The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-02-13
THE LATE JOHN McDoNouGH.

THE LATE JOHN McDONOuGH.
A number Of lawyers were recently con-
gregated in the chamber ot The Supreme
Court Of N. Orleans, when tho converse.
iion turning on the eccentriciiics Of the
above individual, one related the following
incident. John McDonough had called up
on the lawyer, when tho legal gentleman,
in the course Of conversation, addressed
him thus:-
lhaye been thinking over your singular
Lille, and ! want you TO give me some advice
in regard TO the great success which has at
tended you, lor |, too, would like to be very
rich, having family, so as to leave my
heirs wealthy. Well, said he, get up, sir j;
and as arose from my armchair, he took
my seat, and turning to me as il no was
the proprietor and bis clerk, and said,
pointing 10 "a common chair in which he
had been sitting, sit down, sir, and Twill
tell you how became rich man, and how
by following three rules you can become as
rich rs myself.
4 first came to Louisiana continued Mr..
McDonough,' when It was Spanish colony,
as the agent for house in Boston, to dis
pose Of certain cargoes of goods. Alter |
had settled up their accounts and finished
their agency, SET up to do business for
myself. had become acquainted with the
Spanish Governor, who had taken fancy
TO me, although had never so much as fiat
tered him, and through bis inluenco OBJ
tained contract for the army BY which |
made $4,000. After this gave splen-
did dinncrto the principal officers Of the
nrmy and the Governor, and BY il obtained
another contract, by which made $40, 900.
This is what the Creoles and French do not
understand. mean the spending ofmon-
ey judiciously. They arc nfraid of spend
ing money. A man who wishes to mike
fortune, must first make show Of liher-
ality. and spend money in order to obtain it.
BY that cinner which | gave tothe Spanish
authorities, obtained their good will md
esteem; and by this | was enabled 10 make
large sum Of money. To succeed in life,
then, you must obtain the favor and in
luence Of the opuleni, and the authorities
Of tho country in which you live. This is
the first rule
THE natural span ola mans life,' obscrv-
ed Mr.. McDonough, lis too short, if he is
abandoned to his own sources, 10 acquire
great wealth, and therefore in order TO real
ize fortune you uust exercise Your in
fnence and power over those who in point
Of wealth are inferior to yop. and by avail
ing Yourself Of their talents, knowledge and
information, turn them to yonr own advan-
tagc. This is the second rule Here the
old man made long pause as if lost in
thought, and seeing him remaining silent,
asked, sand is that ALI? mo said he 'there
is a third and last rule which it is all-esscn-
iial for yo,,to observe, in order that success
may attend your efforts Sand what is
that?' inquired. sWhy. SIR said he, 'it
isprayer.' You must pray to the Almighty
with fervor and zeal, and yon will be sus-
tained in all your desires. never prayed
sincerely to God in all my lifc, without
having my prayers answered satisC,ctorial-
ly.' He stopped. and Isaid, 'is this all p
He answered Yes, sir, follow my advice
and YOU will become rich man. And nc
arose and left me.
sWsll,' asked one Of the company, 'hnve
you followed his advice? a~
NO. said the counsellor, 4 have not for
certain reasons; do not wish TO be consid-
cred harsh in drawing the conclusions Ibid
from Mr.. McDonough's advice. They
were that when man desires to become
rich, he must corrupt The high, Cypress the
poor, and look to God to sustain him.