The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1892-01-09
Diapn RornscMlLj's SERVICE.

~ - - ~ - II \ i I Il
piRpn RoTa$cMlL6's SERVICE.
How the Keen Ffnancier Was Most
Cfevsrly Hoodwinked.
Among the various admirable pro-
ductions Of taste which the guests
Of Baron Rothschilds never fail to
admire is q magnificent service Of
porcelain Of singular beauty, ele-
gance of shape and finish, and re-
markable for the artistic richness
Of its paintings. &c.
The way in which the Baron be-
came possessed Of it is worth re-
lating.
One day an old man, careworn,
wrinkled, feeble and apparently tot
tering on the verge of the grave, pre-
sented himself before NJ. de Roths-
child, soliciting the honor of an in
terview with the famous banker.
The old man was so aged, 80 poor
and had altogether so detected an
aspect that the Baron was immedi-
ately impressed with q eompassion-
ate feeling toward him, which feel
ing became one Of lively interest on
learning that he was Jew.
It is we'll known that the Israel
ties are very charitably disposed
toward all their brethren. The aged
visitor took from his bag rich
and beautiful plate, 80 splendidly
wrought that the Baron admired it
exceedingly and became greatly de-
lighted with it.
"Sir," said the patriarch, "will
you buy this of me? / have the
whole set, and it has struck me that
a service so beautiful cannot find q
more fitting place than in the man.
sion of the prince of financiers."
ut is indeed very fine," said the
Baron. allow much do you want
for your service?"
"Look you," said the old man,
II am bowed down with many yeara
and have not long to live. lam poor
and wish to end my days in com
parative comfort. Will you, in ex'
change for this valuable set of por
celain, give me an income for life o.
100 francs month. It is not much
money for you, and l am SO old"
The Baron looked at the pool
man, examined the plate again, and
after few minutes reflection said
"Well, be it so. Here is the first
payment. Send me the service anc
give me your name that l may have
It entered in my treasurer's books.
The splendid set of porcelain wa.
delivered the same day to the Baron
and in month afterward, while he
was seated in the counting-house
man entered and asked for tht
second payment of the promised
income.
But the man was young, scarcely
80 years Of age, Of vigorous con
stitution and great muscular devel.
opment, and looked as if he would
last for hundred years.
"But you are not the mani" ex'
claimed the astonished banker.
Excuse me, Baron," said he, 81
am indeed the man."
"But you appeared at least sc
years DID," said the Baron.
"But, sir, am only &c." said the
man.
SIN fact" continued the Baron
81 thought your venerable appear.
ance did not belle your assertion >
II have wonderfully recovered,
answered the man, thanks to your
generosity"
The Baron laughed heartily and
gave orders for the payment Of the
money, exclaiming:
"Ah, you are an excellent come
dian and have taken me in thor
oughly."
81 am probably the FIRST man who
has done so," replied the Jew, po'
litely bowling to. the millionaire.
For several years n. de Roths'
child has paid the monthly allow.
ance; but then this porcelain SER
vice is so exquisite that he saw nc
reason to complain.-Bost0n Globe.