The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1856-11-11
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER II, 1S56.--~--
ABOUT MISERs.

There died at Paris in the year 1879
(says the author of the charming work
Salad for the Socially literally of want
the well known banker, Estervald. A few
days prior to his death he resisted the i'm
portunities of his attendant to purchase
some meat for the purpose of making {
little soup for him. True, | should like
the soup" he said, ''but have no appetite
for the meat; what is TO become of that
it will be sad waste" This poor wretch
died worth fI25,O0e sterling. Anoshar
desperate case was that of Elves, whose
diet and dress were alike of the most revolt
ing kind, and whose property was estimat-
ed at f80O,000. Daniel Dancers miserly
propensities were indulged to such de-
| gree that on Cne occasion when, at the ur-
gent solicitation of a friend, he ventured
to give a shilling to a Jew for an old hat
| ''better as new''--to the astonishmens of
the friend, the next day he actually retailed
| it for eighteen pence. He performed his
| ablutions at neighboring pool, drying
| himself in the sun to save the extravagant
indulgence of q towel; yet this poor men
dcant had property TO the extent of up
wards of $4,000 per annum.
The well known Nat Bentiy, [alias Dir
ty Dick,) of London, was the victim not
only to craving for gold, but for old iron.
Another deplorable case might be cited,
that Of Tom Pitt, of Warwickshire. 1t is
reported that some weeks prior to the sick
ness which terminated his despicable ca
reer, he went to several undertakers in
quest of a cheap coffin. He left behind
him E2,475 in public funds. Another in
stance is that of the notorious Thomas
Cook. On his physician intimating the
possibility of his not existing more than
five or six days, he protested against the
useless expense of sending him medicine,
and charge d the doctor never to show his
face to him again. His property was es-
timated at about f130,00O
Sir William Smyth, of Bedfordshire, was
immensely rich, but most parsmonious and
miserly in his habits. At seventy years
of age he was entirely deprived of his sight,
unable to gloat over his boarded heaps of
gold. He was persuaded by Taylor. the
celebrated occulist, to be couched-who
was, by agreement, to have sixty guineas
if he restored his patient to any degree of
sight. Taylor succeeded iii his operation, !
and Sir William was enabled to read and
write without the aid of spectacles during
the rest of his life. But no sooner was
his sight restored than the baronet began
to regret that his agreement had been for
so large a sum. His thoughts were now
how to cheat the occulist. He pretended |
that he had only gimmcring, and could
see nothing distinctly; for which reason
the bandage on his eyes was continued q !
month longer than the usual time. Tay-
lor was deceived by these misrepresenta-
tions, and agreed to compound the bargain, |
and accepted twenty guineas instead of
sixty. At the time Taylor attended him he |
had large estate, an immense sum of mon
ey in the stocks, and 10000 in the house.
A miser of the name of Foscuc, who had !
enormous wealth by the most sor-
did parsimony and discrtditable cxtortion,
applied his ingenuity to discover some eff
fectual way of hiding his gold. With great
care and secresy he dug cave in his eel
lar. To this receptacle for his treasure,
be decended by ladder, and to the trap
door he attached a spring lock, SO that on
it would fasten of itself. By and |
by the miScr disappeared; inquiries were
made; the house was searched woods were
explored, and the ponds were dragged
but 10 Foscue could they find. Some time
passed on. The house in which he had |
lived was sold, and workmen were busily
i'll its repair. In the progress
of their work they met with the door of the
secret cave, with the key in the lock out
side. They threw back the door, and des-
cended with a Light. The first object upon
which the lamp reflected was the ghastly
body of FoScue, the miser, and scattered
around him were heavy bags of gold, and
ponderous chests of untold treasure a
lay beside HIM on the floor.-
This worshipper of Mammon had gone into
his cave. to pay his devoirs to his golden
rod, and become sacrifice to his devotion.
THE PERPETUAL MOTION DELUsIoN.-