The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1888-02-11
OLD CURIOSITY SHOP,
A PLACE FULL OF STRANGE AND
VALUABLE ARTICLES.

Paintings Worth Fortune-Alexande
erncr's BIistake-A Package of Dia-
monds-story of Photograph.
"Yes, l have received many curious and
antique articles since began business thirty
five years ago" said Robert Taggart to re-
porter tho other day. Mr.. Taggart is a pio-
neer ia tho storage business and his establish
ment is filled with old objects, each Of which
has an interesting history.
"Now, amonga vast collection of fine paint
ings which l got in the course of bust
ness" continued Mr.. Taggart, "are two
which have been told time and again are
originals by Rubens Ono represents the
alteration of the Saviour in the stable of
Bethlehem. The subject Of the other / do
not know, as have never met any one who
could tell me. There is an inscription ON this
picture in one of the dead languages, be-
lieve, because l have never been able to find
any one learned enough to translate it. The
picture represents queen on a magnificent
throne giving orders apparently to some Of
the royal guards.
"llow did you become possessed of tho
picturess" asked the reporter
"The day the first gun was fired at Fort
Sumter a gentleman who was very well
known here then and hated equally as well
for his avowed sympathy with the southern
cause came into my place and told mo he in
tended going south and aiding the Confeder-
ates with his money and every way else lie
could. lie asked mo to take his household
furniture on storage.
"Hou won't have TO keep them long, he
said. The south will win sure, and I'll re-
turn to New York, for can't live anywhere
else
NEVER CALLED FOR.
III took his furniture. but it has never been
called for He raised a regiment south and
fell at Bull Run with his two sons at his side
He had no near relatives to mourn his loss and
so | have his furniture still The Rubenses
were among his chattels and also picture of
Murillo, for which had been offered $50 ,O00,
There is practically no price on the Rubenses.
Besides these pictures mentioned | have as
fine gallery of paintings MS any connosseur
would wish to look at have always been
fond Of pictures and never tried to dispose Of
any of them, although some of them would
bring fabulous prices"
Among other articles which Mr.. Taggart
showed to the reporter was pair of boauti-
full dueling pistols inlaid with solid gold and
9AfNif NhANh ohN bhO blitSf NIL AdEBuib Shl 81
used by Alexander Hamilton in his deadly
encounter with Burr on the Elysian fields,
where Weehawken is now growing up. The
pistols were once owned by Gen. Grant, but
they passed from him to another branch of
the family, and finally came into the posses
sion of Broadway jeweler, who is unfor-
tunately addicted to drink. During one of
his periodical sprees he placed the pistols,
with some other property, on storage with
Mr.. Taggart in order to raise money enough
to continue his debauch. He never called for
the weapons and the mans wife wants them
sold, as she says she hates to see them lying
around the house when her husband is on a
spree.
About two months ago. said Mr.. Tag
CART "a well dressed middle aged man came
into my place and, handing me a small
chamos bag, asked me how much / would
ask to keep it for him for day or two with
out examining the contents Twenty five
cents ! replied