The record-union., 1898-10-17

They were not successful but the de-
crease of his little fortune did not dis
courage 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 a
little, broken-down house at Saint
Brieuc, and styled himself the Dis
coverer of Treasures" Being learned
in armorial bearings, he showered nus
circulars on all sides, not only on the
noble families whom the Revolution
had plundered, but also on those fam
lilies who were still in possession OF
their fortune but who desired to in
crease it.
Everybody knew that Villiers was
perfectly honest man; it was not sur
prising, therefore, that he soon found
customers. Numerous families OF the
nobility took. great interest in his en-
terprise His strange Cabinet DAFT
faires" worked well during the whole or
the Restoration, but it then gradually
died out without any practical result
being obtained from the researches. 1t
must be confessed that the seekers OF
treasure are rarely happy in their ex-
plorations. Some say it is owing to
want of method, others to lack OF
documents, but perhaps we shall be
nearer the mark, if we attribute it to
the scarcity of treasures. which are all
more or less imaginary. Most of the
treasures are brought to light by acci-
dent. For example, laborer in the
fields may come across a vase contain
ing more gold coins and medals than
hyy
Among the latter may be found believ-
ers who have reduced themselves 70
misery and ruin in their pursuit of
treasures.
THE SWINDLERS OF BARCELONA.
Villiers still believed in the existence
of treasures, but this delusion was not
shared by the swindlerS of Barcelona,
who, although well known, never failed
to make dupes among all classes In
France. At one moment it was a letter
from a fictitious jailer, in which an ex-
Carlist officer, condemned to several
years imprisonment, secretly Informed
one that before his arrest he was able
to cross the frontier with the funds Of
his regiment; that the funds were hid
den in France in a place known only
to himself, and that he was willing to
disclose the spot on receipt of 1900 or
1000 francs. On another occasion, in
stead of jailer it was a daughter OF
the Carlist officer, who, not having
sufficient money to take her to France,
solicited one to help her make the jour
ney and bring back the treasure, which
would be divided among them. OF
course, nothing more was heard of the
affair. The Prefect of Police has on
many occasions warned the public
against the swindlers of Barcelona, but
it 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 them
selves to private persons in order to
share the fruit of their researches, but
to the State. A functiOnary of the
Beaux-Arts, delegated by the Resi-
dency, will be present at the next ex-
plorations, which will soon take place.
Let US hope that they will get better
results than those of St. Denis, which,
instead of treasure, produced nothing
but bones, dust and ridicule.-Paris
correspondence of the London Globe.