The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-08
STORIES OF DR.. EVANS
FAMOUS AMERICAN DENTIST WHO
HAS MADE FORTUNE IN PARIS.
He Introduced Napoleon to Eugenie-
Valuable Collection of Precious
Gifts from Royalty.
New York Press.


where. went to Paris full half century
ago when he only twenty-five He had
been practcing his profession u year or two
in Lancaster, Pa, at that time. and al
though he had his own ambitions even then,
had begun to fear that he was doomed to
spend lifetime pulling, boring and filling
the teeth OF farmers and villagers One
day he was introduced to the famous
French dentist DIR. Dubouche, then on a
visit to the United States, and it was not
long before the two became firm friends. A
few days before DR.. Dubouche was to sail
for France a number of his acquaintance
called to see him, among them being Evans
and two or three other dentists. After
while the conversation drifted to dentistry
in France, when DR.. Dubouche said sud
denly:
Gentlemen, I'm looking for a bright
young Yankee dentist to take back to
France with me. There is a fine opening
for good young fellow there, and if any
of you know of such a man l wish you
would tell me his name"
Now Evans had long been waiting for
fortunes messenger to knock at his door,
though he had never before suspected Du-
bouche of being the messenger. But this
remark identified him at once in Evans's
mind, and, quick as a flash, he replied:
There's young fellow named Evans who
would like to go to Paris, and if he meets
your ideas just tell him he's accepted and
he will begin packing up right now"
"All right, Evans said the Frenchman,
you're exactly the chap l want" and the
two closed the bargain then and there in
spite of the protests of Evanss friends,
who declared they couldn't see how any
American could think of living lifetime in
Paris
DR.. Dubouche became more and more at
tached to the young American doctor as
the two became better acquainted, and it
was not long after the vessel on which they
We're passengers touched the other side of
the water before he began to bring the
Yankee dentist to the front by introducing
him to the Swells and royalties of Europe,
foremost among them being the then
prince-P President of the French republic
who afterward ruled as Napoleon III. Some
who have known that Dr. Dubouche intro
duced Evans to Napoleon have declared
that Evans, at least indirectly. owed all
his advancement to the French doctor. but
this is only partially true Evans's father
had performed many services for Jerome
Bonaparte when he was in America, and,
therefore, Napoleon III considered him
self under sort of family obligation to
the young American.
DOCTOR AS A MATCHMAKER.
OF course DR.. Evans knew Eugene, and
all the world has heard how he helped the
Empress to get away from Paris when that
city was besieged by the Prussians but
there are few who remember that he was
acquainted with her before her marriage.
But he was and there is a possibility that
she would never have been Empress of the
French but for this circumstance Eugene
was the Spanish Countess Montijo and her
mother was first a patient and then a strong
friend of the doctor. When she sent her
daughter to schoo! in Paris she begged as a
favor that the girl might spend her fete
days at his house Both mother and daugh-
ter were his guests when it was announced
that the prince President was about to give
a grand ball. The girl was decidedly anx-
ious to be present, but her mother, being in
no invitation.
The doctor had an invitation, however,
and 1T was on his arm that the young lady
leaned when she entered the ballroom
where she was to make the most brilliant
conquest of many Partisan seasons. 1t was
DR.. Evans, too, who formally presented the
Spanish beauty to the prince-President
and, no doubt, he furthered the acquaint-
ance thus begun by every means in his
power.
Napoleon continued to be just as friendly
with Evans after winning imperial honors
as when prince-President and it was
through the doctors investments in real es-
tate thus made possible that he gained
much of his immense wealth. 1t was about
this time that Baron Haussmann practical
~ rebuilt Paris. The Emperor was sure of
the city's future and Evans concurred
heartily in the imperial views.
ELNdIlS was Ine0 as now, a man or
cellent taste. and at the Emperor's request
gave much advice regarding the laying out
of the improvements of the Bots de Bou-
logne. Often the two would go through the
then unimproved grounds, with a landscape
gardener and an attendant with an armful
of sticks sharpened at one end Whenever
they found plot in the vicinity of the
park that seemed specially desirable it
would be staked off and the party would
pass on. eventually Evans secured titles
to many of these plots, and his profits, when
the rise in value came, were enormous.
The doctors case of watches, decorations
loving cups. rare china and other brio
a-brac presented to him by princes and
potentateS is famous the world over If he
chose he could outshne most members of
royal houses, and women of high degree
even, in display of decorations but he rare
~ wears any of his orders.
GIFT FROM A DUCHESS.
The gem of the entire collection was
given to him by the Duchess of Baden. Dr.
Evans having been called to attend the
duke either by accident or design, displayed
his watch, which was old and plain. in the
sight of the duchess. She expressed sur
prise that he should carry so uncomely
timepiece, and few days later sent one
to him that fairly glowed with precious
stones and bore the crest of the donor.
Being really altogether too fine for every
day use, the doctor put it in the case along
with MS other treasures, and continued to
wear the old one
A rev weeks later he was again called to
attend the duke, and again he displayed his
old watch in the sight of the duchess. The
duchess exclaimed:
Why DOCTOR" she said, why aren't you
wearing the watch | sent you?"
"Oh, he replied. its too elegant thing
for me to wear. | might knock it against
the chair during an operation and loosen
some of the stones break it in some
way.
A few days later DIR. Evans received a
package containing another watch from
the duchess, and with her crest engraved
on the back also. but of much less elaborate
pattern and decoration He has carried this
second watch most of the time ever since
Dr. Evans once assured DIR. William w
Walker, of this city, that ii was his purpose
to bequeath his treasure case and ali its
contents to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art.
So much has been written about DIR
Evanss suavity and his friendship with
the bigwigs of Europe that many have
come to regard him as nothing more nor
less than bogus courtier, and conse-
quently to underrate him as a man. But
this view is erroneous. Outside of his
social and business life the doctor has per
formed many patriotic and philanthropic
services for both his native and adopted
lands. When the Crimean war was raging
ne was sent by the Emperor at his own re-
quest, to study the sanitary condition of
so impressed with the wretchedness and
misery he then witnessed that on his re-
turn to Paris he made successful efforts to
interest the nations of the civilized world
in measures of reform. While the Aneri-
W. he IN