The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-06-12

tropolis. He was man who could
not fail to attract attention, by reason
both Of his striking old-fashioned at
tire-of the style which John Leech
has made immortal-and Of his disre-
gard of such everyday amenities as
BARRIERS scissors and soap and water;
for a more unkempt and dirty looking
old aristocrat than Jan Vereker was
surely never seen in the public streets.
He was younger son Of Sir Hudibras
vereker, seventh baronet, whose fam
ily was among the best in Gloucester
shire; though to be sure, this seventh
baronet's lady, and JAMS mother, was
a somewhat obscure foreigner, a native
Ct Antwerp.
In his youth he had been a painter,
who, but for his desultory disposition,
might have achieved great success;
and he had studied in half the art
schools of Europe. But he had now
practically abandoned this profession,
: and devoted his whole time and ener.
gies to his pet hobby-the collection
Of curios. No sort Of rarity came
; amissl to him. Old paintings, old
china, old coins, gems, furniture, what
not, appealed to his antiquarian tastes
! Indeed, at one time or another, he hat
been over great part Of Europe il
quest of such treasures; though latter
ly his efforts had been chiefly confined
$ to his native land. He never fire
II quented the large shops or the EN-
n poriums of professional dealers, TO-
his purse was not long enough to en-
able him to buy recognized articles Q
vertu at fancy prices. But he was eve
J: exploring little all-sort shops, and tn
10 cottages Of working men and countr
" villages, where he stood some chanc
:, of picking up good thing for next t
~ nothing. With this end in view, b
1. was perpetually travelling about an
st working from different centres, unit
"a he became conversant with half th
towns and villages in Great Britain.
Whenever he went away for q tot
10 of exploration, he was always Garrett
be to transfer his most valuable articles
81. such, as least, as were likely to /
- stolen-to the safe custody Of h
bankers. These were chiefly in Il
" way Of old coins, gems and plate. b
he besides these there was one thi1
which always went to the bank, OF
which he evidently regarded as by +
~ the most precious Of all his posse
, sions-a small and very cracked 81
ae grimy portrait in oils. His acqui
ID ton Of this painting was source
as unbounded pride and self-congratu]
~ ton to old Vereker. He had picked
= up at little emporium Of rubbish
ns Antwerp for few forms. When
n bought it, the canvas had presented
y. faring and abominable daub Of t
hit Madonna. But Jan Vereker's pr
:, ticed eye had told him that this "
VI only secondary use to which it b
mt been put. He took it home; he ca
* fully cleaned off the the upper DAT
ch Another painting landscape
~ peared beneath. But even this '
~ not the original, though, apparently
OF hundred years older than the fiji
Ids and he cleaned this also off. Then
came upon the real thing; and he
derstood that he had experienced
marvellous stroke Of good fortu
or There was no doubt about it. ]
ow- painting which he had unearthed '
1ict an unmistakable Van Dyck.
nat But to make matters perfectly sur
:. though, in his own mind, he was
o. ready satis6ed-he submitted
the painting to half dozen independ
, of experts in London and Paris.
nd were agreed in one verdict. They
.oto hesitatingly pronounced the piece
."'o be a genuine Van Dyck. Old We're
Ter was on the tip-toe of citation. J
wal we'll he might be. For to acqui1
,uld Van Dyck on any terms is, nowad
~, hard enough. But to have picked
WV up for nothing, as he had done,
TED stituted simply phenomenal achi
the ment.
ers He took it down with him to
49,, home at Bristol, where he nursed
'uA cherished it with extraordinary SC
bneShl J,,ispr of bic HI