Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-01-28

| in, this mansion with his maiden sister,
and only child, the daughter before mem
toned, who, at the time ofintroductlon
to the reader, was eighteen years of age.
The inmates, at the moment when the
laugh l speak of was supposed to be
heard, were the three enumerated, and
blackhaired youth, a sort Of relative,
handsome, lively and accomplished, who
came as cousin, and, falling deeply in
love, remained as sutton. His bust
ness qualities and energy of character
pleased the father, while his handsome
person and refined bearing, added to an
earnest devotion, won the daughter; and
although opposed by the aunt, bis stream
of true love would have run smooth
enough, but for one difficulty. The
young gentleman, Edward Burnett by
name, had nothing but his own efforts
to look to, and Mr.. Clinton Y. Johnston
was in fair way of being ruined.
| The unpleasant difficulty, with bank
ruptcy for termination, came about in
this wise: Mr.. Johnston had been left a
large fortune, and had more than doub-
II led it by his mandatory and specula-
tons in stock. At an evil hour, he en-
gagged in banking. The temptation was
great. Our entire country had run mad
on the subject of banking. Fortunes,
like card houses, were run up magically.
| The easy accumulation and control of
capital stimulated every branch of in
dustry. Men of moderate means SWELL
ed out to millionaries; and grew rich,
by appearing to possess what they strug-
fgled for Banking houses sprang up at
every cross-road, and under their care,
villages grew into cities-on paper
| Every farm in the West was subdivided
into lots and each lot took an enormous
valuation-on paper. And the lucky
owner of anything found his anything
immensely valuable on paper; while the
yetluckier owner ofnothing figured him.
self enormously rich-onpaper-accord-
ingly. Everything was demonstrated
on paper, everything was represented
by paper, and the solid earth itself bid
fair to become unsubstantial in clouds
of dazzling paper. Magnificent houses
were built on promises, and extensively
furnished with the same facility-car-
riages were purchased, to be drawn by
horses, paid for by the magical sixty
days, and were driven by coachmen
who speculated in stocks. Clerks, on
nominal salaries, gave extravagant bats
to young ladies, who sported diamonds
] with hundred dollar handkerchiefs.
and wrapped their lovely persons in
thousand-dollar shawls. And so the in
flated system swung easily up, carrying
the thoughtless multitude, until there
came the inevitable collapse, and from
a fearful height, down they tumbled in
to a frightful depth of ruiz
! Mr.Johnston could not resist the tenn
ptation. In an evil hour he left his safe,
profitable business, to become the Pres
ident of a Bank, and founder of imagi-
nary cities, wherein there was busy
buying and selling of imaginary lots
His bank threw out its circulation, not
recklessly as others, but yet beyond the
dictates of prudence. At the time my
story commences, the first fearful explo-
sions broke upon business ears
i Like the deep tone of gun
That startles the deep when the combats begun"
All was confusion and dismay. Mr.
Johnston saw men and companions, he
was forced to rely upon, 60 down in rap
id succession, like bricks in a row, and
his own bank threatened with rum
To save this, he promptly stepped for
ward. and pledged his entire fortune
to the redemption of its notes. This
move was dictated by his pride as n
| business mar, land the remembrance that
these notes were in the hands of the la
boring classes, and that the poor, the
widow, and orphan would be the pain
full sufferers in their depreciation or loss.
Having made this humane move, he
waited impatiently the result.
The commercial troubles gave occu-
patton to a new class of spectators,
known as Brokers. They were the ter
ror of the banks. First depriciating,
by insinuation and abuse, currency
they had their eyes upon, they would
purchase it at heavy discount, and then
unexpectedly present the notes at the
bank with demand FOR specie. No
clerk opened the door of his dim tenn
pie in the morning, but with fear and
trembling. No officer repairing to his
polished desk, at the magic hour of ten,
but regarded that door with anxiety, and
watched each new conner with suspicion.
The fact that Mr. Johnston had pledged
his fortune to the redemption of the cir
culation did not help the Bank. While
the notes, at distance, were at fearful
discount, and so quoted, his pledge of
redemption made dealing in them by
the heartless brokers, or bears, as they
are called, comparatively safe.
: The morning was one of those mild,
breezy specimens of early summer,
which, redolent with the last breath of
spring, had not yet warmth enough to
make one realize the enersating effect
i. of our climate Miss Ella Johnston,
habited in charming negligee Of a NOR
ming wrapper, which displayed to the
best advantage her graceful form, arose
from before the COTE urn, and walked
into the handsomely arranged parlor, as
we are pleased to term the drawing
: room, followed by her lover. Mr.. Bur
nett's carefully adorned person proved
that he had not yet arrived at the hope
less state indicated by neglected dress.
Mr.. Clinton Y. Johnston had retired to,
what it pleased him to call, the library.
1 The aunt was engaged in household du-
= ties, so that the lovers found themselves
alone. This long-hoped-for advantage
: was greeted at first by only an awkward
r silence. Ella, seated at the piano, ran
I her delicate fingers carelessly over the
? keys. AT last, Mr.. Edward, in a low hes.
: itating tone said
: Wei, Cousin, my visit is about draw
ing to q close
I am very sorry, was the reply and
e then, as if having said too much, shC
! added: Father expected you to be with