Smyrna times., 1859-03-31
SELECT ARTICLES.
ROMANCE IN REAL LIFE,
STRANGE FREAKS OF A MILLIONAIRE.

U III a ~ Y Il " II Ii Il L. l. 7 E
STRANGE FREAKS OF A MILLIONAIRE.
William Beckford, one of the most remarka.
bic men of nodern times, was the only son of
Alderman oxford, Of London, who died when
bis son was only ten years of age, bequeathinr
him West In Ian and other property, which
yielded an Inc Ime equal to half Il million dol
lars year. Young Becktord's mental powers
were good, and no pains were spared in cuti-
vatIng them by refined education. Sir Will
lam Chambers instructed him in architecture
while the great Mozart tau ght him music. Az
iwen'y-one, with the Income Of a prince. and
accumuatons III ready money to the amount of
about million sterling Give million dollars he
launched upon the world The great talent
for promoting human happiness was placed
within his reach; but he threw the golden op-
p1rtlnUy away. Proud and haughly, the youth
tll Becdiorj withdrew from the active business
OF life. aud retiring to Portugal, there devoted
himself to a life of luxurious ease. The first
outlay of his wealth there was in the erection
ota gorgeous pliace. During his residence in
IN Portugal he visited, under the royal sane
ton, some OF the wealthy and luxuriant monas
teries OF that country. 1t is difficult to convey
an ldea OF the pomp and splendor Of this iour
ney, which resemb!ed more the clvalcade Of an
Eastern prince than the tour of private indi.
vduil.
"EveTythng," he hinselfsays, that couIJ
be thought or dreamed Of for our convenience
OrretdXatlon, was carried in our train-nothing
was left behind but care and sorrow"
The ceiling OF my apartment in the monas- |
lery, ne adds, was guided and painted, the |
h'or spread with Persian carpets of the finest
texture; the tables decked with superb ewers
aud basins of chased silver"
lie Kitchen IN winch the dinnar y,a-
pared Is thus described:
:" A stream Of water flowed through if. from
which were formed reservoirs containing every
Kind OF river fish. On one SIDE were heaDed
up lo@ds OF game and venson on the other
side were vegetables and fruit in endless varie-
ty. Beyond long line of stores extended a
row OF ovens, and close 10 them hillocks of
Wheaten flour, haer than snow, blocks Of sugar.
Jars ot the purest oil, and pastry in various
abundance
The dinner which followed these preparations
was served up in a magnificent saloon, covered
with pictures, and lighted up with Drotuslon
OF wax tapers IN sconces of silver. "The ban
quet, he adds, consisted of rarites and deli
cacles of every season from distant countries"
Coniectionary and fruit awaited the party in
a room still more sumptuous, where vessels of
oagiIlgree, containing the rarest and most
fragrant spices, were handed round. Such was
Becktord's mode of life during his Journey.
hetur1Ing at the commencement Of the pres.
en' century, to his native county, Beckford
again abandoned himself to tho selfish eniov.
ment OF his wealth. Taking capriclous dislike .
10 spI Iendd mansion on his estate, which had ,
oeen erected by his father at a cost of 81 400.
OOO' ne ordered 1t to be pulled down. He re. =
solved that phGulx like, that there should arise
nom lis ruins building which should surpass !
m ~ Icp aolI . ttatt. ,.t.z
10 the English art. FOnthill Abbey. once one
of the wonders Of the West of England. was the =
result OF this determination. Whole galleries =
OF that vast pile were erected, solely for the :
purpose of enabling B.ckford TO embazon on i
thelr windows the crests of the families from r
whom he boasted his descent. The wonder of +
tue fabrIc, however, Was tower of colossal d I
mensIons and great height, erected in the man. I
ner and speed Of those who once raised sm- q
lar structure on the PLATA of Shinar: Go to. y
let US build a tower whose top may reach unto 3
heaven; f; and let us make us a name.'' r
10 complete the erection of Beckford tower, g
4oO men were employed both night and day :
through an entire winter, the torches used by
tne nocturnal worknen being visible TO the as S
'onIshed traveller at miles distant. Beckford's h
principal enjoyment was watching the erection E
oil this structure. At midnight he would re- y
palr to some elevated part Of his grounds, and /
there in solitude would feast his senses for f
hours with the singular spectacle presented by =
tue dancing OF the lights, aud the reflection Of a
S".r glare In The surrounding wood. The 8
building was indeed Beckfords idol-the object r
Tor Tor which he lived. He devoted the whole of :
s energies TO make it realize the most fasci- I
na'l"g visions OF vatn Imagination. The tower
was hnaliy erected, but, as might have been ex. '
pected' the mortar and cement used had no time :
10 SET properly ere violent gale of wind brought
marLIng that he should have been glad to viii.
meas the sublime fall of such mass of m.ter;
ais, ne gave orders for the erection of ano,ha, !
tower 276 feet in height; this also fell to the
round in 1885.
After the completion of the Abbey, Beck. J
iord 8 conduct was still more extraordinary. /.
wall nearly two miles in circumference. sur. '
POUNDED bis mansion, and within this scarceIv I,
any visitors were allowed to pass. In suIlen :
grandeur he dwelt alone, stunning converse 2
VITA the whole world. Majesty itself was do. !;
slr'us OF visiting this wonderful domain, but !,