The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-11-25
A Tip Made Him Rich.

DR.. Thomas W. Evans, an American
dentist who had lived for many years in
Paris. died the other day at his home in
the French capital, leaving an enormous
fortune, vailed at SIS, ,0oO.0o0. In addition
to the amasing of this great amount OF
wealth. Dr.. Evans had long been an in
teroational character by reason Of the part
which he played in the escape of Empress
Eugene from the Partisan mob after the
abdication and capture Of Napoleon
DR.. Evans had completed his memoirs
just previous 10 his death. and that in
c:dent viii no doubt be fully described by
his own pen. 1t is extremely doubtful,
however. il he has permitted himself TO
dwell upon the secret of his wealth. or.
rather. upon the incident which started
him upon the path 10 fortune.
Americans will be much interested in
tohse thirty-five millions of dollars, for DR..
Evans, despite his long residence abroad.
was American TO the core, and had often
expressed the intention of leaving large
sums Of money to various charitable in
stitLtions in the United States. His last
will and testament will prove an exceed
ingiy interesting document. The remains
are at present on their way to this cour-
try. and will be inferred beside those OF
his wife, who died last summer, anu who
was buried in Philadelphia
Dr. Evans received the nucleus of his
fortune from a Tip" given him by no
less a person than the Empress Eugene
herself. OF course, he enjoyed most lu-
retive practice, and he has placed crowns
in the mouths of great many persons who
also wore crowns upon their heads. Ma
rIa
toria, the Prince of Wales, Emperor Will
lam. and the Sultan of Turkey were all
numbered among his patients. and it is
safe to say that his fees were by no means
small. No American, it is said, has ever
enjoyed so firm footing in Marlborough
House.
He was a great favorite with Empress
Eugene, and he afterwards demonstrated
his loyalty by acting as her personal escort
to England during the troublous times Of
1870. One day she said to him: Doctor,
L presume you have saved considerable
money from your income"
DR.. Evans acknowledged that there were
a few francs to his credit in bank. But
she persisted, and finally learned just how
much he was worth.
Al that time Baron Haussmann was plan
ming how to pull down and rebuild Paris.
The Empress had in her possession a map
of the future capital showing the full plan
of operation. This she placed before him.
TIE various Improvements were all care
fully noted, including the projected Rois
de Boulogne. 'It will be beautiful" cried
the Doctor. "It will be the most beautiful
city in the world
Stupid" exclaimed the Empress. 'Do
you think only of the beautiful? Havs
yoT no eye to the pecuniary advantages
which this offers you?"
Then she showed him another map, show
ing where she herself had invested In
land. The Doctor took his cue. He in
vested his entire capital in real estate. He
purchased plot after plot of ground on the
site of the Bois de Boulogne.
The magnificent avenue was finally pro-
jected, together with other vast improve
ments which Ncompletely transformed
Paris. Real estate increased in value ten
fold. DR.. Evans, acting upon tips" re-
ceived from the first lady of the land.
awoke to find himself one of the rich men
of Paris.
The remarkable success Of this Aneri-
can dentist. in numbering among his pa
troas the greatest potentates of Europe.
was due to his profound discretion. II Is
said of him that he never betrayed a con-
fidence.