Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1880-07-14
A BARBER COUNT.


A remarkable career of social impos
ture came to an end not long since il
New York in the death OF one Haase
barber Of that city. This person
strange as it may seem, lived two en-.
tirely different and distinct lives in the
shop at home he was barber Haase
in the great world Of New York $50
oiety" he was Baron de Maincy, or, us
he was more familiarly known, Baron
Carlos" As Baron Carlos he was
introduced into what are called the
best circles of New York. Silly fash
ionable women were delighted to be
noticed by this tonsorial artist en- mutt
and he was generally favorite with
the females who were honored with
his acquaintance, Carlos scraped the
chins of his customers, and the beau
monde OF New York struggled 70
scrape his acquaintance.
In this way of mutual interchange
the world and "Baron Carlos" main
tanned strangely diversified but agree
able relations. But a time came at
last when M. de Maincy met a Gus
toner who was neither TO be trifed
with nor duped. Death, a more ao-
complshed hariequin-more protean
in his disguises-than even orr Baron,
called in on him one day quietly, and
there was an end Of the Jest,
As Baron de Maincy his death was
certified to, and a genteel tremor ran
through "society" at the announce
ment that the social lion was no more.
Indeed, but for a little matter OF
money-a triao in the way of an in.
heritance awaiting his widow-for
there was a Nine. Haase--in beautiful
France, Murray Hill and thereabouts
might have gone down to its grave, as
it were, in ignorance of the truth OF
the imposture. But Nine. Haase
learned that by a French law it was
necessary for wife to obtain her hus.
bands consent, or show, proof of his
death, before taking a legacy. Upon
this statement of stubborn facts she
applied to the Supreme Court to have
his death certificate altered to his real
name of Haase, in order that she
might present it in France as a proof
of her widowhood, and in this prosaic
way Of business was ii that the care
fully kept secret became known. Last
week the Court ordered the change to
be made, and Nine. Haaso will proba.
bly, get her legacy.
There is something Of a moral in
this little story of lIaase alias "Baron
Carlos" 1t is this: that American
parents would do well to scrutinize
the credentials ofat least three -fourths
of the alleged scions Of nobility who
present themselves as acquaintance OF
their daughters. Old residents of
Washington may remember how
some half century ago certain tailor
in that city assumed-aitcr dark-to
be a Count, and assuch had the entree
to what was, at that time, by contrast
with the present, tolerably good
Washington society" This varlet cut
out and sewed breeches in the day
time, and in the evenings under the
soft light OF the wax candle, the al
giornO of the Venetians, he capered
and posed as Count Something-or.
other. A gentleman who had met the
jester socially had occasion TO call at
the tailorshop to be measured for a
suit of clothes. In the backroom he
stumbled on the Count" The murder
was out, it is true, but how confused
was society" at the discovery Per
haps this person assumed TO be a
"Count D'Albora"--perhaps it was
something else. AT all events, had bis
imposture and its exposure taught
"society" a lesson, he had not lived in
vain, But, as we all know, the exact
reverse is the case, for American $50.
ciety" is as servile in its adulatiOn of q
Count, real or alleged, today, as it
was fifty or seventy.fve years ago.