THE HOUSE OF A FRENCH MISER.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1236, 30 December 1882, Page 2

THE HOUSE OF A FRENCH MISER.

The “ Journal des Debats ” publishes the following : —“A commissioner of police at Paris, named M. Kuehn, was making some enquiries about an indi vidual named Lelong, and for that purpose accompanied him to his residence. M. Kuehn was surprised to find that an individual like Lelong, who was attired like a tramp, lived in the quarter of the Champs-Elysees, and was still more astonished when he stopped before a most aristocraticlooking hotel and opened the door. ‘ You don’t live here; is not this a vacant hotel ?’ demanded the commissioner. ‘ I live here,’ replied Lelong ; ‘ this hotel has belonged to us, father and son. for more than a century, and I have lived here for fifty years without either a housekeeper or servants.’ M. Kuehn entered, and opened the hermeticall-closed window-shutters and was almost stupified upon seeing, under a thick covering of dust, furniture of the most magnificent description, pictures from the easels of the old masters, heaps of objects of art, amongst which were more than twenty clocks of the most costly description, pell mell with rare books, dresses and linen. In the bedroom he found a magnificent bedstead of rosewood, covered with books and engravings. A few steps further off a mattrass was thrown upon the inlaid floor, with dirty linen and a wretched coverlet. This was the couch of the singular proprietor of the hotel, who has acknowledged himself to be the recipient of an income of .£lOO,OOO. When the garments he wears are worn out, he buys a new suit, always black, and throws the old one, with the dirty

; linen, into .the four corners of the apartment. Thejiotel contains a tM» de spectacle, filled with beautiful furniture, decorations and costumes. The proprietor hud never invited anyone to enter the place, he states, ana on this point he is believed to be sincere, for ho would thereby expose himself to the risk of being assassinated in the midst of his riches. The unfortunate man has been taken to the police-depot.”