Evening star., 1897-03-06
strange Means a Russian Miser Doc
tor Took Ia Protect His Property.

From the Lancet
A writer in a Russian periodical supplies
some interesting details regarding the mode
of life Of an eccentric member of the med
ical profession, whose appearance was well
known i'm the streets of ST Petersburg some
half century since Having in The course
OF somewhat heightened career succeed
ed In amassiLg "A considerable fortune the
physician IN question. whose name is not
given. decided on retiring from practice I'm
order to pass the remainder of his days
with dignity i'm the enjoyment of leisure
Ii happened, however. that his BRAIN SO
long accustomed to active exercise proved
unable 10 Withstand the eneryating effects
of idleness While the stimulus afforded
by his daily ministrations 10 his sick and
suHerlng townspeople continued in opera
ton his faculties remained unclouded but
no sooner was this withdrawn than AT once
symptoms of mental deterioration began to
show themselves. Being destitute of family
ties. he lived entirely alone. save for an
antiquated crone, who was nominally his
COOK. although apparently she had but lit
lie whereupon to exercise her culinary tai
ents. In addition to avarice. the chief form
OF arrangement with which the old gentle
man was affficted was dread of robbery
Formerly conspicuous for his gayety, he
now became morcse and susDicious 10 fha
last degree, fearing to leave his treasure
Tor moment, and unable either TO sleen or
10 eat According to the ancient dame he
would assuredly have put an end TO his
misery by hanging if ne could only have
prevailed on himself TO go to the eNpeusa
OF a rope. The means this aged monomaniac
ADOPTED TO protect his beloved gold from
thleNes was truly remarkable. Having
been medical attendant to the princiosi
JAN ne contrived to procure the skeletons
OF number of malefactors who had been
executed. and these he disposed around hrs
premises In a way that unquestionally
was calculated to strike terror into The
heart of the boldest of burglars In the
nrst place, with his own hand he black
ened the walls of the various rooms api
passages. and having thus prepared the
background he next arranged the lugubri-
Gus relics in a variety of attitudes all more
or less startling. In the yestibule for in
stance, he placed, by way Of a cloak rack
the skeleton or woman who had cut the
throatS of her children. In the middle of
TIE adjoining room stood the gigantic and
mlEatory osseoLs remains of a grenadier
who had suffered the extreme penalty for
murder. In lieu of sideboard the dining
room contained a grim-looking erection
fashioned out of human bones, plates and
dishes resting on the pelves. and knives
forks and spoons between the ribs while
the dome of a skull served as a sugar basin
and chilc's ossicles sugar tongs. The
appliances thus forbiddingly stored were,
however, more for show than use, since
their owner never by any chance entertain-
ed a guest, and toward the end abstained
almost altogether from eating. His death is
ascribed to fear and hunger combined A
few moments before he expired he is said to
have raised himself up in bed with great
difficulty In order TO blow out q candle: but
whether he was actuatej by a desire for
economy or dreaded to afford iliumnatio
for the long-expected robber Il 10 impos-
sible to determine.