Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-12-29
A REMARKABLY ORIGINAL PERsoN
Paris. Dec. 9TH, 1888.

| leCC. Ills Ddll6 Was DOIulCue, anu IL i
a name which has become within few
weeks illustrious, for Monsieur Borniche
was, in his way, protector of art, and
certainly Francois [ in all his glory
never caused as much oil to flow, as
much mixing of cOlOrs, and as much
daubing of white canvas as this humble
| and obscure person. Until the latter
part of his life Monsieur Borniche was
a merchant, enriched by the lumber
trade. He was little, thin, dried-up
old man, who went about the streets
leaning upon the arm of a servant as
small and thin as his master. Summer
and Winter he wore an overcoat far too
long, which trailed through the mud and
dust of the sidewalks. At all hours OF
the day he was seen in the narrow
streets where the poorer artists live, and
where enthusiasts hope to find in some
back shop under a lot of old rubbish a
Raphael, well authenticated" which
they will buy for few dollars. No one
can account for the suddenly assumed
artistic tastes of Monsieur Borniche
He had always been regarded as keen
shrewd business man, not in the least
| tainted with "artlstlc sentimentality.'
Nevertheless, he awoke one beautiful
morning to find himself enamCred with
art. 1t Is a great mystery, but very
likely drop of the blood of the Yalois
or the Medicis flowed in the plebian
veins of Monsieur Borniche Not that
he affected lordly manners or habits.
There was nothing in common between
him and the fastidious millionaires who
"arrange" picture galleries at great ex-
pense, invite their friends and the well
| known picture collectors to come to in
spect their treasures and a few weeks
later the whole collection is
SOLD AT AN ENORMOUS PROFIT
Nor did Monsieur Borniche resemble
certain persons of rank who give their
word ofhonor, " for certain fixed con-
sideratiOns, to introduce to the public
an unknown artist as one launched into
French society, a beautiful girl without
dot He soon learned the hard
conditions to which most artists are
condemned, and he knew that even the
most fortunate among them are often
in pressing need of a few dollars, and,
strange as it may seem, pictures signed
with illustrious names found their way
into his possession. 1t soon became
known among artists that he would buy
all pictures, good, bad and Indifferent,
no matter where they came from or by
whom painted, at a modest but fixed
price. He was no Judge of paintings,
and he hit upon this plan Of never be-
ing mistaken he had confidence in
chance, fate, or the good fortune which
had always used him kindly. In the
superficial opinion of the women of the
neighborhoods where reign supreme
poor artists, this astounding person,
who hlindly accepted every picture
offered him, not to decorate the walls Of
his home, but to store them away in his
empty houses and, when the houses
were full, in garrets, cellars, and even
in stables, like so many pieces of wood
or bits of brick, was regarded as de-
cidedly and extraordinarily eccentric, if
not a fit subject for Clarendon. But
who can tell what pleasure Monsieur
Borniche may have found for twenty
years in this mild and prolonged mania.
The miser without touching his gold
enjoys it secretly, and glows with emo
ton at the thought of all it could pro-
cure. He Is happy, absolutely happy,
in knowing it to be there, prisoner
safe in the strong box. Those who
knew Monsieur Borniche affirm that
THE ETERNAL CUNNING SMILE
Which wreathed" the corners Of his
mouth, and a certain shrewd and salts
fed expression of his whole face re-
vealed to the most careless observer