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Article EPISODES IN THE LIFE OF A FREEMASON. ← Page 6 of 9 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Episodes In The Life Of A Freemason.
on the look-out for customers . I saluted him , and inquired if he xx'ere the proprietor of the shop , on which he begged me to enter , and demanded in xvhat xvay he could serve me . " I told him briefly what I wanted , described my violin to him , and asked if he xvere disposed to deal . A discussion then took lace as to the value of my instrument ; and I xvas
prop posing to bring it to my Hebrew friend for inspection , when our conx'ersation xvas interrupted by the entrance of a well-dressed middle-aged man , apparently well knoxxm to the Jew , xx'ho soon left me in the lurch , and paid the most obsequious attention to the stranger .
" As they xvere conversing together for some minutes , I had leisure to observe the new comer with attention . He had exddently a taste for jexvellery ; and , besides the full complement of rings and chains , he xvore a large bunch of ' charms , ' which would have been sufficient to protect a whole nation against all the evil influences that ever assailed humanity . Conspicuous among
these xvas our xvell-knoxvn emblem of the Square and Compasses . — -Ah ! thought I , this man is probably a Brother Mason ; and as he seems on such good terms xvith the Jexv , he may be of use to me in striking my bargain ; at all events there is no harm in making myself known as a member of the Craft . Accordingly , I took an opportunity of signalling the stranger , who immediately responded , took off his hat , and approached to address me .
'" Although my French is tolerably good , he had no difficulty in discovering that I was a foreigner ; and after some indifferent remarks , I explained to him the object of my visit to the Rue des vieux Coquins . ' Stay , ' said he , ' I have but a word more to say to the merchant , and then if you xvill favour me xvith yom * company a little xvay , xve AA'ill talk the matter over . ' I at once assented ; and xve xvere soon xvalking arm in arm toxvarcls the Pont d'Austerlitz .
" My new friend informed me that the Hebrexv merchant was a xvell-knoxA-n character among musicians in Paris ; and though not Avholly indifferent to the profits of his trade , he was generally considered a pretty fair dealer for a Jexv . I must not , hoAvever , Aveary you Avith too many details . Suffice it to say , that I discovered before long that I had made the acquaintance of M .
L , the most celebrated Aiolinist in Europe . He requested to see my Cremona , Avhich he praised exceedingly , and begged of me not to think of selling it in the Rue des vieux Coquins , xvhere , he said , I could not hope to obtain anything like its real value , concluding by making me a very handsome offer , Avhich I was only too glad to accept .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Episodes In The Life Of A Freemason.
on the look-out for customers . I saluted him , and inquired if he xx'ere the proprietor of the shop , on which he begged me to enter , and demanded in xvhat xvay he could serve me . " I told him briefly what I wanted , described my violin to him , and asked if he xvere disposed to deal . A discussion then took lace as to the value of my instrument ; and I xvas
prop posing to bring it to my Hebrew friend for inspection , when our conx'ersation xvas interrupted by the entrance of a well-dressed middle-aged man , apparently well knoxxm to the Jew , xx'ho soon left me in the lurch , and paid the most obsequious attention to the stranger .
" As they xvere conversing together for some minutes , I had leisure to observe the new comer with attention . He had exddently a taste for jexvellery ; and , besides the full complement of rings and chains , he xvore a large bunch of ' charms , ' which would have been sufficient to protect a whole nation against all the evil influences that ever assailed humanity . Conspicuous among
these xvas our xvell-knoxvn emblem of the Square and Compasses . — -Ah ! thought I , this man is probably a Brother Mason ; and as he seems on such good terms xvith the Jexv , he may be of use to me in striking my bargain ; at all events there is no harm in making myself known as a member of the Craft . Accordingly , I took an opportunity of signalling the stranger , who immediately responded , took off his hat , and approached to address me .
'" Although my French is tolerably good , he had no difficulty in discovering that I was a foreigner ; and after some indifferent remarks , I explained to him the object of my visit to the Rue des vieux Coquins . ' Stay , ' said he , ' I have but a word more to say to the merchant , and then if you xvill favour me xvith yom * company a little xvay , xve AA'ill talk the matter over . ' I at once assented ; and xve xvere soon xvalking arm in arm toxvarcls the Pont d'Austerlitz .
" My new friend informed me that the Hebrexv merchant was a xvell-knoxA-n character among musicians in Paris ; and though not Avholly indifferent to the profits of his trade , he was generally considered a pretty fair dealer for a Jexv . I must not , hoAvever , Aveary you Avith too many details . Suffice it to say , that I discovered before long that I had made the acquaintance of M .
L , the most celebrated Aiolinist in Europe . He requested to see my Cremona , Avhich he praised exceedingly , and begged of me not to think of selling it in the Rue des vieux Coquins , xvhere , he said , I could not hope to obtain anything like its real value , concluding by making me a very handsome offer , Avhich I was only too glad to accept .