AN ECCENTRIC BARON.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XVI, Issue 307, 27 December 1881, Page 4

AN ECCENTRIC BARON.

"You don't mean to say he has .juietlv died in bis bed ?" -'Ye?, indeed ; who would have thought ifc ?" " Died just like anyone else, without any expU-aioD. How tame !" " Our friend G ! a-ier is to go down with twenty men and inspect tbe cellars of the Schlo.s," " Alas, poor ftllow, and I never bade him cdieu." But Eobert G;_-*ier, firet lieutenant of Engineers, returned safe and _ound to Viemia, and reported his extraordinary discoveries in or rather under, the castle of the late Baron Avpad Lupresti. His account rue? as fellows :— I was cent uowd to Sos.lia to inpp_ ct the foundations ot the Schli -•_ ? , io consequence of reports that snid foundation. h_d been tnin.d _nd filled _ ith dycamiio My te.sk h hardly half -(-Oi-tnpli-hed, and I return to it tt -miT-row. Our search thus far bas resulted in the c_i_e.>. cry ot three minfa each coutainiug 4a- kiiowrp.ma.eof dynamite rf aa unusual pinliiyh colour. Th- late lord of tbe Scblce? was a firet-rat? ohi__i_t, _nd I conclude tbat this stuff __xs_ be oi home mauufacture, for it is not like tbe dynamite of ordinary commerce. To test its powers, to render it harmles?, we exploded the lot in an oprn B[ace 3000 yards from any habitation, and the detonation wes so tremendous thit windows were sbi.erf d and doors blown in. Since then, ten more mines have been discovered— they were so connected tbat tbey might havo all been expkdad simultaneously. The effect "would have been stupendous ! And now for the reasoD of deceased's little penchir<t for hone* -combing the foundations of his ancestral ball. It was tbe result of a rooted antipathy to the tax-gatherer — a sentiment abßied indeed by many, though fortunately few resort to such drastic measures of self defence The dynamite, however, was only to be used as a .up-eme and final protest, for the Baron employed other — and as it proved, efficient — means for every day purposes. For instance, he kept a couple of the largest and fiercest dogs, which were regularly let loose when the tax-gatherer approached. It appears that a certain rate collector, more crafty than his fellows, once got into the castle iv disguise. The trick must have been discovered, however, for after waiting { some time in the hall, the door opened, and instead of the Baron, the horrified official found himself face to face with a gaunt wolf. After this, and in consequence of tbe report that tbe grim lord of the manor had sworn a deep oath to blow up the whole place sooner than poy taxes, the gatherers approached j the place no more, contenting themselves with jotting down the outstanding dues, which now amount to 80,000 florins, and which willat last have to I be paid by the heir. Another peculiarity of the Baron's was to ride about j his woods in the costume of A dam — before the fall. His theory was " per feet liberty " v. ithin bis own domains, and i' faith he enjoyed it. Strange to say, beyond these peculiarities, Baron Lnpresti was not only of sound mind, but a remarkably clever fellow ; a scholar, ant' — to the few whom he liked — a courteous and hospitable bo._t. His anecdotes of Eastern life were as glowing as his wine w..s good, besides which he was a great nusiclan and a redoubtable swordsman and chess-player. Only now aid tben a fit of cynical nroroseness, or rather, mocking anger, would seize him, and then some one would be sure to suffer some sorry joke. There was no knowing what he would do, and in fact, it was always better to depa.t simply and swiftly. As to tbe outlaying peasantry, they adored bim, and 700 of them followed his remains to their last resting-place.