Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-12-11
FORTUNATE CHANCES.
WEALTH WHICH WAS FOUND
IN QUEER WAYS
The M'ser's Hidden Goid-WeaIth by
Way of Waistcoai-A Dream
Which Proved Uiv.ning-
I.oL for Gold.

The curious manner in which peo-
pie of name and distinction sometimes
receive an inciS ment of wealth has
been marked la more than one modern
instance. The Duchess dc La Fore,
widow OF Marshal Serrano is reported
to have recently come into pos
session OF large fortune by an acct
dental discovery. The treasure had
been deposited in bank by her grand
father. who was a Cuban planter and
miser. The pains he had taken to &C.
cure it had hidden 1t from the knowl-
edge of his descendants for many
years. But clue was found casually,
says the Saturday Evening Post
1t has been publicly stated that the
Comte de Paris, the Orleanist claimant
to the thrown of France. obtained
great accession OF riches in a mysteri-
Gus way. More than ten years ago a
man of high rank, since deceased,
wrote to his titular party head in these
terms:-"I owe my immense fortune
to your grandfather. and l wish 70
show my gratitude TO him by Offering
you part of it, and thus enable you to
personify the monarchy. Give
trusty man five OF your visiting cards.
He will present them to five stock
brokers named below. and what |
destine for you will be handed TO him"
At first sight it looked like practical
joke but the name OF the maker OF
the strange proposition was at least
warrant of the power to do what he
said The Conte de Paris Judged it
well to test the matter. He obeyed
the orders TO the letter, and his mes
senger brought back from the brokers
cabful OF bonds to bearer. They
were packed in metal boxes, trans
ferred to England and deposited at
Coutts's bank. And the recipient has
kept the secret of the giver identity
as he wished.
Fortune has been reached in odd
ways when industry insight and en-
terprise have also played their parts
in the success. When George Prince
of Wales was Regent a fashion pre-
vailed for gaily decorated waistcoats
a particular pattern was wanted for
his Royal Highness but it was not in
any leading tailor's stock. 1t did not
seem possible to obtain it. The stuff
was of French manufacture, and the
two countries were at war. But the
first gentleman in Europe" was de-
termined TO have his within gratifed.
and a member OF his suite suggested
the means. He said that he knew a
Frenchman in London. poor and OBJ
scure, but enterprising. Ii the order
were given NJ Bazalgette would almost
certainly fulfill it. Accord ngly the
court commands were sent to the
struggling tailor, and he saw the
promise OF fortune in the stray COM
mission. All ordinary communica-
ton with France was cut of, but
Bazalgette formed his own plans.
One day he appeared in a boat off the
coast off his native land in the as
sumed character OF a refugee. He
was kindly received and sent on his
way TO Paris. Once there he soon
procured the material he required.
Shaping it into a make-shift garment
for himself. he brought it off without
creating suspicion, and making his
way as cleverly back. the waistcoat
was speedily produced. The deed set
the man on his feet and ultimately as
sured him competence.
A dream has before now been the
means OF leading the seeker to fortune
On a summer night of 1888. a Califor-
nian. named Davis had dream about
O part OF the country he had long
thought OF visiting. Every detail of
the vision was in clear outline. and
the whole was strongly impressed
upon his mind. He saw thickly
wooded ravine and a miner looking
for gold. A stream ran by. and after
awhile it forked. just at this point
the man in the dream-who was him.
self-came to a ridge of yellow ore.
He used hammer and chisel, and there
was no mistake about the purity and
value OF the chips. Davis awoke and
went about his business. Two other
nights In succession he had the same
curious dream. Then he started of
with two companions TO the district
which he had previously talked of ex-
ploring. The securing OF the region
had no result for time. But sudden
ly the three men came out into RAJ
vine exactly like that in the leaders
dream. Every physical feature was
the same, except the ridge of gold.
They had TO dig here as elsewhere.
But q big nugget was quickly the
prospector's reward. Dream Gulch"
has since been the name of the spot