Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-06-25
ECCENTRIC MILLI0NAIRES.
lac Exchanges Places with His serv-
ants-AnOther Lives on a Yacht
That Never sails.

The most eccentric millionaire in
the world is Comte de s. n OF
the richest of the old French nobili'
~, who has one Of the most mag
pifcent houses in Paris. Although
he has in his veins some Of the
noblest blood of France, the comte
has views of social equality which
may be described aS revolutionary,
says the New York World.
He insists on sharing all the adj
vantages Of his wealth with his sery-
ants and tenants, with the grotesque
result that one week he will be dis
charging his under bullets duties
while that -functionary plays the
millionaire, and another week he
will summon che of his farmer ten
ants from Ardennes or Somme to
take his place, while he himself
shares the hospitality of the serv-
ants hall.
The eecentricity Of the late Prince
Slayianski, one of the richest Of the
cars subjects, took IN amiable II
novel form. Although he had more
palaces than he had fingers on his
hands, and was lord of over 1,000,oOo
acres, the eccentric prince elected
10 live in a couple Of rooms in a
sqnalid corner of ST. Petersburg and
TO dress as shsbbily as any beggar.
1t was his amusement when he
walked through the streets of St.
Petersburg to watch the sympathy
or aversion his appearance excited;
and when, as frequently happened,
any charitable stranger, moved by
the spectacle Of such poverty and
misery, would slip a coin into his
hand, the prince invariably shad-
owed his benefactor until he discov-
cred where he lived, and would then
send or leave at his house "a large
sun of money, a thousandfold more
than he had received.
Equally benevolent was the oddity
Of the late Robert Arlington, who
in personal appearance. manner and
habits was known as the most &c.
centric man in Yorkshire, England.
Although so penurious as TO earn
the title Of miser, Mr.. Arlington
was prodigality itself to all forms
Of foreign missionary work, and
while denying himself a fire in win
ter, he would write a check for $780,
600 TO establish a mission among the
Awemba tribes in Central Africa.
Once he was invited to take the
chair at a home missionary meeting
in Leeds in the hope of a prineely
subscription. Mr.. Arlington took
the chair. made an eloquent appeal
and subscribed-a shilling.
OF Brightlingsea, England, foi
many years has been moored a mag
nifcent steam yatcht, the floating
palace Of a well-known millionaire
who is reputed to have an income OF
$4,000 a year. The yacht has a
crew of 81 men, and is always ready
to go 10 sea but never moves.
Every day she is surrounded by .
hotilla Of small boats, the occu.
pants of which wait patiently for
hours in the hope that the mystert
Gus owner Of the yacht Will show
himself TO them; and sooner or later
he appears at the door of his cabin,
heckons to one after another of the
expectant crowd and, after chatting
with them, sends them away-as an
old sailor told the writer-'with
their pockets full Of gold"
This scene has been enacted every
day for no one knows how many
years, the greedy swarm Of cad
gers" awaiting the mil~lionaire's
summons, a glimpse of a stout,
black-bearded mar emerging from
his cabin, the summons on board the
yacht, the departure of the favores
few jingfing gold coins in their peck
cts and of the rest angry OF defect
ed, but all hoping for better luck
tomorrow"