The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-26

iJssehfeu OI seventy InlllODS. I15 mas uleu NJ u
good old age, if 81 be called anything good. He
has died in his bed, a green satin bed, with gold
bullion fringe and 1ssels, all his kind friends and
relations surrounding him, and his children's chill
dren gathered about the room. The priests were
there tOo in their dresses and decorations they
always are when rich man dies and he confess
ed, and obtained absolulion, breathing his last in
peace yet, somehow, one envies him his solita-
ry thoughts when living, nor the memory he has
left behind.
The Million Men,
In Hamlet's day, to be a man of ten thousand"
was accounted distinction, worthy OF srscial re-
ference our own age has particular regard for
the man of ga million" Nothing so rouses the
general attention of the country that simple dis
syllable; and when the report arises of an inheri-
tance beyond the water controversy in the courts
Of law, any other incident procedure, coupled
with that melodOus noun-subsantve, il challenges
our hearing like the deep roll of the organ in the
cathedral or the ring of the trumpet over the field
Of battle, and silences for the time in society, on
the Exchange, and in ell companies, every other
intOnation.
Its power is, perhaps, felt the most when it is
sounded from the death bed of some aged man, and
echoes from the clauses Of his last will and testa
ment, as in the recent example of Mr.. McDonogh
of New Orleans, who is presented in his 3rsonality
by one of the leading journals of that metropolis
as having, bu his long residence, his immense
wealth, his peculiar habits and appearance, made
his name familiar, not only the e but everywhere
in the State, as household word. He seemed 10
many, being apart from his fellow-men. While
youth, and strength, and health, and beauty were
year after year struck down beside him, he moved
on, tall, spare, erect with sprightly step and look
Every school urchn recognized at first glance the
thin, sharp, I'M 3llgent face the small sparkling,
brown eye, the long white hair the neat, prim
white eravat and high shirt collar, the well pre-
served old hat and blue umbrella, and the never
to-beworn out old fashioned, tight fitting blue clotEH
dress coat and pantaloons and well polished Shoes
Following the death, we have the customary
specuatons as to the disposal Of his large property
estimated at several millions the reading of the
will in the District Court before numerous audi
ence; and an abstract in the newspapers of the
provisions of the will ITSELF These, as in all SINH
Ter cases. in singular contrast and contradiction
TO the whole course of the tesiators life. 1t would
seem as if the millionaire, as in theatrical per-
tormance, having played a sort of low comedy or
close old man while living, had no sooner departed
this world than rapidly shifting his garments and
changing his cOuntenance, he delighted 10 return
upon US in the royal robe of a benefactor and
prince, with the aspect of prophet of goodness.
There cannot be doubt but that the writing of a
will works an extraordinary change in the feelings
and character of the r5nman 1t brings him face TO
face with the realities and spendurs of another ex
lstence awakens whatever 3ttsr and nObler quail
tiles of his nature had sumbered to that eVentful
moment; and rouses 10 preternatural activity,
most of all, that conscience which is to walk with
him through the valley Of the shadow of death ua1
to the final bar of account
through long and busy career, was the red ruled
ledger OF the counting -house, suddenly discover
the existence OF another Book and they solemnly
enjoin, in this last example, the reading and diff
fusion of the Bible, the most precious of all
gifts we have it in power to give or they to
receive" Religion, which had been thrust aside
as a humble dependent or neglected as poor rela-
tive, rises at once to the dignity Of MISTRESS and
iHherits the estate as matter of right. Nothing
vHdicates the truth Of everlasting revelation with
more power with clearer emphasis than the testa-
mentary bequests and iniunctions of men who have
put off its claim to the last hour OF mortal delay.
With this primary acknowledgment, education
comes forward upon the sceH6 and claims her due;
men of vast wealth who could scarcely read or wrie
who have never bestowed shilling on schools or
colleges, who would turn from subscription list
a dedication with absolute contempt and loath-
ing, in whose day of power and worldly pros
perity, the idle scholar in his threadbare coat
would be jeered at as " useless member of socie-
ty," "non-producer r'-wrack their brains and
weary language in devsing provision for academies,
colleges, free schools, and the general spread of
useful knowledge among men," Then, too, the
orphans Of society, the neglected poor, appear in
sacred array before the dying eye, and make an
appeal which cannot pass unheeded. They must
be cared for. They are considered and addressed
as brethren: tenderly thought Of and with scrip
ture consciousness that, in this hard world of
unequal distribution, we shall have them always
with US, the rich man appoints himself their friend
and magistrates to aid him in their care. 1t may
be them too. that he comes to consider the riches
of this world dross and would shake from his
shoulders a burden which has bowed his back and
bent down his eyes from contemplating that heaven
of judgement to which he is advancing. He may,
too, like the late John McDonogh, have a morality
on the subject, concluding with 81 very seriously
penned advice to the poor to abandon their jealousy
envy of the rich assure the poor man that the
happiest lot in life is that of laborious industry
uirin livalih hnnl and bo h,l ok;l
which, to use his own words, he had not he
would, on dying, whatever his fortune might be,
leave them more than sufficient to encourage
them to life of industry. The rich mans lot he
considered far from happy one, and he held them
to be the reservoirs the provident people who
garnered for the needy hour Of the masses"
The senses even may grow finer and more justly
apprehensive, and the departing millionaire, who
never tossed copper from the window to the organ
grinder; in whose desolate chamber no voice of
melody was ever known, may require that sing
ing shall be taught and the children instructed in
sacred music," at his sole charge and expense
How the world fades before him, with all its vul
gar claims, lis business relations its profits specu
lations, lands, scrip, mortgages, and chatteis and
the buried man is resurrectiOnized from the depth
of clay where he had lurked for three score years
and ten, and advances to our view Gf there had
been truly soul TO be saved within HIM with
radiance on his brow
"And Il was near forgetting that have still to
ask," says the Will of McDOnOgh, the New Orleans
Millionaire, "and it shall be the last, that it may
be permitted annually, to the children of the Free
Schools, situated the nearest to the place of my in
tement, to plant and water few flowers around
my grave This little act will have double ten
dency. 1t will open their young and susceptible
| hearts to gratitude, and love to their Divine Crea-
tor, for having raised up las the humble instrument
of His bounty to them) poor, frail worm of earth
| like me, and teach them, at the same time, what
they are, whittier they come, ani where they must
| return"
In spite of all that is prudent in worldly consid.
erations ofperil regards the penalties and awards
of the other Judgement, we are called on to read
this Millionaire Chapter in Human Life over and
over again. The duty is deferred to the last mo.
ment: ingenuity is taxed to guard it against defeat:
and the Vuture of the Law, in spite of every most
careful provision TO the contrary, walks at the fl
neral, and appoints himself chief Executor. The
vast estate shrinks the Million in practical effects
d~lndles TO mill: and all that we have of a life
ol penurlous economy, painful boarding, and anx
lous oequests, is another memorial, erected at al