Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-29
THE SORROWS OF A MoNEYED MAN.
AN EPISODE OF THE PANIC.


at five clock. To the great disgust and in
dignatiOn of Mrs. Won Muff he continued the
practice; TO use her own words, " he deprived
her of sleep, and exposed her to cold draught
before it was light"
She followed him one morning and found
him in state Of fextreme dishabille, reading the
Times.
- So this is your occupation, is it, Mr. Won
Muf! 1t is to see the newspaper, is it, that
you deprive me of my rest. and destroy nv
health Are you not ashamed of yourself,
Sir Why can't you read the papers after
breakfast, like other folks, eh 1''
because there's panic, Felicia, and
want to find out who were ked with it yes-
terday''
= Panic, indeed you're enough yourself to
give any one panic. 1 expect you will have
to bury me before long. if this sort of treatment
continued Then, l suppose, you will be
overjOyed.;
- My dear Felicia. don't agitate Yourself
But, really, our financial condition is frightful.
NOBODY trusts any body. feel quite alarmed
tor, as you know, my money is all in the Blum
derbuSs Bank, and if that should burst
Serve you right if it did, you fool Why
don you put It into the Waterspout Bank ?
that won't burst"
" No; but there may be a run upon it,
Draw out the money altogether, then, and
lock 1t up in an iron chest"
Why, you see. if / did that, people would
laugh at me; though, upon my soul, if this panic
continues. | must"
Really. Mr.. Won Muff you are the most in
e1plIeable person l ever encountered. Here
We are 1t seems, on the verge of ruin, and yet
you have the heartlcssness to get up at five
O'Clock, and sit here quietly for three hours
almost In state OF nudity reading the papers
IN dlsSusted with you, Sir. What are YOU
gazing at Are you going to make no effort to
s1ye your innocent family from destruction ?
VIII you SIT there forever doing nothing but
reading the papers-eyerlastingly reading the
papers ~
Won Muff made no reply but dressed. break
tasted, and took his leave. As he opened the
front door a well-knOUG voice called after him
from the top Of the stairs;
Joseph
Yes, my dear
Draw that money out Of the Blunderbuss
BANK this very day, if you don't want to find
yourself wifeless and ehidless within a week.
With this awful threat she disappeared, and
Joseph hailed an omnibus
"Ah Won Muff how dive do9"
Good morning, Crokur. Dreadful times
these. What's the news !'
1ou We seen the mornings papers? Enor-
nous list Of failures. Can't stand it much
longer. Sir. Every thing must go-you and
must go-banks must go-every thing-gsneral
smash-up."
Good God you can't mean it. Surely the
city banks are safe. 1 have a hundred t6ous-
and deposited
Draw 1T at once, then. Don't hesitate
don lose an instant. Perhaps you re too late
now Get gold-nOthing but gold-or you re
lost That's all I've got to say"
Won Muf pulled out his large red pocket
handkerchief, and wiped the perspirati0n from
his face. He remained silent-oyercome by
reflections. When he left the omnibus at Stone
street, CrOkur put his head out Of the window
and called after the retreating capitalist
Attend to that at once, Won Muf, or con-
sIder yOurselfa ruined man.
Won Muf entered his office in Stone street
terribly perplexed. He found Scrummage
there-Scrummage, who knew the financial
condition OF every institution in the country.
Well, Scrummage, how are the banks2'
week"
What, do you think SO, too, Scrummage?
And the Blunderbuss2'
No better than the others Got money
there ?''
Yes -
. Then draw it out Immediately; that's my
advice And of he went to counsel some other
bewildered mortal
Won Muf now began to realize the panic To
think was only to make matters worse He
rushed into the street in frantic alarm; as he
hurried along, he saw an immense crowd of
people before the doors Of the Waterspout
What is the matter here 2'' he timidly in
qulrek OF by-stander.
Run on the bank"
Good Heavens you don say so?'
And onward he fastened. Two men. talking
IN an eager, excited way, dashed by him the
next moment. lie caught the word "Blunder-
buss; this was the climax of his agony He
directed bis steps at once to the bank where his
treasure was deposited
The quiet and repOse that surrounded that
veteran institution somewhat reassured him
however Tn ha
This Is the calm, he said to himself that
invariably precedes the storm. There is decep-
ton in IT. L am just in time So he entered;
drew his money in gold, and, with the aid of
several Porters and cart. had il conveyed to
his Office in Stone street.
An air Of immense satisfaction peryaded Won
Muf round, good-natured face, when he saw
the last twenty dollar piece deposited in his
safe-one OF Chisselhem's iron, patent, ever
lasting safes. No fear of that bursting He
lighted a cigar, and putting forth the smoke in
a long succession Of wreaths, he turned to
Feekes and Sturp, confidential clerks Of many
years standing in the house of Won Muff 4 Co,
and whispered:
All right now, boys; let the banks break if
they like. and be - to them
1t was, Of course, necessary that the large
amount of treasure recently transferred to Stone
street should be watched at night, otherwise a
burglary in the third degree might be as disa.-
trous as the breaking Of bank. Won Muf
himself, with the enthusiasm Of a recruit. de-
clsred he was ready to mount guard for fort
night; he could obtain sufficient sleep i'm the
evening and morning before and after the full
flment Of his nocturnal duties; and those as
cOmmOdating clerks, Feekes and Sturp. con-
sented to assist him. condition that they
should be supplied with brandy and cigars AZ
discretion. These preliminaries being settled
Won Muf went home to dinner. He looked
round upon his fellow w-citizens with the air of a
man who had just achieved a conp d'eiat
Won Muf experienced special glow Of pride
that afternoon on entering the portals OF his
spacious mansion in the Avenue. In the even
ing be returned to the office, taking with him.
for defensive purposes. the musket with which
his sire performed prodigies of yalOr in the
Revolutionary war He thought il prudent to
inform his wife, through the domestic, that be
would not return home until the following day
The first nights watch passed of tolerably
well. Cigars and stiff brandy and water were
provided. and the guard were kept awake