Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1854-12-09
The Ruined Banker, aud the Moral which
the Case Teaches.

the Case Teaches.
We have already stated tha, MIR. Man
chester. the owner OF tie exploded "Peo-
pies Bank, at Cincinnati, had been
compelled,in consequence of public indig-
nation, to fly from that city, and that he
had been pursued, like a fugitive, in lndI-
ana, hv some Of those whose hard earning
had been previously placed in his custo-
.dy. The Cincinnati Gazette says:
Since the failure of his banking house,
on Tuesday of last week, il has not been
safe for him 10 be seen abroad alone. We
knew not his present place OF abode. or
where he Intends TO settle himself. One
thing is certain. his days of usefulness in
this city have departed. His property
has been placed in the hands OF assignees,
but. from what we can gather, the assests
will not meet the liabilities. Many oil
those who are losers are hard.worEing
men and women. They intrusted their
small earnings in his bank, and we fear
they will not be able 10 get them back.
We learn that his failure is chiefly altrih-
uted 10 stock speculaiions, borrowing
money at large rates OF interest, anc ex-
travagant living. Some months ago he
bought fifty thousand dollars worth ot
stock in one of the railway enterprises IN
this State, which fell on his hands very
rapidlv, and his losses were heavy. In
our city there are few, very few, who eX-
press any sympathy for the ruined ban.
ker, while "curses, both loud and deep,
follow his foot.steps like an echo. One
of the sad evils which follow wrecked
fortunes and wrong doing is the sorrows
which fall upon the innocent family.
We shall not attempt TO encroach upon
the sanctity Of their private grieis.
| The present case Of failure, and the dis
as,rous consequences following il, arc not
without their moral. The bane of modern
city life is a desire 10 make money and 10
live in style beyond our legitimate means
to afford. The old maxms Of homebread
prudence have lost much Of their force,
and are rarely practised. The desire TO
oushine our neighbors, or at least 10 be
equal with them in show-making and par
iy-giving, and fine dresses and furniture,
and costly, yet useless ornaments, are a.
mong The fruitful causes Of tight money
markets, bankruptcy, and domestic ruin.
I No history has ever recorded the miseries
which the slavery Of fashion and the ar
birary demands of society innict upon
men--a slavery more calling than that Of
the servIinde OF the Southern negro-tbe
many shifts that are made TO keep up ap.
pearance, TO hide the ruth, and TO raise
money TO meet the notes coming due. No
wonder we have care-worn faces, prema-
lure grey hairs, and etfeminale eonstilu-
tions-lhe legitimate offspring Of pas
sion to live beyond our means and keep
up appearances.
We do not mean 10 say that failures in
business will not happen at times even
when the greatest amount Of prudence has
been observed. Misfortune is an incl
dent 10 everything human. But we do
mean 10 say that there is more real poig-
nant misery, more sleepless nights, aud
dreaded days occasioned by the mania for
appearing to be better of than we are, and
supporting establishments beyond that
which we can legiiimalely afford, than by
any other thing. The case Of Mr.. Man
chester is striking instance. This false
appearance, like false lights on the sea
coast held on, by wreckers ard pirates TO
deude the mariner, deeeiyes and ruins
many. The poor people, who entrusted
him with their hard-won money, were
deceived by the false lights which he held
out Up TO the moment OF his failure he
was considered one Of the wealhiesi in
the city; bui when the lightning struck,
il left the tree bare of fruit and leaf Moth
ing remained but the trunk. scared and
worthless. The poor have lost tina, which
they inirusted 10 him and disappointment
and unavailimg sorrow gil many hearts.
Posted on Manchester building yes
ierday morning, was piece OF fooIscap
paper, on which was written, in plain
round hand. these words "Tbis building
YVES erected by widows, tears and orphans.
cries. the production. perhaps, Of some
seamslress or poor widow, whose liule
earnings. the harvest Of long years Of Toll
and midnight watching, were lost 10 her
forever.
In these times OF commercial and nor
etary distress, il is well 20 renec, upon
the means by which they may he partial
ly avoided, and TO avert recurrence OF
them IN the future.
'rLev write hn,ne tl,ai there are hPas G.