Daily national Democrat., 1858-10-14

loving interesting account OF few
of these singular beings
There died at Paris, in the year 1899,
literally of want, the well known bank
er, Ostervald. A few days previous to
his death, he resisted the opportunities
of his attendant to purchase some meat
for the purpose of mixing a little soup
for him. "rrue Ishould 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 el25,000 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 eS00,000
Daniel Dancers miserly propensities
were indulged in to such degree that
on one occasion, when at the urgent So
licitation of friend, he ventured to
give shilling to Jew for an old hat
"better as new"-to the astonishment
of his friend, the next day he actually
retailed it for eighteen pence. He per-
formed his ablutions at a neighboring
pool, drying 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 a
year.
The well known Nat Bcntly, (alias
Dirty Dick of London, was the vic
tim not only Of a craving for gold but
for old iron. Another deplorable case
might be ighted-that of Tom Pitt, of
Warwickshire. 1t is reported that
some weeks prior to the sickness which
terminated his despicable career, he
went to several undertakers in quest of
cheap coffin. He left behind him
$50, 900 in public funds.
Another is that of the notorious Tho
mas Cook. On his physician intima-
ting the possibility of his not existing
more than five or six days, he protested
against the useless extravaganza of send
ing him medicine, and charged the doe
tor never to show his face to him again.
His property was estimated at half a
million dollars.
Sir William Smyth, of Bedfordshire,
was i'm nensely rich, but most parsimo-
nious and misery 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 the celebrated occu-
list to be coached, who was, by agree
ment, to have sixty guinas if he restored
his patient to amy degree Of sight
Taylor succeeded in his operation, and
Sir William was enabled to read and
write, without the aid of spectaces, du-
ring the rest Of his life. But no sooner
was his sight restored than the baronet
began to regret that his agreement had
been for 50 large a sum. His thoughts
were now, how to cheat the occulist.-
He pretended that he had only a glim-
mering, and could see nothing distinct
ly, for which reason the bandage on his
eyes was continued for month longer
than the usual time. Taylor was de
ceived by these misrepresentation, and
agreed to compound the bargain, and
accepted twenty guneas instead of six
ty. At the time Taylor attended him,
he had large estate, an immense sum
of money in the stocks, and $780, in
the house
A miser of the name of Foscue, who
had amassed enormous wealth by the
most sordid parsimony and discredita-
BILE extortion, applied his ingenuity to
discover some ctiectual way of hiding
his gold. With great care and secresy
he dug cave in his cellar. To this re-
ceptacle for his treasure, he descended
by ladder, and to the trap-door he at
tached spring lock, so thaton shutting
it, it would fasten of itself BY and by
the miser disappeared; inquiries were
made, the house was searched, the 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, and work
men were busily engaged in its repair.
In the progress Of their work they met
with the door of the secret cave, with
the key in the lock outside They drew
back the door and descended with a
light The first object upon which the
light reflected, was the ghasty body OF
Foscue, the miser, and scattered around
him were heavy bags Of gold, and pom
derous chests of untold treasure; can
dlestick lay beside him on the floor
The worshiper Of Mammon had gone
into the cave, to pay his devoirs to his
golden god and became sacrifice to
his devotion.