Smyrna times., 1857-08-05
THE DOLE A r,

The sketch below was written by George
Lippard. 1t is nervous and startling, and por-
trays a scene which, alas, has, too many,
counterpart. Lippard introduced a sensation
style, and is said to have cultivated an eccen-
trIciiy of manner, stare, heroic attitude, ETC.. III
which he has been initiated by many soft
headed "soph." 1t is said he died few years
ago in Philadelphia, in utter abandonment.
They broJght him dollar.
He took it aud cIulched it 10 his long skinny
fingers, tried its sound against the bed post,
and then gazed ON it long aud intcntly with
his dull, leaden eye.
That day, IN the hurry of business, Death had
struck him, even in the street. He was hurry
ing to collect the last mouths rent, and was
on the verge of the miserable court where his
tenants herded like beasts ln their kennels-he
was there with the handbook in his han
when Death laid his hand upon him.
He was carried home to hIs splendid mansion.
He was laid upon u bed with a satin coverlel.
The lawyer, the relations md the preacher were
sent for. All day he lay without speech, NOV.
ing only his right hand as though counting mo-
ney. -
At midnight he spoke.
He asked tor dollar, and they brought one
to him, and, lean and Eaunt, he sat up in his
bed and clutched il with the grippe of death.
A shaded lamp stood the table near the
silken bed. Its light lell family around tn,
splendid room, where chairs, and carpets, anC
mirrors, siiken bed, and lofty ceiling, all salt
Gold as plain as human lips can say it.
His hair and eyes were white; Lis cheek
sunken, and his lips thin and surrounded b.
wrinkles that indicated the passion of Avarice
AS he sat upon his bed with his neck barred
and the silken coycrfet wrapped about his lear
frame, white hair aud eye brows conirasie'
| with his wasted and wrinkled tace--he looke,
like ghost. And there his life was centeres
in the dollar which he grped in his clenche'
/ hand.
d His wife, a pleasant-face matronly woman
was seated at the foot of the bed. His son,
young man of iweniy-one, dressed in the las
touch Of fashion. sat by the lawyer. The law
yer sat by the table, pen in his hand, gold spec
sacles on his nose. There was u huge parct
ment spread before him
, "Do you think hell make willv' asked.th
son.
. "Heardly compes Dlentis yet," was the RI
ply. +" Wait. He'll be luctd after while.
amy DEAR" said the wife, chad I not bette
send for the preacher!" ,sz4
: She rose and took her dying husband by ii
hand, but he did not mind. His eye was upc
: the dollar.
: He was rich man. He owned palaces
!. Walnut and Chestnut streets, ard novels al
courts in the outskirts. He had iron mines
Ii this Stats; copper mines or the lake somewher
u he had golden interests in California. h
name bright upon the records OF twenty bun
3 he owned stock of ell kinds, he had half.
!. dozen papers IN bis pay. r
He knew but one crlme--to be IN debt wit
: out the power TO pay.
y. lie knew hul one viriue--to get gold.
~ The crime I'D had never forgotten-ihe y
s., tue he had never forgotten, in the long way
o thlrty-hye years.
To hunt down a debtor, TO distress tena
:, to turn few additional thousands by sha
ne specalation--these were the main achIeveinei
he OF his life. 49,
lie was good nmn--his name was upon
silver plate, upon the pew-door OF q vel
rd cushioned chaif.
e- He was benegolent man--for every thousa
ed dollars which he wTlng from the tenants
!, bis eonyts, or hem the debtors who wrlthed