Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1890-06-13
LORD JOHNS BARGAIN.
How q Collector of Old China Was
Badly Duped.

Pierre, regarded with no little COM
placency his own possessions and
achievements. He was proud, in the
first place, of the fact that he was ST.
Pierre and at the same time considered
himself competent representative of
the talents and graces of the ancient
and illustrious house of Stoneyhurst
In the next place he was very proud of
his reputation as one of the best shots
at driven game in the United Kingdom,
and of his consequent entree into many
country houses where only brilliant
shots were welcomed. He was also
proud, very proud, Of his own perfect
manners, and plumed himself not with
out cause, on his insinuating address,
1T was on his reputation, however, as a
successful collector Of china that he
principally piqued himself, and the
trifing sums which he had paid for
various articles of vertu which orna-
mented his rooms at the Albany formed
his favorite theme of conversation. In
deed, If all he said was true, and if all
the china was really genuine, he fully
deserved all the congratulations which
he claimed.
Nor did he fail to see how valuable
were the three aforementioned qualifi-
cations in their reference to this latter
pursuit Many a cottager who would
have refused to sell his precious little
heirlooms to the travelling dealer was
1u 70 mt wi han NJ
perhaps a lower price to Lord John-a
Lord John, too, who spoke so prettily
and made himself SO agreeable. 1t was
grand to think that some little figure or
cup and saucer which had stood I'M
noticed in cupboard should take its
place, as the seller fondly imagined
would be the case, among the priceless
gems of Stoneyhurst Abbey.
Johns presence, too, at SO many sport
ing places gave him opportunities of ad.
mission into the interiors of cottagers'
and keepers houses which might not
otherwise have been obtained. 1t is
not given to every one to be district
visitor, tax collector or sahool-attend.
ance officer, and without such or similar
professions 1t is not easy to gain an in.
PRODUCTION unlimited to the houses OF
the poor. Lord John, however, had
special privileges, and he lost no op
portunity Of availing himself of the ia
cilities offered by neutrality-suspicious. in
farm-houses or keepers lodges on the
different properties over which he shot
A few winters ago my brother-in-lav
came to shoot at my home, Pen Over
Court in Monmouthshire Knowing
as l did, how unfavorably the bags ever
on my best days compare with tn,
slaughter to which John was accus
toned, had had some hesitation in in
wiling him into such an out-of-the-wa,
part of the world.
He had heard, however, of the won
derful stand at East6eld Coppice, sale
said to be perhaps the most difficult anc
sporting in England, and was anxious
TO try his hand at our 'Rocketers
had no possible objection, and he wa
invited for three days shooting
A sad and mysterious calamity, how
ever, in connection with the death O
one of the heaters, happened on the frs
day, and the unhappy incident prevent
ed us from carrying out the weeks pro
gramme.
Guests who have no resources to oc
cupy them, when sport fails, are nat
urally difficult to entertain, and conse
quently was not altogether sorry whel
my visitors, with the exception of Lor,
John, decided upon taking their depart
ure on the morning which succeeded tn
catastrophe.
He, however, remained, and in tn
course OF the afternoon announced hi
intention of going up to the keeper
house, where we had lunched on tn
previous day, and, of course, | offere
to walk there with him, Rather to m
surprise, he seemed to have no particu
lar desire for my society, and began t
wonder If his projected visit had an
connection with the mysterious affai
to which ! have alluded. At any rate
determined to accompany him, and o
the way was made confidant of hi
lordship's intentions. On the previou
day he had noticed two china figures o
shp,'sseper's chimney-piece, and, thong
-. ~ aEsnnoisseur's natural suspicion
ne had at the time done nothing to a
tract general attention to them, he no
confessed that he had every reason {
believe that they were old Dresden. II
imagined them to be Of great value, an
had determined to pick them up a
sheaply as he could. ] have never yC
been able to make up my mind aboU
the morality of such proceeding, but
thoroughly disliked the idea of any on
picking up" valuable article ''cheaE
irom one Of my own retainers, and as