The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-11-20
ABOUT MIsERs,

''''" 'o' TIC ooclai, literally of want, the
well-known banker, Ostervald. A few days
prior to his death, lie resisted the i,nportu.
mites of his attendant to purchase some
meat for the purpose of making a little
soup for him. "Truc, l should like the
SOUP" he said, "but 1 have no appetite for
the meat, what is to become of that? it
will bea sad waste" This poor wrctcl,
died worth 4l25,ooo sterling. Another
desperate case was that of ELVES, whose
diet and dress were alike of tho most rc-
voting kind, and whose property was csti.
mated at 100000. Daniel Dancers
n'serIy propcnstics were INDUCED to such
degree, that OH one occasion when. at the
urgent solicitation Of friend, he ycnturcd
to give shilling to a Jew for an old hat
better us new" to the astonishmcnt of his
friend, the next day he actually rc,alcd it
for eighteen pence. lie performed his ablu.
tons at a neighboring pool, drying himself
III the sun 20 save the extravaeant indul-
gcnce of towel; yet this poor mcndcant
had property to the extent OF upwards of
$4,000 per annun.
1he well known Nat Bcntly (alias Dirty
D'ck) OF London, was the victim not only
to Il craving for gold, but for old iron -
Another deploraLlc case might be cited,
that OF Tom Pitt, Of Warwicksl,rc. 1t is
reported that some weeks prior to the sick
ness which terminated his dcspicaLle career,
he went to several undertakes in quest of
n cheap coffin. lie left behind him f2,475
IN public funds. Another instance is that
OF ;he notorious Thomas Cook. On his
physicians intimating the possibility Of h,s
not existing more than five or six DAYS. lie
protested against the useless expense of
sending him medicine, and charged the
doctor never to show his face to linn again.
Ills property WAS estimated at about $780,
600.
Sir William Smith, Of Bcdfordsl,irc, was
Immensely rich, but most parsimonous and
miscrIy in his habits. At seventy wears of
age l'c was entirely deprived of his sight,
unable to gloat over his hoarIed' heaps of
gold. lie was pursuaded by Taylor, the
celebrated oculst, to bo couched-who
YEA" H. agreement, to have sixty guincas if
lie restored his patient to any degree of
sight. Taylor succeeded in his operation.
and Sir William WAS enabled to read and
write without :le aid of spcctacles during
the rest of his life. But no sooner was his
sight restored than the Laronct began to
regret that his agreement had been for so
large sum. His thoughts were now how
to cheat the oculist. lie pretended that
le had only glimmcring, and could sec
nothing distinctly, for which reason the
bandage on his eyes was continued month
longer than the usual time. Taylor was
deceived by those misrepresentation, and
agreed to compound the bargain, and ac-
cepted twenty guineas Instead of sixty. At
the time Taylor attended him lie had a
large estate, an immense sum of money in
the stocks, and 10000 in the house.
A miser OF the name of Foscue, who
had amassed enormous wealth by tho most
sordid parsinony and discrcIituLle extor-
ton. applied lis ingenuity to discover some
effcc;ual way Of hiding his gold. With
great care and secrecy he dug cave in his
cellar. 10 this receptacle for his treasure
he descended Ivy a ladder, and to tie trap
door he attached spring lock, so that, on
shutting, it would f,sten of itself. BY and
by the miser disappeared; inquiries were
made; the house was searched; woods
were explored, and the ponds were dragged;
but no Foscuc could they find. Some time
passed on. The house in which he had
lived was sold, and workmea were busiIy
employed in its repair. In the progress of
tlieir work, they met will, the door Of the
secret cave, will, the key in the lock outside.
They threw back the door and descended
with light. The first Object upon which
the lamp reflected was the gl,astly body of
Foscue, the ,niser. and scattered around
him were heavy bags of gold, and ponderous
ShSoLS VI uhto1u ucdSuVS CHHuteStIck
lay beside linn OH the floor. The worship
per Of MHin,non lad gone into his cave, to
pay lis devoirs TO lis golden god, and be-
come sacrifice to his devotion. .'"
- v%' I' --------~
81 A jurors ua,no was called by the clerk.
Tho man advanced 10 tho Judges desk and
said, ~ s,ssps 3-.- gi a..
.'"Jadgc, I should like to be excused"
3; "Itais impossible said the Judge, deci.
dedly. 's; sa.e =
e,~a" Bot, Judge il you knew my reasons"
a"Well, sit, what arc they q"
s"-Why, the fact is -" AMI the man paus-
ef gtt.s }sis1|. ll.s.'
s1cs Well, sir, proceed, continued tie Judge.
Well, Judge, if must say it, I've got
tue itch" .,;.3+,,s 4 =; !, -g,...e " \
q. The Judge, who iis a yery sol,srtsraail,