The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-02-01
THE VAN Tines LUCK
A Fortune of SI5o, 900 Comes
to Them From an Uncle
in Germany.
TAKING IT VERY CoOLLY.
Mr.. Van Tine Sold a Dollar PaiF
of Shoes While a Messenger
Told Him the News.

For the past twenty-five years, John
W. Van Tine has been employed as saless
man in the retail shoe store, No. 96 Mont.
gomery street. He entered the store
when boy and he has grown gray in the
service. AS young man he had steady
habits and the utmost confidence OF his
employers, and today ne is favorablY
known by almost every business man In
the lower portion of the city.
When young man. Van Tine married
pretty young woman, the daughter or
German parents. At the time OF the mar.
riage the bride confided to her husband
that she had an uncle in Germany who
was immensely wealthy. being the pos
SCISSOR of at least 81, 900. 900. AT that time
the uncle was in the best of health, how
ever and Van Tine industriously pleaded
away at his vocation as shoe salesmanp
never dreaming what windfau Was Ia
store for him and his family.
A HAPPY COUPLE.
Mr. and Mrs. Van Tine lived in mod
est apartments at No, 2S7 Baldwin ave-
nue. Their married life was very happy
one, and four children have been the re-
suit of their union. The members OF the
family were regular attendants at the
Summit Avenue Baptist Church, and had
the res pect of all their neighbors. One
day last week furnished big surprise for
the Van Tine household. On Wednesday,
large envelope with O foreign stamp
was delivered by the postman. Mrs. Van
Tine saw that it had German stamp on
it, and on the outside was the name OF o
Berlin firm of lawyers. With some tre-
pidation Mrs Van Tine opened the large
envelope. Imagine her surprise when
she found that her uncle had died, leaV.
ing an estate estimated at $1,000, 600, and
that her share of the large fortune was
about $3.50, GOO. Mrs. Van Tine wept and
laughed by turns. \ Her four children
crowded around her, and they soon learn-
ed the news.
A messenger was Immediately dis
patched to Mr. Van Tine down town. Mr..
Van Tine was busily engaged endeaVor-
ing to persuade burly loBgshoYeman TO
buy 81 pair of shoes when the mes
senger brought in the news OF his good
fortune. Mr.. Van Tine lifted his eye
brows trifle, a smile played around his
mouth, but he tried harder than ever to
sell that pair of shoes. and he did so.
Then with quiet smile, Mr.. Van Tine
told the other clerks in the store OF his
good fortune. He did not go home right
eway, out as was his custom, waited un.
til he had been relieved for his snpper
and only then he went home to his wife
ana children.
HOW IT LEAKED OUT.
A family council was held that very
night, and it was decided to keep the good
news a secret. But 1t leaked out. One OF
| the little children told one of the neigh
bors' children that his mamma was very
rich now. aud soon the en-
tire neighborhood was discussing the
| future of the Van Tine family. Ex-
aggerated accounts of the fortune were
| circulated until the family were COM
PEELED to admit the truth OF what they
| had fallen heir to.
Mr.. Van Tine was seen at his occupa-
| tion as O shoe salesman at No. 90 Mont
gomery street by a reporter for The JER-
| SEY CITY NEWS yesterday afternoon. he
said that he had no intention OF aoandon-
\ ing his occupation just at present.
"But for goodness sake. don't say any
thing more about the matter in the pa
| pers :" said he 1.-THE little that has been
! said already has caused US an awful lot
of trouble. We have been bored TO death
| by all kinds of people. A man out West
| has tried to sell us building lots. ana We
have received hundreds of begging let
| tiers. The neighbors have crowded my
house night and day. and 1t Is getting to
| be nuisance.
| MRS. VAN TINE.
| The reporter next saw Mrs. Van Tine.
She is a woman of about forty, with g
| very sweet face and pleasant smile.
| "If had known it was 6 reporter who
wanted to see me-" said she with pleas
| ant laugh, II would not have been at
home. Now suppose Pm in for it, how
| evern
mo it was not an entire surprise" she
went on in answer to inquiries. II knew
| thar uncle was very rich. and had every
reason to suppose that when he died l
would receive a portion Of his large for
| tune"
"What are your plans for the fusurer
| asked the reporter. "Will you remain in
Jersey City, or will you go abroadW
"That, of course, cannot say" she re-
Piled "You see we haven't received the
the money vet, and until then can't say
what we will do"
| Mr.. Van Tine has written to Germany
| and is awaiting further news as to how
| 90 obtain possession of the large fortune.