The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13
CLAIRvAUX, 10Th February.
LIE DUO D'oRLEANS.
1hanks.

go 80 go
Just like Albert lie Roy. whose strange ad
venture q few years ago as IL candidate for tho
Academy ! reported in THE suN AZ the time.
Paul Mason also becA ME "A candidate for that
august body. His entire baggage was composed
Of works without any gravity. HIS rPeGsees
catalogue of the Salon. in which each
picture, was mentioned in a pun. with
!. 20 s sbs ycon on the of "q ioSs1@ Sn ,S nSvs eoTe1
o. these different " orks lie had printed with
care all his titles, formerly Judge in Algeria:
ChaLdernagor. French India: formerly Presi-
dent OF tho Court al The same seat" ald in ad-
crived during tho course OF his career as u
colonial Magistrate. all from little Indian prin-
ces With astounding names. He finished the
whole With the announcement that he vas u
bra rian of the National Library. But the
aueer.st thing about 1t was that II vac all per-
fectly true. lie was a bespangled and respect
able Joker.
After the terrible catastrophe of SaIn. Mande.
where two trains were telescoped. killing a
large number of travellers. Mason printed q
pamphlet, dedicated ITO My Cherished Aunt.
victim of the late catastrophe" and entitled
"Train-Spurs," 4 project for an arrangement
by means OF which all accidents on railroads
This Ingenious arrangement consisted In rails
laid ON an inclined plane, running up over each
train Of cars and down again behind u. Thus.
when one train encountered another, instead or
smashing into II in tho usual blind and Zero
cious manner of trains. IL would simply Il de
III hlll pNoI kHp NV al Nlili GuIsA' ITO
peaceful journey onward. such was the prin-
ciple. The adoption of this plan. Mason urged.
would abolish tho necessity of having two
tracks; one track would servo all practical re-
quirements OF u railway. The plan was sub
mitled to the Academy OF Sciences. where.
after a careless reading. II was marked with the
official seal. :" Referred 10 the Committee on
Railroads" The Institute had been completely
hoaxed, and that in public session IL was not
the only time that the Academy was made TO
suffer by e-Terrioux.
Another time he nearly persuaded n publisher
TO take a volume which he called Thoughts
having read the book, ana heing persuaded bS
Mason that IL really was the work Of Boulanger,
wrote nm article severely CrIlIVlhing rhe author.
A telegram from Brussels soon Informed both
editor and reporter of the fraud. and the latter
FASTENED in great wrath to MasROn. whom he
found In the depths OF despair. having been
threatened with expulsion from his office on ac-
count OF his trick. Luckily for him he was
pRrdoned, but oven this could not cure him.
On being asked whether he had begun to
sound the acsdemicisns on the chances Of his
soon, have met, the Secretary. however, a
charming man He received ms with open
arms. / showed him my titles. My railroad
scheme appeared 10 puzzle him, but the
Thoughts OF a Yoghi' pleased him greatly"
One Of MR-son's~f nNorite prRnks WAS extremely
annoying 10 is victim. To appreciate the
reason, one mast understand u litiio OF French
customs. French houses have no bathrooms or
set hathtubs. When u person wants a bath he
orders one. and then this procedure Is gone
AGSge watering cart stops before the door of
the would-be bather's house;l two stout men