The Weylin Story (Chapter 7)

This was the episode that led Weylin to a next match: he introduced another barber’s client to a woman he knew, and surprisingly it was another total success. Very soon after, and like out of the blue, little Weylin became famous in town, a little match maker. His talent seemed magical and became a tradition; even a superstition.

Neither he nor the villagers could believe the sudden phenomenon. He was so smart that he also knew some of the couples he had introduced just worked their way out because they had been presented by Weylin, even though they weren’t that good a match. Soon after the first couple, Weylin started using his gift as a business to get around for a living, and even started selling Mrs. Seymour’s catering service and celebration arrangements.

Years later, the belief, the success and Weylin’s image in the New York society were huge. He amassed a fortune at a very young age. He bought his first house at the age of 22, where he of course celebrated life with gatherings, parties, live music – and amazing catering. As years passed he got famous overseas in both mother nations Holland and England; and many people, even royal and noble men, offered him a fortune for visiting and spreading his magical word. But he refused even the craziest and most considerable offers because it was believed that if he moved out of New York City, then the spell would break, and he would lose it all – which wasn’t necessarily the worst of the consequences. Rather, that the already successful couples could lose the magic touch. They were all sort of concerned by this, although not too much; maybe some of the more superstitious were, because Weylin didn’t have any need of getting out of New York City. It was growing to be the biggest and most spectacular cultural melting pot in the world.

Illustration by Richard Caton Woodville, circa 1850.