The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1825-12-05
DANIEL DANCER. ESQ.

in an apparent state at poverty. IL
Was horn about the year 1716, meas
Harrow on the Hill, in the county OF
Middlcscx. His father had three
sons \ one daughter. each of whom
wae distinguished for ertaiG pecu-
liariiies. either of mind OF body. A
penurious disposition was common
trait amongst them indeed IL seems
In have bprnc along Wit II n kind
| oil infection, Tor il ran through the
| family. II is a circumstance wor-
thy Of notice. that MIR. Dancer did
MI in his early years hetray that
excessive love of money for which he
brcpmc afterwards celebrated. This
disclosure of his soul was reserved
for maturer Years. When his faith
err died he became independent. and
then he began 10 act the part Of the
misrr. so true in some cases. is the
observation Of Burus, the poet, in
his letters. /" Wealth imparts bird
lime quality to the possessor. at
which the man IN his native power
~ would have rcyolted." Such was
the ecCentricity ofhis characteristic
although scarcely allowing himself
the common necessariea Of life, he
left property IL the amount OF & o.
600 a year, 10 LadyTempest &Capt.
Holmes. so perfectly penurious was
he in his disposition, that, rather
than expcnd penny, he frequently
had recourse IL the pot liquor Of La
dy Tempcst's kitchen of which he
would swll ~ enormously IA 10 be
obliged 10 roll himself on tho floor 10
sleep. lie generally had his body
girl by hay band, to keep together
his tattcred garments ; X the stock
ings be usually wore had been 80
frequently darned and patched. that
hardly any Of the original could be
seen. IL cold aud dirty weather,
however, they were thickly covered
with ropes OF hay, which served AZ
substitutes for boots. His whole
garb, indeed, resemblcd that Of n
miserable medicant. He had nm old
horse. but never would allow more
than two shoes for his tore feet,
dccming those Tor his hind feet an
unnecessary expense. Mr.. Dancer
would never take snuff, conceiving
such an indulgence IL be extraya-
giant, but he always carried -nuil
box thus he would probably ill in
the course of a month,by plnchcs alb
tanned from others ; when the box
WAS full he would barter the contents
for iarthing candle at o neighbor-
ing chambers shop this candle
served him till he had time 10 fill the
box again, as he never suffered any
light in his house, except while he
was going to bed. He seldom wash.
ed his face and hands: but when the
sun shoue forth he would repair to a
neighboring pool, n substitute sand
for soap: when he had performed
the operation of washing, he would
lie on his back and dry himself with
the solar beams az be never used
a towel, because it would wear out,
and when dirty the washing would
be expensive. Having come to Lon
don one day, for the purpose of in
vesting 2OO0l. in the funds, gen
tleman near the Royal Exchange
observed him. and taking him for a
wretchcd bcggar, hnmaDely slipped
a penny in his hand, which the old
man received with "A degree Of sur
prise but instantly rrcollccting
that " every little helps" he peck
eted the afIront, and walked on.
THIS parslnonIous man never had
more than one shirt at time, which,
being purchased at an I'D clothes
shop. seldom exceeded hall "A crow,
in price nor did 1t ever, after fall
ing into his possession, undergo the
operation Of either washing or men
ding, but was doomed to perpetual
slavery, till it literally dropped in
pieces from his back. Hence it may
naturally be supposed, that. although
Mr.. Dancer seldom associated with
his neighbors, he was at all times
attended by very numerous compa.
ny, whose perpetual attachment ren.
dered mankind extremely cautious
of approaching him. In the pur-
chase of an old shirt, he once sup.
posed himself cheated by a woman
of the vast sum Of three pence ; it
consequence of which, he commep.
ced suit against her in the Court 0