New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-07-19
AN OLD INVENTORS reliance.
NJ. GERARD'S PATHETIC STORY OF STRCG-
GLE AND FAILURE IN NETWORK.

NJ. GERARD'S PATHETIC STORY OF SlRIb
GLE AND FAILURE IN NETWORK.
In the death Of Peter Gerard an aged and al
most unknown inventor and litterateur, who was
found cold and lifeess in his bare little attic room
at No A Clinton Place, a few days since. the city
loses a character full of interest, pahos and mys-
terry NJ. Gerard thinker. theorist inventor
whose light was doomed to be hid under bushel
by an adverse combination Of circumstances. VINO
he was what his birth and antecedents. what
brought him to this country are matters or con-
lecture Since his coming to New-York his life
had been that of a recuse. Most of his time had
been spent IN his (Which answered as well
the purposes of a Workshop and in certain we'll
beaten paths from which he seldom strayed.
When Louis Fleischmann. the wcll-known baker
OF this city. received letter many years ago from
NJ Gerard from some little town in Virginia, say
ing that he had discovered process OF max
Ing n paatable bread at greatly reduced cost
of manufacture, ne wrote him TO come 60 this
city and II his invention proved all that was
claimed for IL he would buy the formula from
him So one day NJ. Gerard presented himself AT
the office of Mr.. Feischmann, made Il sample OF the
bread, which caught the fancy of the baker. and
there was a contract made between the inventor
and himself by which NJ Gerard was to receive a
royalty on every 100 loaves of the bread sold. The
bread named Japanese bread and may yet
be found in the market although IL has never
made itself famous as selling commodity. 1t was
the mainStay of the old inventor, however, lOr
as his means diminished and his circumstances be
came pinched with poverty he was certain Of three
meals day at the restaurant of Louis Feisch-
mann where a chair was always reserved for him
at a certain table His greatest trial was to earn
enough to pay for the rent of his room. To do
this he would often do work for his landlord,
consisting chiefly of addressing envelopes at 81 a
thousand. His landlord in the sewing ma
chine business and had occasion to send out circu-
lars to his trade
one OF N Gerards acquaintances, in describing
the old Frenchman said: When he first to
this city he n smooth face and had com
plexion that would have been the envy Of many a
professional beauty. only lately he took to wearing
a beard He quiet, unassuming man, would
never talk about himself his past and had all
the native politenesa for which his IL noted.
We all liked the old man. When he became so
poor / once asked him If he had no relative TO
whom he could appeal for assistance. and that was
the only time | heard him refer to his family
in any way. Replying, he told me that he had no
one but a sister who lived somewhere in Belgium,
and who was rich. lie had had quarrel with
her and 1t would be the last thing in the world for
him to write to her for aid. He said that even
though he was old ne preferred to work for his
own support. and he felt sure that with the
d,rful schemes he had in his head he would
day make his everlasting fortune"
outside OF a few persons he seldom spoke TO
II.
ing Of his inventions. was: Mark my vord hat
zc good ting" Another was IF only | haf ze
monte TO start my project. | could max grand
fortune" A clerk in the store Of l.. james. from
whom NJ. Gerard rented his room. said when asked
If he knew the Old Frenchman:
"Oh. yes: have seen him for many years. But
he never spoke to me except on two occasions The
last time only day before he died.
when he came in and showed me the plans for IA
one-wheel cycle which he had just designed He
was certain that he had hit upon something OF
great value. 1t great surprise for
have him speak to me- as he seldom took notice of
any one"
one OF the men at Fleischmann's tells how NJ
certain long intervals NJ. Gerard would appear in a
brand new silk hat. 1t always a mystery how
he managed 10 get 1t. lie was also scrupulously
I'm his linen and personal appearance His
clothes appeared TO be Of the best material. but
did not hang as If they had been made for him. and
the conclusion was drawn that there must have
been some one who kept the old gentleman supplied
In this line.
When he had finished his supper at Flelsch-
mann's. NJ. Gerard. regular as clockworh would
start out from the side door walk up 10 Broadway
with his hands folded at his back. ana then would
turn up town 10 Union Square, whore he cocld be
seen sitting until late In the evening. Usually In
company with his one true and trusted friend. u.
Charles O. de Juvllle. gradual OF the french
University. who Is now 'edra'r OF jaubunpos and
portrait painter No. A. -'llnfOn Place. Yhc TWO
men had first met 80 1t Is sud- In Philadelphia.
when both had had money Ih"y had been firm
friends since.
NJ de Juvllc sat in his rom which. by-the-way
Is also next to the roof 'est"riay with ar unnn-
ishsd painting before him. All my friend Gerard
was n fine gentleman and / rat thinker ne cx-
claimed Az the name II II" dead WIS men,
toned. "He was once rich. but toward the last an
how poor, Oftentmes he had not money enough
to buy his tobacco with lie alw IVA wur" a smooth
face until he became % poor That he lad not the
price OF a shave. so he grew Il beard Poor Gerard,
Hr. fan Nar -
came from Belgium, whore his father wa large.
leather dealer IL was In he interest OF his lajhcis
BUSINESS house that NJ f"rirl ana his brother
to this country; brnsinS tlOCo Of cool
money with them. Ih'y lost II AL Then the
his family | know not what. | left phiL,ic plata
and lost sight OF my old rend and onlv foLnd him
years afterward when came to New-York
His Inventions! All. they were many He should
have been rich. There was snow plough for the