The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-24
THE ART OF KLEPToMANIA.
How Noted AfeRfst Paid Dearly
fer ProfesstouaI Eufarn,.+sa-


How n Noted Atfenfst Paid Dearly
for Professional Information.
Not so many moons ago there lived
in Turin a physician noted far and
wide as specialist of brain diseases,
says the San Francisco Wave. Men
and women from all ends of the earth
came to him with their troubles and
ailments with lost memories, halluci-
nations and mental vagaries as varied
as the materia medica or the penal
code. Uniformly courteous and grace
ful of manner. he afforded them such
assistance or consolation as his skill
or sympathy prescribed. and waxed
rich and popular as his fame extended.
with the development of fortune, for
his fees were in proportion to his prom
inence, he cultivated pleasing taste
for those precious relics of antiquity
in which millionaires alone are privi-
legged to indulge. He had in his IL
brary a collection of costly objects of
art-invaluable coins, rare jewels, cost
ly statuettes, inimitabIe trifies chased
by the chisels of great artisans of an
tiquity. The name of his treasures was
loud in the worlds ears with the note
was as great name to conjure with
as among alienists.
One day there came to the residence
of DIR. A. an American gentleman of
dignified address and that portliness
OF mien which is presumed to reflect
lofty position and wealth. Admitted
to the great mans Office, the visitor
introduced himself as a banker who
had come all the way from America to
consult him about the condition Of his
wife. At considerable length he ex-
planned her misfortune-she was O.
kleptomaniac. His life was a burden
to him, following her from store to
store, continually guarding her reputa-
ton against the encroachment of her
fingers. Though it had cost him thou
sands his wife knew nothing, suspected
nothing of her own weakness. Nor
should she ever know if he could pre-
vent It,
TO consult DIR. A. they had come
thousands Of miles, and on his skill
and learning the hopes of the husband
We're pinned. The great pf1ysician
asked few questions and expressed
deep interest in the case and demanded
that the patient be brought to him,
!, BUT she has no idea of all this" ex
CANNED the husband passionately. ssIf
prougnI her to consult you as ply
siclah fear she would suspect some
tning and 1T would kill her. IF Won
Will permit 1t, I'll take her to cali on
you as collector of ANTIQUITIES she
IS deeply interested in ancient teweIrv
an1 the ostensfble object of her visit
VII! De 70 discuss archaeological re-
mains: Do not be disconnected. how
ever, II, during the Interview. Won find
neI P!er1ng, slipping your relics and
COINS into her umbrella or nockets
Ihat is the ailment, and, Of course
Whatever she takes will be returned
70 yoG at once My references are So
dignity and the production of docn-
ments. Uoeu-
1t: A., much hattered made the an
polntment and bowed his patient to the
oooF' Next day the unhappy husband
ana a stylish and handsome Young
woman presented themselves at the
physicians residence. They wAre for
mally ushered into the ibrarv wboro
the gems of the great mans coIIec-
tlon were enshrined. The conversation
was turned at once on the objects of
art, and DR.. A, with wonderful s,,b-
eiety, conVersed on antiquities while
3 To- material for his diagnosis.
ne brought out his Observation-Disclosures
1ui coins with strange inscriptions
DIaceiet OF gold curiously wrought and
inscribed. silver statuette modeIed
Oy Benvenuto Cellini-historic rarities
OH Whlch he descanted with much
graceful learning. o1
every now and then the lady slipped
into her pocket. or dropped into her
parasol coin, a jewel, vase. and as
she ala so her husband winked at Dr.
A; to draw attention to her Their
When the physician finally gave the
s1gnal that he had learned ali he re-
CURED she had accumulated the rarest
OF his possessions and yet prepared to
depart with an inimitable assurance Of
manner. ~
I'll be back within an hour" said
the American banker with those
things my wife has taken. Poor. moor
giri!' he burst out. Doctor, nv for
tune. my life are yours if you can cure
her" He fed after his spouse hand
kerchief In hand, and the alienist, with
prospects of big fee In mind, returned
to his patients.
Two hours passed, then three. then