Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-02-28
THE MIsERIEs OF MIsERs

The following interesting account Of these
curious fossils" will interest our readers, and
show them one Of The worst phases of poor,
warped, or perverted human nature.
There died at Paris, in the year I709 liter
ally Of want, the wel-known banker, Os,ervald.
A few days previous TO his death he resisted
the opportunities Of his attendant to purchase
some meat for the purpose of making little
soup for him. True, should like the SOUP"
he said, "bnt l have no appetite for the meat
what is TO become Of that 1t will be sad
waste" This poor wretch died worth fl25,-
900 sterling. Another desperate case was that
OF Elves, whose diet and dress were alike of
the most revolving kind, and whose property
was estimated at fS0O, 900. Daniel Dancers
mserly propensites were INDUCED to such
degree, that on one occasion, when, at the ur-
gent solicitation Of friend, he ventnred to give
a shilling 10 a Jew for an old hat-beiier as
new-to the astonishment Of his friend the next
day he actually retailed it for eighteen pence
I lie performed his abluiions at neighborinp
pool, drying himself in the sun to save the ex-
iravaeant Indulgence of a towel yet this poor
mendicant had properly to the extent Of up.
ward of $4,000 per annum.
The wel-knowu Nat Benily, alias Driy
Dick, of London, was the victim not only TO a
craving for gold, but for uld iron.
Another deplorable case might be ciied-that
of Tom Pitt, OF Warwickshire 1t is report
sd that some weeks prior TO the sickness which
terminated his deplorable career, he went TO
several undertakers ip nne~. ,'''~P t'"'--
lie ien behind HIM E2 AIS in public funds.
/ Another instance 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 use
less expense OF sending him medicine, and char
ged the doctor never 10 show his face 10 him
again. His property was estimated at about
fl30, 600.
Sir William Smyth, Of Bediordshire, was
immensely rich, but most parsimonious and mi
serly in his habits. Al 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 oculst TO
he couched-who was, by agreement, To have
sixty guineas if he restored his patient to any
degree of sight. Taylor succeeded in his op-
Grafton, and Sir William was enabled TO read
and write without the aid Of glasses during the
rest Of his life
But no sooner was his sight restored than the
baronet began TO regret tina, his agreement hat
been for so large a sum. His thoughts were
now how 10 cheat the oculisl. lie pretended
tina, he had only elimmerng, and could sec
nothing distinctly; for which reason the ban
dage on his eyes continued a month longe
Than The usual lime.. .Tayla1 Was DECEIVED h
pound The bargain, and accepted twenty euin
cas- instead of sixty. AT the time Taylor at
, tended him he had large estate, an immens,
sum Of money in the stocks, and six ihousan,
pounds in the house.
A mser by the name Of Fuscue, who ha
e amassed enormous wealth by the most sord
,f par. ulny and discreditable exiorion, apple
l. his Ingenuity 10 discover some electual way O
! hiding his gold. With great care and secrec
D.. he dug cave in his cellar. To this recepta
i Gle for his treasure he descended by ladder
l. and to the trap-door he attached spring lock
l. so that on shutting it, it would fasien of itself
is By-andby the master disappeared inquire
l. were made the house was searched wood
1t were explored, and the ponds dragged but n
1t Foscue could they find. Some time passed on
ID The house in which he had lived was sold, an
g workmen were busily employed in its repsi
r In the progress Of their work they met wit
q the door of the secret cave, with the key in tn
lie lock outside. They threw back the door, an
W descended with light. The first object O
e. which the light reflected was the ghasily bod
Of Foscue, the mser and scattered around hi
x were heavy bags Of gold and ponderous ches
he of untold treasure; a candlestick lay besi(
nd him on the floor. This worshiper of Mammo
it. had gone into the cave to pay his devoirs 10 h
golden god, and became sacrifice 10 his dey
Irt tion.
MoRAL.-On The principle that it is ''mo
e, blessed TO give than receive" is mans ha
o. piness augmented, by using for The benefit
the living any proPcrty-dH property which
t. may acquire-while living. We cannot ial
property with us 10 the other world, and enoul
,le 10 meet our common wants, or TO provide for
rainy day, accidents, ETC. is all we need. /
de is the happiest man who distributes his mon
w and other property, through his benevoence a
nd judgment, whiie he ires.-Lije Illustrated
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