Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1857-02-18
Misers.
The following interesting account of these
curious fossils" we finl III the Newark adver-

The following interesting account OF theSe
curious FOSSILS" we fnl III the Newark adver-
/ tiser :
There died at Paris in the year 1903 (says the
author of the charming work, Salad for the So
cial, y literally of want the well known banker,
Ostervald. A few days previous to his death
he resisted the opportunities OF his attendant to
purchase some meat for the plrpose of making a
| little soup for him. "True, | should like the
soup" he said, ''but have no appetite for the
meat what is to become OF that 1t will be a
sad waste" This poor wretch died worth 9l25,-
coo sterling. Another desperate case was that
of Elves, whose diet and dress were alike fthe
most revolving kind, and whose property was
estimated at .eS00O00. Daniel Dancers miser-
ly propensities were indulged to such degree !;
that on one occasion, when, at the urgent sol-
citation of friend, he ventpFed to give q shil-
| ling to Jew for an ole hat-ebettcr as new-to
the astonishment of his friend, the next day he
actually retailed it for eighteen pence. He per-
formed his ablutions at u ie sboring pool, dry
ing himself in the sun to save the extravagant
indulgence of a towel: yet this poor mendicant
had property to the extent OF upwards OF $4,000
per annum.
The well known Nat Bently, alias Dirty Dick,
of London, was the victim not only to craving
Tor gold, but tor OLD iron.
Another deplorable case might be cited, that
of Tom Pitt, of Warwickshire. 1t is reported
that some weeks5prior to the sickness which
terminated his dsspicable career, he went to
several undertakers in quest of a cheap coliln.-
He left behind him 92475 in public funds
Another instance is that OF the notorious lhos.
Cook On his physician intimatng the posi-
bility of his not existing more than five or SIX
days, he protested against the useless expense OF
sending him medicine, and charged the doctor
never to show his face to him again. His prop
erty was estimated at about 9l30,00O.
Sir William Smyth, of Bedfordshire, was i'm
mensely rich but most parsimonious and mlser-
| ly 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 oecullst, to
be couched-who was, by agreement, to have
sixty guineas if he restored his patient to any
ton, 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 so large a sum- His thoughts were now
how to cheat the occulist lie pretended that
he had only gnmering and could see not dis
tinctly; for which reason the bandage on his
eyes was continued month longer than the
usual time. Taylor was deceived by these mis-
representations and agreed to compound the
bargain, and accepted twenty guneas instead OF
sixty. At the time Taylor attended him he had
n large estate, an immense sum OF money in The
stocks and six thousand pounds in the house.
A miser of the name of Foscue, who had a.
massed enormous wealth by the most sordd par
simony and discreditable extortion, applied his
ingenuity to discover some etfectual way OF hid
ing his gold. With great care aud secrecy he
dug a cave in his cellar. To this receptacle for
his treasure he descended by ladder, and to
the trap door he attached a spring lock, so that
on shutting it, it would fasten 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 Foscue
could they find. Some time passed on. The
house in which he had lived was sold,an work
men were busily employed III 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 descend
ed with 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; candlestick lay beside him on the
floor. The worshipper of Mammon had gone
into the cave, to pay his devoirs to his golden
god, and became sacrifice TO his devotion.