St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-09-30

,SSsS.asSGsssss4 fs ftsS my visit to Minneapo-
a c'@ "Old cons" L ex-
claimed in my innO-
cence, chow can you
use those ugly things for ornaments,
and don't they cost little fortune?" l
said trying to recall some vague stories
which 1 had heard as to the fabulous
prices paid for old coins.
Just come in and see them" said
my friend airily, they're only bits of
bell-metal in funny shapes, and each
one has square opening so you can
string them together or use them for
bangles"
But maybe they cost a good deal
more than we can afford" | remOn-
strated, because school teachers like
myself are brought up to consider it a
sin to spend emOney for any luxury
except books.
mo. Miss Economy, they don't cost
too much" Knocked my heartless friend.
1--WE can buy enough to make a brace
let apiece for quarter, and they look
so chic, you know"
didn't know, but permitted myself
to be led around among the quaint and
charming articles which make the
japanese store where one may lnger
and lOiter every day for a week, always
finding something new and ever adding
to ones knowledge of Oriental cOlOrS
and customs. We sauntered about look
ing over the fans and pottery, listening
to people rave about the very latest de-
sign in rose jars or tea sets. After
a while we found the proprietor, and
my friend brusquely invited him to trot
out his coin collection, because she had
a country schOOlma'am along who al
ways thirSted for knowledge.
MADAM, I'm sorry, but have them
not any mOrer' exclaimed the dealer
with deprecating air. 1.-The fact is, L
have sold them to numiSmatist."
"What on earth is numiSmatiSt?"
quOth my irreverent friend.
Why it's man who collects all sorts
of Old and rare coin. He can tell you
all the histories and values. Maybe the
young ladies would like to visit the col
lection and hear something about COMES.
Then you would get the japanese pieces
which you so ardently wished few
moments agO-"he stopped talking and
looked about to see if any stray ideas
had gotten away and secreted them
selves among the pottery on the shelves.
But no ideas were forthcoming so we
had a chance to air our notions. 81
would like to 60 if only l had my note
DOOh ulOllS cuSSSoOSus
Bother your note book, come along
without if you please. You'll have
chance to cultivate your memory" was
my friends comment. But didn't get
offended. She never has to vegetate in
the country several months of the year
and she doesn't realize how dear that
note book becomes to me.
However we took the address given,
and after finding the building had to
climb ever so many narrow stairways.
Knocking at doorway in the attic, we
were admitted by little old man wear
ing green spectacles and a rusty velve-
teen. His face lighted up when we
stated our errand.
'Oh, yes; the young ladies should
have some of those common little coins
without any payment. Why it takes
hundreds of them to make value equal
to 81 in our money" he explained.
We glanced around the room where
his treasures were displayed, and at
first sight it was decidedly uninterest-
ing. The coins all looked dull copper
or bronze hue, with little figures and
legends upon them.
t.How did you happen to become a
numismatiSt?' | asked, stumbling a
lite over the new word.
He explained that he saw the display
at Smithsonian institute several years
ago, and Immediately became possessed
of desire to go and do likewise.
"What is displayed there?" asked.
1t is said that they have specimen
of every coin that was ever made in
| the United States; also from every
country on the Globe. But the value of
| this collection is so great that they are
guarded by many bolts and bars. Only
! honored visitors are permitted to see
them.
"There's no hope that you or l will
ever see them, let's go home" said my
! friend with yawn. l was just begin
ming to be interested, and had no no
ton of leaving. 'How do you get the
cOins?" l queried. ''NOw, Miss, that's
what gives this art its peculiar fascina-
ton. There are many valuable and
rare coins in circulation or supposed to
be lost, and who knows but that he may
| find one at any moment. The most
valuable pieces have nearly always been
| brought to light by mere accident. So
| the coin collector is always watching
| and waiting for rare find. Some
] times they wait in vain," he said with q
sigh. Fortune seemed not to have
smiled on his efforts"
| SIS there no other way of procuring
COINS" asked as pictured with what
| eagerneSS L would look over every piece
received from the corner grocery or the
postoffice. 1 fancied myself finding
some rare piece, exchanging it for a
modest fortune, and was just arranging
how l would spend the money, when
the old mans shrill, piping voice broke
in upon my reverie.,
There society containing more than
fifty members organized for the express
purpose of searching for coins. Their
agents are scattered all over the world.
They expend thousands of dollars every
year in the search. Their rules and
workings are strictly kept from public
knowledge. No woman can join that
| society, because she might sometimes
forget to keep its secrets" he added
with cruel emphasis.
| Don't the members have to spend
lots of time and money i'll the work."
| inquired my friend.
"Oh, yes, Miss" said our mentor.
sThen if some woman offered to spend
a million dollars, say for the benefit of
this society, suppose they wouldn't
admit her?'' queried my friend in a
sarcastic tone.
Our informant didn't think they
would, but said the society would prob
4 III. i L., h. Af n