Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1859-03-25
MI : C. T. l. l. A n Y
THE MIRAGE OF WEALTH.

THE MIRAGE OF WEALTH.
"Char:e them that are rich in this world
tha, they BE- Mt high minded, nor iru., in
uncertain riches, bat in the living God, VIII,
giyr,h Us richly all things to cnjoy.-l Tin.
vi. L..
William Bcckford was born toward the
middle Of the the eighteenth century. llc
W.. the only son Of \ wealthy West Indian
proprietor, Who, dying when lis child was
ten year. Of n:c. lc!t an income Of more
than $500. 900 = year to accumulate nn,il
thu l.,y .houli reach his maprity. Youns
B,ckurd'. mental pnwers we're good, and
~ pains were spared in cultvtinG them
hy refined education. Sir william Cham.
her. lns,ructinc him in architecture. while
the eminent, Mozart taught mm music.
At tvcniy one, with them ome oi a prince,
and accumulation, in ready money u the
amount II about million sterling, hc
launched upon tho wurll. How Va. the
cap,ci,ic, Of usciulnrs' placed before him /!
The grcat talent ol promoting human hap
plnrss wa. within hi. reach but hc threw
the golden opportunity away. Pr'ui aud
haush,y. the youthful Bcckford withdrew
frum the active business Of life, and retiring
to Portugal, there devoted himself to a life
ofluIuriuus ease. The Gr'l outlay Of h'.
wealth theirs wlsin the erce.ion OF a gorge
ou. palace.
Daring hi. residence IL Portugal. hc Wis
tied under the royal sanction, srmo of the
wealthy aud luGuripus monasIgrics OF that
country. 1, is diiEcult to convey an idea Of
tho pomp and .plcudor OF this j'urn"y'
which resemble. more the cAyalehde Of an
eastern prince than the tour Of private To-
dlyidual.
" Everything" hc himself says, " tia,
could be- thouelt or dreamed Of iOr our con.
yenicnce or relaxation WI. carried in our
train-no,hins. was 70 be lelt behind but
care and sorruw."
"rhe ceiling Of my apartment in the
mona.t,ry," he adds, ''was eildcd and pain
ted. the door spread with Persian carpets Of
the finest texture the tables deckrd with
superb ever, aud basins oI chased silver"
The kitchen in which h. dinner was pre-
pared 1, thu, described "A s,rcam Of
water flowed through It, from which we're
formed reservoirs containing every kind OF
ryrr.hsh. On one eide were hchPsd up
load. uf gam, and vcnisOn on the o'her
side were vegetables and fruit in endless va
riety. Beyond long line Of stores eI,en
ded row oi ovens. and close to them bill
lock, Of wheaton huur Gucr than snow,
rocks Of sugar, jars Of tie purcsi o'l, and
pastry in abundance" The dinner which
followed these PREPARATIONS was served IN a
magnificent saloon, covered with pictarc',
and lighted ~ with u prOln'ion Of wax ta'
pers m scunces ui silver. The banquet,
he adds, consisted Of rari,ies and delica-
cics Of every season from distant countries. v
Confectionery aud fruits awaited the party
/ in a room still moro sumptuous, where ve'-
sells Of Goa fligree, containing the rare't
and most fragrant spices, were handed
round Such was Bcekford's mode Of life
during this journey.
Retaining at the commencement oI tie
present century to his native country, Beck
ford again abandoned himself To the selfish
cnt,ymcnt ol his wealth. Taking u capri.
clnus dislike to splendid mansion on hls
estate, which had been erected by his father
at u cost OF 81 800 600, he ordered il 10 be
pulled down. lie resolved that phGniN'llke
there should arise from its ruins u buildin:
which shnuli surpAss in masniicencc all
that hitherto had been known ~ English
art. ionthill Abbey, once ono Of the won-
der. ol the Wet Of England, was the result
. Of this determination. Whole galleries Of
that vast pile were erected, solely Tor the
purpose Of enabling Bedford to emblafon
ON their windows the crest- Of the families
irun whom be boasted his descent. The
wonder of lhe fabric, however. was tower
Of colossal dimensions and great height, e
reeted somewhat in the manner and spirit
of those who once reared u similar structure
on the plains Qi shinar' "Go to, let US
build US tower whose top may reach un
TO heaven and let us make name"
To complete the erection of Beckiord's
tower, almost every cart in the country was
ployed, so that at one time agricultural la
Dor was well nigh suspended Impatient
Of delay, night was not allowed to impose
obstacles to the progress Of tho work.