Year: 1875

Ane mybNerlOus Professor Schulz


Mnose Qneer Transactions are


Puzzl1nR Berlin.


The Berlin correspondent of the Lon


don Standard writing on the 10th Of


February, says:


The following strange story is in cir.


culation: On the 4th Of the month, to-


ward evening, stranger called upon the


owner OF well-known metal foundry in


Berlin, and after some Introductory


phrases, began to launch forth into q


learned disquisition about the move.


ments Of the heavenly bodies in such a


manner as to excite the astonishment


and admiration of his hearer, the more


so as the latter possessed no knowledge


whatever OF the subject in discourse.


The mysterious stranger, who gave no


clew to his own identity, stated, among


other things that he had Just come from


the observatory, where great prepare.


tioHs were being made for an event OF


unparalleled interest in astronumic cir.


cles; an event which took place only


once in every hundred years. This he


explained to be the passage of the plan.


etoid Pluto across the disc of Mars. he


was desirous he added, of casting a


medal in commemoration of this rare 90


currence, which was to come off at mid.


night precisely between the 9Th and 7tb


Of February. The medal-founder kindly


offered, in the interests of science. to


place his crucibles and other melting an.
paratus at the disposal of the stranger,
without making any charge for their
use. The stranger was profuse in his
thanks, and soon afterward withdrew
promising to return at the appointed
night and hour. 1t happen ed that the
proprietor Of the foundry had a small
party of friends assembled under his
roof on the evening of the 9Th, and in
the course OF conversation the stranger
Of two nights before was mentioned
with tie particulars of his visit.
All expressed a great wish to see him. if
he should really make second appear.
ance, for it was generally surmised that
his only object had been to play hoax
upon the master OF the house by getting
him to heat his furnace and prepare his
materials for nothing. Orders were,
however, given to make the necessary
arrangements and upon the stroke of Ii
the man reappeared in an overcoat
tightly buttoned up to the chin. He this
time gave himself out to be Professor
Schulz, Of Charlottenburg. He was
then escorted to the Westinghouse. all
the guests following him with great curl
osity. When everything was ready for
the operation, the self-styled Professor
Schulz produced an English sovereign,
a piece of an old-Iashioned gold watch
chain, piece of a silver chain, a small
bar of iron and a few copper coins.
These we're thrown into the meltine-pot.
and at II o'clock to minute. when the
mass was in thorough fusion, the Pro.
lessor cast four medals, each of the size
Of two.thaler piece. As soon as thew
we're ready for removal he wrapped
them up very carefully, without having
shown them to anybody, aud then made
his bow. The whole thing seemed very
strange, and when the man was gone the
company began to speculate upon his
odd behavior, and to regret that he had
not been detained and forced to give
some fuller account OF himself His un-
usual appearance, too, aroused suspicion,
for it was noticed that he had never
taken off his oyercoat, which seemed |
abnormally bulky, as with some hidden
weight that threatened to drag all the
buttons away from their moorings
Skepticism being now fairly
aroused, even Pluto himself was treated
as an impostor, until upon inquiry
at the Observatory it was found, l believe,
that he actually exists, but that he has
never shown any intention of taking
hTp across Mars disc. No Professor
Schulz was trsoeable at the Charlotten-
burg address given by the stranger who
is set down as either a madman or an
Upon the latter view his
are not very explicable.
1t is supposed, however, that he really
had much larger quantity of gold and
silver, under various forms, secreted
about his person, but that the presence
Of so many spectators disconnected him,
and prevented him from carrying out
his original design of melting the lot so
as 10 destroy its identity. 1t is thought
that be may belong to gang of thieves,
and publicity is given to the story in
order that if any Of his socomplices try
the same game in other quarters they
may meet with their deserts Be this
as it may, the mysterious Professor
Schulz, with his melting-pot and his
medals, is the hero OF the hour in Berlin.


Since the above was written | hear
that the problemstic Dr. Schulz melted
a gold ring with the other objects, after
having removed the stone from the set.
ting, a circumstance calculated to in.
crease the general suspicion. 1t is re-
membered that robberies on large
scale baye been committed during the
last eighteen months, among other
places at the British and Spanish en-
baesies, and very lately at the Royal
Castle, and II is conjectured that at.