The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-29
A SOIL PASSING STRANGE.

vivid than imagination can create, is
often asserted, and is an assured truth.
New York, 90 we gather from the New
York World, has recently furnished an
instance the character d'awing
Dickens, with his gallery OF strange
oddities, never equaled. A year ago
last week, au III dressed, STOPPING old
man was eeen to fall in the New York
CT y Hall Park upon the icy hiRs. He
was carried TO Chambers Street Hos
pitsl, the neck Of the right iemur hav-
ing been shaitsredsby the fall. lie
was told that he mus! submit TO treat
ment or die, but be insisted on beir &
taken TO his home, he could afford to
incur no expense. 1he furgeon, on
examination, lonud no shirt beneath
bis buttoned up, shiny coat, no stock
inss within the stogy shoes. The.man
insisted that bis hurt was only aaprain,
and utterly obstinate, he was sent
to a little crsmp6d attic, foul with dirt
and undisiurbed dust and cobwebs.
An In On bed, straw mattress, a hair.
less trunk without key, broken
chair ard heaps ID dust covered pa
prs, were the sole furniture. Suffer
ing excessive anguish here the patient
was left, reioiciog that he had escaped
hospital expenres, and declaring his
hurt was only sprain, and here he
was mex found dead upon his mat
tress. This wretched outcast was no
less q rersOn than James Henry
Paine. highly educated. fine writer,
most charming conversstionalist, a
passionate lover Of music, and the
owner OF thousands of dollars. He
was a grandson OF Robert Treat Paine,
one OF the signers OF the Declaration
Of Independence. Then no was a
miser, ssys the resder-he heaped
money together, but would not use it,
and appeared Indifferent az to
what became of it. He was born
in 1912 Ia the Paine mansion, Bos-
ton; his father was owner Of
lands that became mere valuable every
year. At school Paine was hated for
his meauness, and though a bright
scholar he was tloven. He appeared
to care nothing about being Stunned,
and kept alone. Later on his wonder
full turn for music showed itself by
Just and sparkling criticisms in the
Boston Post. He also very skillfully
a led the financial department. But
he was all this time not dbbbling in
stocks. but lending at luxurious rates
to those who did, and he had the
moanness to color bis financial reports
GO as TO favor where the interests of
his loans lay, AS money lenuer he
Yves a perfect Shylock and every year
he grew richer. His proceedings
sometimes Ghaved the law 10 Clofe-
ly that he found It we'll TO leave
B)tton for New York. There he got
ilto trouble by keeping notes and col
lateral Of a broker who died in his
debt, He was arrested, and Laban y.
Bsechor, executor Of the estate, 30
keenly pursued him that he brought
him to terms. Paine took Mr.. Beecher
TO q large brown stone house on Fifth
avenue, whore he entered into finely
furnished room, dirty, Baedy and woe
hsgone az Paine's habiliments were.
Here he acted as one at home without
question, yet Of that grand house and
his connection with it, absolutely
nothing Is known today. Paine was
rsticent TO wonder, and no one
knows what his affairs were. nere
Paine brought before Mr.. Bescher
large mass OF bonds, and counted out
10 him fifty six Of $1,000 each, leaving,
Mr.. Beecher believed, 100000 be-
hind. SO Paine went on, acting the
bsggar, spongipg where he could
for food, wearing only such
garments rs were given him in
charity. He must have been a miser,
the reader is sure, but here comes u
stauge WONDER In 1884 q lodger in
a neighboring room searched Psine's
truck, which was never locked, and
carrie of q mass Of bank notes as
thick as two fists. Paine calmly men,
toned the loss, but never showed a
sign Of RrievlDg alter the money, and
could not even tell how much there
was in tho big roll. Seventeen years
ago Paine placed in Mr.. Chickering's
hand q handkerchief with bills in it,
asking him to keep 1t in his cafe.
There the money lay unsought and
ulinquirsd after by It's owner. After
his death Mr.. Chicksring gave it to
the proper parties. He had never
opened It, II contained 100000.
About the mans person, trunk aud
room there is moral certainty that
vast sums were accumulated. Ghoals
got into the room before friends un-
derstood the circumstances, and the
thousands kept there are the prey of
thieves. The heirs claim the $780,
0)0 and the rest, but there Is
claimant under will that
cannot be produced, and lawsuits will
make infoRds on what remains. The
msn's passion fer music was wonder
full; il would even inducS him to at
tend the concert OF Jenny Lind, Patti
and Others, but his finely written crit
iclems on them and upon musical suh-
jects often repaid bis outlay, He a.
tended ohurcnes whore the choirs are
choice, hid away IN his seedy clothing
In some obscure corner. AS q convex
sztionalist he charmed all with whom
he came In contact. What are We 10
think OF mind 50 anomalous2 VIC