyn and
built a house in Woodruff street, where those who
living still remain. went to board with them
over twenty-five years ago. They are more than
kind and careful l consider their house my home.
A TEST MEMORY.
Ibid you know Mr. Seth Lowg'
''The father of A. A. Low-oh yes. He was in bust
ness here and lived in Brooklyn
HAS this neghborhood changed any since you
mot much The business part of the city is about
es found it. The men are gone. the property re-
mains. The Elevated Railroad makes the place lit
tie more noisy and rattlng, but otherwise there is
but little change
the City Hallr'
mo. can't say do. Tho public buildings. of
course knew Of but was wrapped up IN business
when young snan and thought OF little eise."
You should have married"
ION. don't know. None OF our family ever mar
ried."
why didn't yous'
"wen I suppose il was because didn't think
much about the girls when young man."
for ali that you have many friends and public
opinion seems to favor you"
81 think I'm certain / not conscious of
having done anything to forfeit the public's good
opinion"
Have you the receiver since he took your
Affairs into his hands?"
mo; don't why should. He win have to
answer to the Court, not to me-
always call himg'
''I-well you'd laugh TO see the whole of 'em.
They are at me all the time. They actually sit
around while l drink my coffee They are very very
"How about money for spending purposes Do
they let you have anyS Does the receiver give you
n, Here the old man. who had been leaning forward
in his chair intonty cycling the queris sat back and
throwing up his chin laughed heartily. why" said
he, the receiver doesn't 10 think need any.
Well, don't spend much, that's a fact, but col
locted enough last saturday night to pay my ex-
''WhereY
"kents"
rentsr
mot more than other landlords. or course have
some trouble, but don't mind It,"
office, doesn'tit?"
'ies. Hs positively irksomc. cant understand
the right OF any man lawyer court to come
here, take all my things away and then actually lock
ne out of a place that have occupied more than
forty years. can't attend to my business at all"
THAT'S what they say in their aihdavits, that you
rant attend 60 your business"
'lcs, but they mean IL in another sense"
"i hope you will beat em. and the public seems to
hope SO, too.
what do you suppose this Sibcy is really after?'
asked Mr. Wells.
ITO keep you from wasting your property or hav.
ing IL taken from you"
"lluinphl' continued he; 'hcs very anxious all of
sudden. He will find on Wednesday that I'm
not the fool they represent"
You must keep cool and not lose your temper
when they question you"
''Ycs, 4 Know. My lawyer tells TO hold my
tongue and keep cool, and mean to. daresay am
not glib as was. but I'm quite able To manage
my affairs ~ these cousins and friends who seek to
manage 10 for me-"
''But they don't like your investments"