Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-08-21

Tpung man cs tool in some swindling
schemes. contriving to throw the onus OF
the fraud upon him so that he was Obliged
TO fly from thu country. Lipman did not
escape unsmifched. He returned to Dub
lin. got into debt The seldom paid his hotel
bills), passed Il worthless checks, was ar
rested, sentenced and imprisoned for one
year. On his release he essayed the pose
of an innocent victim of persecution. 1t
didn't work. Dublin turned IA cold Shout
der upon him. Lipman came to America
and became Count Zubof.
With his change of name he underwent
a change of personality. The reverence of
Americans for the titles which America
scorns he had heard Of and he designed to
appear in the new world in n burst of
glory. Therefore he purchased costly raj
ment and assumed a kindly condescension
of demeanor. The cringing Jew became
the polished noble, or if he didn't actually
become 50 he succeeded in impressing Bos.
ton with the belief that he was a noble,
which, after all, was the main point. He
came in fortunate hour, for Boston was
in the throes Of Russomania, and the bust
of Tolstui occupied the lofty niche wherein
Browning's statue had erstwhile rested
W. d. Howelis was one Of the first to well
come the young Russian count AS a
novelist Mr. Howells bears the reputation
of being q skillful analyst of character
Semitic character seems to have been out
of his line however. The young Jew was
altogether too deep for him. Through
Howells, Count Zubof met Thomas Bailey
Aldrich and other men of the highest liter
airy standing.
The count became a social lion. Mrs.
Jack Gardner took him up. Mrs. Jack is
the professional sponsor of Boston society.
On whomsoever she sets the stamp of her
approval the sunlight of prosperity falls.
Her house is supposed to he one of the
most exclusive in Boston. Charmed by a
few clever compliments, she pronounced
the Lithuanian serf's son 80 courtly in
his manners and threw her doors wide
open to the convicted forger. The signal
had been given. People We'd with each
other in their eagerness to propitiate the
new idol Zubof enjoyed it. His cleverness
told him that in Boston one should be Bos-
tonese. He set about writing book. He
also wrote poetry which he found in old
books and sold to the magazines. Some
translations. which he signed as original.
added to his fame. Meantime he borrowed
money where he could and enjoyed life.
Debts began to pile up on him. Mrs
Jack found n new lion, and Zubof's popu-
larity waned. After this he did not at
tempt to splurge. Between acquaintance
in Boston, Philadelphia and New York he
continued to live. Once he tried q theat-
rical venture. From time to time he did
little newspaper work, and when hard
pressed he could always write a bogus
check. At the time he was apprehended
when about to sail for Europe, he claimed
that he was engaged TO marry "a very
wealthy woman of Philadelphia. He
seemed to think his arrest ruined his pros
poets, and in a tit of despair he took his
life.
This extraordinary man had nothing
about his appearance to bear out his claim
OF high birth. His physiognomy was of
the lower Jew type. His nose was hooked
his forehead overhanging ard his mouth
loose Tipped and sensual. In his well set
keen eyes was the sole evidence Of mental
ity which his face possessed. Without
charm of person, he nevertheless possessed
the art of charming and of inspiring con-
lldence. He was Il man of considerable
reading and Of u remarkable knack of hay
ing everything at his tongues end. He
was u brilliant talker, never at a loss. and
had an assured manner that carried him
far. No man of his time has made such a
brilliant success of befOoling the very class
of people who yaunt their ability to detect
social imrosturc if no other kind.