Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-05
PRETTY MEAN TRICK

'While In Paris this last time I heard
odd story about an American dentist who
died not long ago, after gaining great fame
and wealth In the French capital said a
Washingtonian who recently returned from
a trip abroad. 1T goes back to tho time
when this famous American dentist first eH-
tablished himself In Paris There was. and
still is. law in Franco that reads TO this
general effect: II I. a practcing physician,
surgeon or dentist, sell ont my practice to
another man. and stipulate. under forfeiture
Of large sum. that l shall not resume
practice within a specified distance OF the
office 1 occupy at the tlmo I sell out my
practice-if I violate this agreement by
setting up another office within the pro-
scribed limit, am compelled by the law to
pay the forfeiture agreed upon in the con-
tract to the man who buys my practice,
and the only alternative is prison until the
forfeiture Is paid.
We'll, this American dentist went to
Paris great many years ago, and he
bought out the practice OF an American
dentist who had picked up many shekeis. II
not great fame, in the course of his Paris
ian practice and who wanted to return to
his native land to spend his remaining
days with his own people. There was the
usual clause in the contract, or deco, OF pm
of sale, or whatever you call 1t, requiring
the departing dentist not to set up an OIL
flee or do any practcing whatsoever within
a radius of two miles of the office ne was
vacatng. 1t seemed an unnecessary supu-
lation, in view of the fact that the denust
who was selling out meant to return lmme-
diat ely to the United States, but the man
who bought his practice and who a1terWaru
became SO famous insisted upon the clause
being inserted.
After the deal had been made and the
departing dentist was all but ready to re-
turn to the United States, an English no
bleman. a resident of Paris, for whose chill
dren he had done great deal or WORK.
came to him and told him that he de-
sired him to do some more work on his
youngsters teeth.
81 am sorry replied the dentist who
had sold out his practice, but l won't be
able to do 1t. AS you know, have dis,
posed of my practice to Mr.. Blank, and
under the terms of our contract l canno.
practice within a radius of two miles Of
the office l have vacated for him. AS your
residence is only two squares away, you
will perceive that 1t is out OF the Ques-
ton
But I want you to do the work. and no
one else insisted the English noblenan
Just you tell the man to whom you nave
disposed of your practice the situation, and
no doubt he will be agreeable in this one
case.
well. I'll see him. replied the dentist.
1.-THE dentist did go to the man to whom
he had sold out and stated the matter.
Go ahead and do the work said his
successor, cordially. OF course, I shall
lodge no objection in this particular case
THE dentist did go ahead with the work
on the teeth of the English nobleman's
children, and on the very afternoon of the
day he began the work he had call from
his successor.
You are indebted to me in the sum of
100. 900 francs said he. sharply, to his pre-
decessor for the amount OF the forfeiture
named in their contract was 100000 francs.
The dentist who had been working on
the children's teeth that morning started
back in amaZement
You are jesting.' he exclaimed.
No. l am not was his successors re-
ply. You owe me 100000 francs. under the
terms of our contract, and / would advise
you to pay it at once: otherwise | snail take
immediate steps, under the law, to collect
1t
" But did you not cordially agree to my
doing this bit of work, which 1 have only
undertaken at the earnest entreaty of the
father of the children? asked the dentist
who had sold out. Did you not only yester-
day say that you would be quite agreeable? p
4 may aud l may not have said any
thing of the sort-at any rate. you have no
proof that I gave you any such permission,
said the dentist who afterward acquired so
much wealth and fame. You will pay the
$50. 900. my friend, or it will be the worse
for you and he turned his back on the man
upon whom he had put the screw, and
walked away
THE 100000 francs were paid. Rather
contemplate, on the whole, was it not?"