The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-08-28
ovID,S ART OF LOVE.

OVID'S ART OF LOVE.
1 Under this head the New Orleans Delta
Eyelatss tho following amusing passage in
Elhe life Of The miilionaire John McDonogs
lin which love and business were vain
4 nv sough, 10 be mixed up in the same trans
action. The legend runs thus:
Mr. McDonogh had reached mature
age. He was grave and sedate for hi'
gears. Ills landed possessions we're large
Eeven then. He had commenced his Crane
kdesicn Of surrounding this city, as he said
Mith his lines OF decentralization. BIZ. IN
5oetnnstely, some lands interviewed, which
belonged 10 very wealthy gay widow lady
ENf. McDonnch endcarored to purchase
these lots. He sent grea, many persons,
.who offered the widow very large price
jor her property, but she would not sell
be ia the mesn time remaining secret, mol
! allowing il 10 be known tina, be was The
person in pursuit Of this property. All his
Efforts proved aboT.ive. Al last enc dss,
what was The surprise Of the widow. 10 tie
waited upon BY the wealthy John McDan
OCH himself, dressed in bran new sui,
with spoiless white ves, and crava,, and
bearing under his arm that Identical green
umbrella, which twenty years afterward
constituted one of the pecnliarilies of bis
appearance ia nur streets. Shown into the
iady's parlar, AIR. McDonogh. upon The ap-
peararce of The widow, immediately com
menced TO unfold The object of his visit
lie stated that he owned large possessions,
and hoped, ere be died, TO possess the great
er part Of the landed estate in Louisiana--
that this was The darling chico, Of his am
bition, but, unfortunately, bis own means
were not adequate to the attainment oil his
high aim. lie only lacked one ,hing-ai
the same lime iniasing all the humanity
Of his soul into the big basilisk eyes which
glared upo1 the handsome face of tile wild.
ow. "What was ,ha,g' ..What could Mr.
MeDonogh wani?' inquired the lady
With his usua! business promptitude. Dir
McDonogh replied, "your hand, m-dan,.'
"My haGd!. exclaimed The lady, bursting
on, into laughter. "Togeiher,n added Mr..
McDenngh, "with your swamp lands in
rear ofIhe cify!' What followed, the lie.
geHd omiis; but the result vas that Mr..
McD1nogh was seen to leave the widows
house. with coun,enance denoiing indis-
nation and surprise. lie vowed revenge,
and lived 10 execute it.
Years afterwards, the same widow, hay-
ing been offered large price for piece [
city property, found tina, two lots at tie
corner Of The square, which was chiefly
owned by her, were lhe property Of NJ.
John McDanogh. Il was necessary thu,
she sholld have these lots 10 ,mp!ete her
sale. They had cost Mr. McDonogh but a
few hundred dollars What was her sur
prise on sending broker to him, to lie 10
formed that he might take $4,000, bu,
nothing less. The widow determined 10
try the virtue Of little personal PERSIA
sion: perhaps she could kindle the old
fame, and thus induce him TO relax. Ac-
cordiDgly, che paid him visit. She found
him al his dreary old house 81 McD1no2h
vile. He was buried in musiy papers, sur.
rounded by bis negro clerks, copying rec,
ords. A single empty chair sal 10 tbs
room. The widow took this, and immedi
ately commenced the object Of her mission
Great was her surprise TO be informed b,
Mr.. McDsnogh, that it was impossible f.
him TO sell the lots in question. He own
ed no property himself. II was all Cos
Almishiy's, whose agent, be was, wilhou
the power 10 sell.
Al last. having exhausted all other arts
the lady thought she would try The etfec
Of old "reminiscences and associations, 3,
she blushinglv and softly inquired Of ih'
stern old millionaire how it was that b,
should hive once offered her bis hand nnt
heart, aud was now unwilling to grant he
this small privilege. "Tba,," responde.
the hard-heated votsry Of Mnmmon, .xa
many Years ngo; then was thoughtles
and gidds, and you, madam, were younl
and handsome