The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-24

ported treasure which was believed to be
hidden in the ground surrounding the
Cathedral of Saint Denis. The authorl-
ties ordered a search to be made, out
nothing was found But il was especially
after the revolution that the stories OF
hidden treasure turned the heads of the
people. In some cases there appeared TO
be foundation for the reports. Many no
BILE families, 1t is said, at the moment
of leaving for exile, afraid of taking their
jewels with them, preferred to bury them
secretly in the hope of finding them again
on their return. The fear of domiciuary
visits led others to secure their valuables
in the same way. Now, as many or the
nobility who are said 10 have hidden their
property were either executed or never
came back from exile, II results that thelr
treasures were lost or stolen. In connec-
ton with this subject a strange adventure
is stated 10 have happened to a tradesman
in Paris named Pauvert, who, in the year
1885, was placed by an individual who
signed himself Saint Firmin in the Sc
cret of the researches which he was max
ing for the recovery of a small casket con-
tanning the sum of 1900 crowns. 1t is not
said if the treasure was ever discovered.
Very different was the old Count Vlliers
de 81 Isle Adam, father of the weH-knoWn
writer, and one of the most original fgures
of the restoration. Persuaded, and not
without an appearance OF reason, that the
recovery of his family, one of the Oldest
in Brittany was dependent on the exist
ence of a treasure hidden under the ruins
of one of the numerous castles which he
formerly possessed, he began by making
explorations on his own account in differ
ent parts of the country. They were not
successful but the decrease of his little
fortune did not discourage him, and he hit
upon the idea of extending his researches
not only on his own account. but also on
that of others who were believed to have
treasures. He established himself in lit
lie broken-down house at Saint-Brieue,
and styled himself the "Discoverer Of
Treasures" Being learned in armorial
bearings, he showered his circulars on All
sides, not only on the noble families whom
the revolution had plundered, but also on
those families who were still in possession
of their fortune, but who desired to in
crease it,
Everybody knew that VilIiers was a per-
fectly honest man; it was not surprising
therefore that he soon found customers
Numerous families of the nobility took
great interest in his enterprise. His strange
Cabinet d'anaires" worked wen during
the whole of the restoration, but 1t then
gradually died out without any practical
result being obtained from the researches
Ii must be confessed that the seekers Of
treasure are rarely happy in thir eXplora-
tons. Some say it is owing to a want
of method. others to a lack of documents.
but perhaps we shall be nearer the mark
If we attribute 1t to the scarcity of treas
/ ures, which are more or less imaginary.
Most of the treasures are brought TO light
by accident. For example, laborer In the
fields may come across a vase containing
more gold coins and medals than We're
ever discovered by the seekers. Among the
latter may be found believers who have
reduced themselves to misery and ruin IN
their pursuit of treasures.
Villiers still believed in the existence of
treasures, but this delusion was not shared
by the swindlers of Barcelona. who, al
though well known, never failed to make
dupes among all classes in France. At one'
time it was letter from a fictitious jailer,
in which an ex-Carlist officer, condemned
to several years imprisonment, secretly
informed one that before his arrest ne was
able to cross the frontier with the funds
of his regiment; that the funds were hidden
in France in place known only to himself
and that he was willing to disclose the
spot on receipt of three thousand or -four
thousand francs. On another occasion, IN
stead of a jaiTer, it was daughter OF the
Carlist officer, who, not having sutncleht
money to take her to France, solicited one
to help her make the journey, and bring
her back the treasure, which would be de-
livered among them OF course, nothing
more was heard of the affair. The project
of police has on many occasions warned
the public against the swindfers of BARGE
Iona, but 1t is difficult to understand how
such malefactors have been allowed to es-
cape from the hands of the law.
The natives of Tunis who pretend that
they have found the treasure of Eschmoun
have better titles to public confidence
They did not address themselves to pri-
vate persons in order to share the fruit
of their researches, but to the state. A
functionary of the Beaux-Arts delegated
by the residency. will be presen at the next
explorations, which viii soon take place
Let us hope that they will get better re-
suits than those of Saint Denis, which, in
stead of treasure, produced nothing but
bones, dust and ridicule.