The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-10-07
a Man Of Many Hobbies.
MR.. HEINS'S COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS. Toys
AND TRICKS.
New York Times.l

MR.. Helms COLLECTION OF PAINTINGS, Toys.
AND TRICKS.
New York Times.l
The late William J. Helms might he
called a man OF many manias, that term be.
ing applied in its inohensiye sense. lie
lived on large farm in the township Of
Manchester, y. j.. which he called sunny
side. His wife died eighteen years ago
She left him no children. His hobbies sup.
Piled the place OF a family during the later
years Of his life, especially after he retired
from active business life, about three
years ago. His house became a vcritablC
curioslty-Shop. In il are gathered together
a large collection of paintings in both oil
and water cOlOrs by foreign and Amcri.
can artists, and very valuable collection OF
old engrayings OF nearly every school. and
including works of nearly every noted en-
graver. There i also q large library e>pe-
cially rich in works on Horticulture and
horiculiurc-tWO Of Mr.. llcins's hobbies
and IN old edition and manuscripts. large
proportion being in Gcrman-yaluablc Sc
lectionS secured by him while visiting his
native country. He had gathered also a
collection of cOins-gold. silver, and cop
per which Is more numerous and valuable
than that OF many professionals. and col
lection OF chronological specimens num-
bering thousands. all mounted and classified
a carefully Is are those in the collection OF
any specialist in that line.
But the most curious feature OF this en-
riosity-shop is the collection Of mechanical
TOYS and apparatus for magical tricks. In
the former he took an almost childish de-
light, aud was purchaser OF every novel
~ OF American or European manufacture
he could find IN the market. This c0llec-
ton numbers hundreds Of pieces. Mr..
Helms had a natural love for mechanics.
and desire to test and experiment with
the inventions 0f others. In the mcchan-
zeal devices for the performance OF magical
tricks he was, however. an inventor.
and was probably one of the most
expert amateur magicilns that ever lived.
He was constantly inycnting tricks OF this
class. having the delicate and often intri-
cate machinery made 10y the best workuen.
Their secrets he revealed TO no one, though
he would occasionally myStiiy his few
friends by I'm exhibition OF these devices
OF his fertile brain. He had seen all OF the
famous maeician> Of the world. but was
intimate with none OF them except
the late Robert Heller. whom he con.
>idcred the most expert OF his class.
several OF this magician, famous
tricks were perfected by Mr. Hens,
who also worked out suggestion,
made 10y Mr.. Heller on several occasions.
The mechanical appliances used by Heller,
FrikeL IIoudiu, llarlz Uhe original Sgnor
BlitZ). and other famous magicians are all in
hi, collection. but hardly outnumber those
OF his own invention, which have never
been shown in public. The secret of most
Of these died with him. The possession
Of the collection and the key to it, secrets
would be- an ample foundation for for
tune 10 its pOsScSsor il one half Of what i,
told OF hi, wonderful collection and the
tricks he could perform with it be true.