The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-17
MANY SEEK THE JOB.
or LYING ~ 4 TOME Vim A
CORPSE ron 4 iEdR.
The Million Dollars offered by Russian
Princess for Crave Watcher In
Great Demand


many wild dreams and buoyant aspira-
tons. The letter was as follows:
PARIS. Nov. 15.-Five years ago Rus
sian princess. who died in this city left
by Will 81 $4,000 10 the person who would
consent 10 remain for the space Of one
year In the chapel which is erected over
her tomb, In the cemetery or Pere Ia
Chaise The princess lies In a crystal
coffin. Thus the whole body IS distinctly
| visible, and this is what causes so much
fright 10 all who have az yet attempted 10
gain the prize But the viii forbids ail
visitors. The candidate must be alone
with the dead for a whole year before
| the Nl.HiVWD is won. No work Is allowed
Books and newspapers, however. are per
! united, and "a servant brings meals reg
ularly TO tho watcher; one hours walk
a day is allowed. but this must be under.
taken before > o'clock I'm the morning I'm
summer aud O'Clock during the winter
months. Several Frenchmen cssayed 10
win the prize. but ali gave mp after n
short trial One lasted out nearly three
weeks. by which time he had completely
! lost his reason and still remains a jab-
berlng idiot. The will makes no mention
OF foreigners being Ineligible; there is
every chance. therefore, for a strong
minded American. who fears neither
ghosts, ghouls nor gravestones 10 become
rich in the short period Of 1863 days APP
plication to be made to the municipality
Of Paris
The editorial managers Of The Herald
while approaching the value OF this as Il
news item, are constrained To wish that
they had not gwen it TO the public. For
week or more not a mail has come 20
The Herald but that has contained a doz-
particulars Of this wonderful chance for
sudden wealth. and expressing perfect
readiness 10 undertake the grewsome task
OF winning il. If the writer's could be as
sured that all was straight. The letters
come from all quarters Of the country:
every letters speaks enthusiastically Of
the magnitude of the prize. but sightingly
OF the conditions upon which il is 10 be
won Most OF the writer's regard with
great Indifference that condition which re-
qulres the applicant to spend whole days
ana nights for a year in the solitude Of
a tomb with only the companionship Of "A
lady robed i'm white inclosed in "a crystal
collin. The letters chiefly. however. con-
me themselves 10 authenticating tho gen-
uineness Of the Russian lady's will. Not
writer but feels that ne could win the
prize without the slightest difficulty If he
could only be assured Of the genuineness
Of the offer.
But there is more fun I'm the small army
OF personal visitors 10 The Herald edi-
torial-rooms 10 inquire about the contents
OF the above dispatch and to know Just
how TO address the municipal authorities
OF Paris. These visitors have become
so numerous that the editorial managers
can spot them at a glance. They come
from all sorts and conditions OF men.
They come from the classes where they
are least likely to be looked for. Young
medical students, who think they know
all about cadavers and who are strong
In their confidence TO Withstand any sort
OF contract with the dead, are chief among |
the prospective applicants. Seedy gen
temen out Of luck and willing 10 UNI |
dertake any desperate adventure have |
also appeared, expressing "A perfect will |
ingness TO spend year with the Russian /
lady in her solitude. There came the /
other day well meaning young man |
from Michigan. who after making the
customary inquiries. said that he had no
doubt he could fulfil the terms Of the
Russian lady's will, for he had had ex-
perience. He said at the Battle Creek
railroad disaster he had set ND with the
dead three whole nights without finchine.
and he knew that there was nothing
now in the form Of q human lifeess
body that could scare him. This youth. |
for he was a youth. had reddish hair. |
rat-like teeth, and looking something like
a country hangcr-On around a liver stable
He was yokel with just enough intel
ligence 10 seek 10 make capital Of his
recent sad employment as watcher
over the dead al Battle Creek one of
the editors Of The Herald thought be
would ply the young Michigan man with
D few questions "YOu think. said the
aditor that your brief experience would
lualify you for this somewhat trying |
losition?"
yes"
'Do you fully realize the conditions
'equired2 DO you realize that you would |
nave TO go out into "A lone cemetery and |
i've a whole year I'm a damp and forbid
ling Vault DO you realize that you |
would have to stay there morning, noon
md night, your only companion being
he white-robed body Of the lady lying
n her crystal cofin2 DO you think you
ould do that? DO you think you could
tand the awful stiffness, the utter absence
Il animated companionshipY Do you
hink you could stand the snails on the
walls OF the vault. the creeping things
hat would infest the floor, the bats that
would nightly enter your abode and fit
bout the ceiling. the appalling stiffness
elieved only by the hutter OF their wings?
DO you"
by this time the young man from Michi-
an had begun TO squirm uneasny i'm MS s
eat and toy nervously with his hat. I
And then" contisued the editor "think
+ tie white-robed figure constantly before ]
on. shining almost like phosphorus {
trough the glass sides Of her casket. {
here YOU must spend the silent hours OF '
he night. You are allowed but one hour c
Ut of the twenty-four 10 be absent from '
he tomb. You are 10 speak 10 no one or a
efmit yourself 10 be spoken 10. You q
re TO have no visitors except the person
no brings your meals. Now DO you think +
lat you could undergo that OrGealT
The young Michigan man had by this ! [
ne risen TO his feet and thanking the
litor for his courtesy said he guessed be y
ould not apply to the Paris authorities
present. "a
Another would-be applicant for Pere Ia
haise honors was a coroners clerk from q,
/. Louis. He said he had been IN charge -
mOrgue in st. Louis for a number Of
Ears, and felt himself equal Tor any pos n
bic experience with dead people. lie ,,
i'd he had spent days and nights with
en- under all possible conditions Of q.
,rrOr and that his nerves were equal 20 -
lythifg. Like most others he was anX- 4.
Us 10 get fuller particulars Of the -
lanclsl conditions depending upon this =
81 than he was 10 seriously consider the
her conditions. OF his ability 10 keep @
e gentle Russian lady company the "
hole period he had no doubt He was
Xlous 10 find out about the Partisan -"
metery, how far 1t was from the city, VI
neither the cemetery was well guarded.
: as he said, he didn't care 20 have 10 u'