The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-09-16
IA{ DEN OF SKELETONS.
Observations Of a Philadelphia
Dealer Who Has Had Twenty
Years Experience.
4 Dc Isohaire's Quarters Ia Phila-
4 dsapaia a Veritable Cham
ber Of Horrors.
Over 1000 skeletons Imported Into This
Country, but the Supply Is
Running Short.

To deal in the bones Of human beings
would be an occupation repugnant to most
men, says the Philadelphia Record. Yet IN
the vicinity of Sixth and South streets lives
Ian old Frenchman who finds more pleasure
bin this occupation than anything else in
his life. His store 10 q veritable den OF
Skeletons. The weather-boaten sign
swinging over tho door, creaking dismally
with every gust Of wind, bears
this simple legend: IN. dc Robaire,
Parfume erie" From which it Ia evident
monsieur would have the world believe that
IL deals almost exclusively in those per-
fumsd waters so dear to the feminine heart.
Every family has a skeleton in the closet.
however, and monsleur's family, which
consists only of himself, is no exception to
the general rule. He has his skeleton, IN
fact he has scores of tLem in closets and
otherwiss-ths majority otherwise. The
truth of the matter is, the old Frsnchnann
deals in skeletons.
Living AZ he does in a neighborhood
thickly populated by ignorant negroes, who
are, as = rule, very superstitious, De no
baire has found it necessary to ply his
queer trade ms secretly as possible. The
doctor has occupied his present head
quarters for the last quarter of a century,
and enjoys quito = large practice among the
colorsd people, who would have nothing to
do with him did they suspect the weird do
ings about the is....tle shop.
The second floor boa-pS &C only two small
rooms, the rear one being used as q work
shop, while the other, directly over the
store and fronting on tho street, serves the
double purpose Of bedchamber and store
room.
such another %bedchamber AZ the one oc-
oupisd by the old Frenchman probably does
not exist, and how monsieur manages to
sleep the sleep Of the just among auch grew
some surroundings IL an insolvable mystery
to the few who have been admitted to 1t.
Tbs wall. Of tho small room are orna,
mented with skulls m crossbonea, and
real life-sized skeletons, or, rather, death
like skeletons, in all sorts Of grotssque po-
sitions. -Four hideous skulls grin from
their positions ON top of tbs four posts OF
the bed, and close to tho sides of the bod
stands a skeleton with arms outstretchsd
dimly lighted up by . faint glimmsr OF
light emenatinR from n lamp made OF .
chastity skull suspended from the middle OF
the ceiling With thongs Of tanned human
hide.
De Robaire himself il an odd-looking man
and the resemblance between him and one
OF his " skeletons ia decidedly striking.
He has gaunt, wolf-like features, his thin
upper lip and bony chin being adorned with
an iron-grny moustache and imperial. His
head IL entirely bald save for y few bristly
red hairs standing up on his forsheRd like a
small bonfire, aud under a pnir Of hushy
eyebrows of the same fiery hue his small
black syea glitter like coala OF fire.
For u score OF years he has bsen carrying
on hia business in the old place. having
emigrated from France in 1865, coming di-