The morning call., 1891-06-28
A PAUPER In
A PALACE.
The Extraordinary Inheritance Of a New
York Typewriter.
Heir to Fortune of 2,o00, 900, But he Will
Get Only $500 Year and Must Live in
Castle With $50 Rooms

1t is something of change to leave the
wooden chair that stands before the type
writer in another mans Office and sail for
ones own castle in Germany and the choice
OF chairs in any of its $50 rooms.
That is the change that has come over
the spirit and the dreams of one Bernard
Wilmer, formerly stenographer in the
office of John +. Lovejoy u Co., 1o1
Chambers street, this city. The position
held by Wittmer, rather stolid young
German, had been one of no great response
bility, being similar to those usually held
by young women drawing salary of IS or
SO week. Wittmer did his work, how
ever, in a steady, methodical sort of way,
and held his position for about five years,
marrying in the mean time, content with
the small salary on which he finally sup
ported his family OF a wife and three little
children.
One morning Wittmer handed to his en-
ployer German document, deliberately dec
Grated with red seals of an impressive char
acter, with the remark that he would like
leave of absence. His father mad died, he
said, and, as he had left his entire fortune
possession.
81 will come back as soon as possible"
he added, and | would like to feel that
my position will be held for me"
Leave TT absence being granted, Wittmer
promptly sailed for Bremen, from which
city he recently returned to New York with
photographs, an attestsd copy OF his
fathers will and the full details OF a most
romantic story which he had never before
allowed his friends to hear.
Instead Of the estate being a mere paltry
one of S250,000 the property left by Wlttmer
Sr. amounts 10 something over s., 600, 600
and Is mostly resting IN the German Govern
ment banks and drawing its tidy per cent
per anaum. This sounds very well, indeed,
10 the casual ear, and to Bernard Wilmer
was bliss beyond belief until he became
better acquainted with the terms of the will,
around which IS entwined the romantic
story.
LOSING \ FORTUNE.
Bernard Wittmer Sr. was formerly In the
cotton trade at the South and there and in
that business amaSsed the greater part Of
his fortune. Atabaut he time of The REBEL
ion Wilmer Sr. returned To the aterland
on a short visit. While there lie became ac-
quainted with young woman who after
ward became the mother of Bernard Witt
mer Jr.
Although upon the fathers return 20
America and the South, the young woman
followed him, he sternly refused to marry
her, or 10 any way continue an acquaint-
ance with her.
Severely handicapped though the mother
was, she married very snon after that a re-
spectacle man and lived and died in Brook
lyn. Her death occurred three years ago.
The father also married at about the same
time as she did, and some twelve years ago,
never having had anY other children. went
back to Germany, a widoWer and Million
alre.
There his fame preceded him; the archi-
tPctS got hold of him, and the result was
this glorious castle of $50 rooms, built on
eighty acres of ground just outside Bremen.
The castle business off his mind. Witlmer
Sr. then began to long for the comfort, III
his old age OF his Only son. He sent for
Bernard, caused him 10 become legally pos
sessed of tie name Of Wilmer, which his
mother bad bestowed upon him without the
aid Of court or church, and set him UP in
business.
A. brave start young Bernard was mis-
guided enough to run through some $1,000 at
a pace which caused MS father to gasp, shut
his purse and make his viii.
Apparently afraid that his son was des-
tined to be a block like the old chip, 10 say
TIE least. he made a viii Which provided for
Bernard Jr 5 future ia much more cautious
way than if the Young man had been discreet
enough 10 have got his money first aud had
his fling aiterward
By the terms of this will, the duly at
tested copy of which Wilmer brought to
show to Mr.. LovejOy, his employer. Witt
mer Jr. Is 10 live upon the family property
He is to be the head of the estate, which the
trustees are 10 see is properly kept up and
furnished with the attendance and Injuries
BETTING such palace Demands children
are to be educated in such manner as 10
tit them for any possible station in life, and
are 10 be supported and educated by the
estate through the executors.
For spendlng-mOney Bernard is allowed
an Income OF 500 marks year up to the
time Of his Oldest child's majority, after
which time this child is to be- the head of
the house and the father is to be specially
cared for.
A WRETCHED ALTERNATIVE.
Failing TO live upon the estate, Bernard is
cut off with the sum Of go marks, the Ger
man substitute for shillinss, and the estate
held in trust for the children, which means
something enormous in the way of for
tune. since the executors have Teek0ned
that at the tune of the majority of the old
est child, allowing for the expenses of the
family up to that time, the estate cannot
fail TO pan out less than S20,000.000
Bernard further bem0aned the fact, dur
ing the short stay that he made here, that
it was owing to the peculiar German law
which forbids man to back and fill with
his own fortune as does the American law
better When Bernard arrived to take pos
session he was visited by consoling neigh
bors, who told him that the way he had
made his will was considerable grief to his
father in his last days.
Having learned that Demands crop of
oats had been very spindling one and that
he had for five years held one position and
on a modest salary was raising a little
family respectfully, the old gentleman
waxed sorry and wished greatly that he
hadn't been so hard on his son.
But he had, and his son is bound by all
that's good for him to drag along his exist
ence on an income which really means about
SO per year for each little room in his castle
and such little gratuities as he may be able
to economic from the dear children's
schooling. To add to which burden of woe,
"A letter received last week Dewails the fact
that he has suddenly found himself con-
fronted with the necessity of serving two
years In the army of his Emperor;-N. Y.
Commercial Advertiser.
SPECTACLE LENSES.