True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-08-15
What Constitutes Riches.

We are indebted to friend in Wash
ington city for the following very forcible
illustration Of what constitutes riches -
We need not add that the aueedote is en-
tircly authentic
TO be rich,' said Mr.. Marcy, oNr wor.
thy Secretary Of State, requires only sat
isfactory condition Of the mind One man
may be rich with a hundred dollars, while
another, in possession of millions, may
think himself poor and as the necessities
of life are enjoyed by each, it is evident
that the man who is best satisfied with his
possessions is the richer"
To illustrate this Idea, Mr.. Marcy rela-
ted the following anecdote:
while l was Governor Of the State of
New York. said he, 4 was called upon
one morning at my office by u rough spec
linen of backwoodman, who stalked in,
anu commenced conversation by inquripg
"if this was Mr., Marcy"
replied that was my name.
Bill Marcy said he.
I l nodded assent.
Used to live in Southport, didn't ye"
answered in tie affirmative, and began
to feel : little curious to know who my
visitor was, and what he was driving ate
That's what l told 'em, cried the back
woodsman, bringing his hand down on his
thigh with tremulous force 4 told 'enl
you was the same old Bill Marcy who used
to live in Southport, but they wouldn't
believe it, and promised the next time ]
came to Albany to come and see you ant
find out sartain. Why, YOU know me
don't you Bill%
/ didn't exactly like to ignore his ac
quaintaucc altogether, but for the life o
me l couldn't recolcct ever having seen
him before ; and so | replied that he had
a familiar countenance, but that / was moi
able to call him by name.
My name is Jack Smith, answered the
backwoodsman, Sand we used to 60 tC
school together thirty years ago, in the lit.
tie red school house in old Southport. -
Well, times has changed since then, and
you have become great man, and got
rich,7l suppose" u -,
shook my head, and was going to con.
tradict that impression, when he broke
in:--
oh yes you arc; l know you arc rich
no use denying it. You was Comptroller
for long time; and the next we heard
of you, you were Governor. You must
have made heap Of money, and am glad
to see you getting along so smart. You
was always smart lad at school, aud
knew you would come to something
l thanked him for his good wishes and
opinion, but told him that political life
did not pay so we'll as he imagined. 81
suppose" said l, "fortune has smiled up
on you since you left Southport %
90, yes" said he; 81 hain't got moth
ing to complain Of. l must say, Pve sol
along right smart. You see, shortly afte
you left Southport, our whole family NOV
ed up into Vermont and put right into th'
woods, and | reckon our family cut down
more trees and cleared more land than an.
other in the whole State" ..
4"And so you have made q good thin!
out of it. How much do you conSide
yourself worth % l asked, feeling a litt
curious to know what he considered for
tune, and as Ae seemed so well satisfied
, with his. .!, 5.. NJ ...l ...
"Well," lie replied, ~ don't know cx
actly how much am worth; but l thinl
STRENGTHENING himself up) if all my debt
were paid, l should be worth three hun
dred dollars clean cash p And be wa
rich, for he was ed.-Knick. Nigga