National Republican., 1883-10-09
a MAN or MANY uoBBIEs.
william j. HIens's Collections OF Paint
ings, Books, Insects, and Mechanical
Toys and Tricks.
Nein YORK. 7Ymcs.

Toys and Tricks.
Ne,p York Times
Tho late William ]. Helms might be called
q man of many manias. that term being up
piled in its inonrensive sense. He lived on
large farm in tho township of Manchester, N.
j., which he called Sunnyside. 1t is somewhat
over two miles from Paterson center The
house, which has been his homo for nineteen
years and where he died. is an eighth of mile
back from the main road leading from Man
chester to Paterson, and is reached by
winding driveway lined on either side by
tall handsome trees Of many years growth.
There, eighteen years ago, his wife died. She
left him no children. His hobbies supplied tho
place of family during the later years of
his life, especially after he retired from act
i've business life, about three years ago.
His house became n veritable curiosity
shop. In il are gathered together o large
collection of paintings in both oil and water
coors, by foreign and American artists. and n
very valuable collection of old engravings Of
nearly every school and including works of
nearly every noted engraver. There is also
n large library especially rich in works on
Horticulture and horticulture, two of Mr..
Heins's hobbies; and in old editions and
manuscripts, q large proportion being in Ger
man, valuable selections secured by him
while visiting his native country. He had
gathered also n collection of coins, gold, sill
yer, and copper, which is more numerous
and valuable than that of many professionals,
and collection of chronological specimens
numbering thousands, all mounted and clas-
sified rs carefully as arc those in tho collec-
tion of any specialist in that limo.
But the most curious feature of this curios.
ity shop is tho collection of mechanical toys
and apparatus of magical tricks. ln the for
mer he took an almost childish delight, and
was purchaser of every novelty of Ameri-
can or European manufacture he could find
in the market. This collection numbers
hundreds of pieces. Mr. Helms had natural
lOvo for mechanics, and desire to test and
experiment with the inventions of Others. In
the mechanical devices for the performance
of magical tricks he was, however, an in
ventOr, and was probably one of the most OK
pert amateur magicans that ever lived. He
was constantly inventing tricks of this class,
having tho delicate and often intricate
machinery made by the best workmen. Their
secrets he revealed to no one, though he
would occasionally mystify his few friends by
an exhibition of these devices of his fertile
brain. lie had seen all of tho famous ma
gicians Of the world, but was intimate with
none of them except the late Robert Heller,
whom he considered the most expert of his
class. Several of this magician's famous
tricks were perfected by Mr.. Helms. who also
worked out suggestions made by Mr.. Heller
on several occasions The mechanical appli-
ances used by Heller, Frikel, Houdin, Hartz,
the original Signor Blitz, and other famous
magicians arc all in his collection, but hardly
outnumber those Of his own invention, which
have never been shown in public, The Sc
cret of most of these died with him. The
| p ossession of tho collection and the key to
its secrets would be an ample foundation for
| fortune to its possessor If one-half of what
is told of his wonderful collection and the
tricks he could perform with it be true.
! Mr.. Hens was native of Minden. in West
phalia, Prussia, where he was born Aug. 10.
1915, and came to this country in 1910, living
first at Philadelphia where he amassed q
large fortune while engaged in the importing
| trade. About the close of the war he came
to this city and engaged in tho insurance
business. In 1871 he went to Germany and
interested capitalists there in the formation
| of the man-American Insurance company y
of this city, of which he was president for a
number of years. He was at one time inter
ested in the Westphalia Lloyds and the
Hamburg Aiagdoburg companies, and was also
o member of the firm Of Helms & Goodridge,
! insurance adjusters, who had an office in this
| city and branch Office for short time in
Paterson, N. j. He, however, retired entirely
from business in 1880, and since then has
devoted himself especially to Horticulture and
horticulture. His grounds and greenhouses
abounded in flowers and fruits of every de-
scription. Hepainted, in company with two
friends, in water cOlors, pictures of the va
rious fruits, his collection of this class of
paintings, ho claimed being the largest and
most complete of any in the country. His
own work with the brush would have done
credit to moro pretentious artist. Mr. Helms
was q member of the Lutheran church.
Funeral services will be held at Sunnyside al
o'clock this afternoon, aud his body will bC
buried in Greenwood tomorrow.