The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
THE SUN, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1904.

French gentleman, q very wealthy man,
who made fortune in this city as an Inn
porter.
From boyhood he has been an enthusias-
tic colleotor OF material relating 70 Napoleon
]. and the Empire. He has relics, books,
prints, statuary, and no end Of other stu
PERTAINING to his hobby His collection
tilP every room In his house. which Ia one
Of the roomy old New York mansions,
He was an epioure In his day, and some
since which he has been unable to walk.
so no lives alone, retired from business, a
ohildless widower, confined TO his house.
But he collects az diligently as ever. IN
fact, adding TO his collection II about lhe
only pleasure left him IN life.
For long time his valet did his buying
for him. frequenting shops and auction
rooms and purchasing such objects AZ his
master desired. Eventually the old man
discovered that his henchmnn was plum
from dealers, which, OF course, were added
to the bill, and by overpricing things which
were bought at sales.
This discovery gave the old collector
n severe fit of the spleen. for he knew 10
one else whom he could trust SO he spoke
OF The mater 10 his banker, who IL also u
personal friend Of his and collector IN
another line.
The banker suggested TO him that he
would have his wife send down very
for her, and whom he. the banker would
was overjoyed. No mention OF the sex
OF the person was made at the time
The next morning II was announced
to the paralytc that II young lady was
in the reception room and wished to see
him. As he receives only personal friends.
he declined to meet her.
The servant whom he sent to dismiss
her brought back the card Of his friend.
tha.h nV Nlrnr t,.Ntx fr.F ha N a a
wife, introducing the bearer, at her hus-
bands request. The old man was puzzled,
but he permitted the young lady to be
shown into his library. Her appearance
was in her favor He asked her politely
what she wanted.
at seems to me-" she replied, calmly,
that II ia a question of what you want.
sir. Mrs. -- told me to call on you AZ
Mr.. - had stated that you needed my
THAT is very curious. he said, still more
COMPOUNDED Il only spoke to Mr. -
about a person to execute some commits
sionA for me which ! cannot execute my
self
a am that person, she answered, as
placidly "a ever
Explanations followed The old man
became Interested, He wheeled himself
about in his chair, showing her his books.
his prints and the rest Of his Napoleonic
collections.
lie 1OuHu lnaT Sne hlltW quite H'lIt
about many things Of the kind. for sew
eral OF her patrons had the NAPOLEON era re
and this had caused her to study llp on the
s,ibiact She told him about several items
pertaining to his hobby. which were then
on sole at places where she had dealings
.yery we'll. he said. go to those dealers.
Take fbis authorization, handing her a
card on which he scribbbled his name.
sTeIl them TO send inc such Objects az
Won think proper for examination to-day.
Look about in the OF her It ores and il YOU
zee at her thines which Won believe i ought
70 I'm ye make note of then, Come back
Tomorrow morning. and if find YOU can
holm me- in the wav Won profess We shall
moi oiorrel about yonr fee
she oheyed orders, When she returned
the neyt dav she fomnd her new customer
delight ed With having secured several
desirable raritie4 from among the objects
she had selected for him. He had a dainty
hraakrast la;l in his library, to which he
imvit ed her, and over this meal they talked
b,.i,e-.
since that time the old invalid has been
one OF her :, eadie.t and best paving custo-
,,nc, o.. hos mot n,lx- bocp,pa hiS md