The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1859-05-14
MY WESTERN ESTATE.
have lust returned from visit to n

HOW w uappeu w Lh'e al est"eo "s the
West? The question is reasonable one.
and proceed to answer it. About year
ago, my good Aunt Deborah-bless her
generous soul being under the necessity
of leaving the world, bequeathed me in her
will the sum Of five hundred dollars.
Let that serve as nest egg,' recon-
mended one of my prudential friends
your salary is quite sufficient to support
you. There is no reason why this should
not be invested, so that by the time you
have occasion to use it, ins cad of u paltry
FIVE hundred dollars you will have twice or
thrice the sum-"
The advice seemed to me sensible. Ihad
no present use for the money, and there
was something celebrating in the idea of
being a capitalist-with money to invest
My friends were very kind in the NATTER
Not less than twenty live, at the smallest
calculation, offered to take charge of the
money for mo, and pay loyal intsrnst- Rot
after all, at six per cent, or even eight,
some years must elapse before my money
would even double. l accordingly thanked
my friends for their kindness, but told them
had other views-that regretted exceed
ingly not being able to avail myself of their
generous proposals, as under other circum-
stances should promptly have done. When
pressed upon the subject of my plans,
maintained discreet silence-for the very
good reason that as yet they were not yet
defined in my own mind. | was waiting
like Micawber, for something to turn
up"
Something did turn up. One morning,
on entering my place of business, l found
waiting for me slick parsonage, with
sharp restless eyes. 'Mr. Flint?' he in
quired.
sThat is my name.'
Sand mine is Lynx. am happy to make
your acquaintance, SIR and he grasped my
hand with unexpected fervor.
'Thank you,' replied, il some little sur
prise at his cordiality from a stranger
After a few preliminary remarks about
the weather, which, if | remember rightly
were not particularly original, Mr.. Lynx
remarked 81 am told, Mr.. Flint, that you
have some money which you are desirous of
lnvcsting.'
'But small amount answered mod
estly.
1t is precisely these small sums which
often serve as the foundations of large
fortunes returned Mr.. Lynx with anima-
ton.
'But, really, five hundred dolars,"
continued, desirous of drawing out my
visitor.
'Five hundred dollars, sir! Think of
Wilmington and his venture. What is a
cat to FIVE hundred dollars? And yet we
are told sir, that he made colossal for
tune, and even became Lord Mayor Of
London
81 always regarded that story as apochry-
phal,' said smiling.
Possibly it may be so. But what af that?
Is it not the illustration, of great principle?
Since you object to this Illustration, howev-
er, let me give you another which came
under my own observation: A friend of
mine had two hundred dollars-a mere
bagatelle. He came to me asked my advice
as to the moue of investment. ! gave it..
What is the result? Two years have passed
and he is worth day twenty thousand
doIars-all through lucky investment
Indeed p said ], pricking up my ears,
and considering that at any rate my five
hundred dollars would have become fifty
thousand. 'Mav enquire how the money
was invested to produce such a return:'
Certainly: was about to tell you. With
the two hundred dollars | purchased for
him quarter section of land In one Of our
Western towns. Of course, you have heard
of their astonis ing growth. This land was
certainly located, and was required for
building lots. ltrose in value astonlshlngly,
and my friend made o snug little fortune,
as have sad.'
| My imagination was fred at once. No
more chance of letting out my money at a
paltry six per cent, when such golden har-
vests are to be had for the gathering. 81
suppose said hestatingly, shat such op-
portunitics are Of rare occurrence
'Rare occurrence, my dear sir? Not at
all. admit that it requires tact and .ludg-
ment to make choice of such as are
eligible. OF course, one who is familiar
with the business has great advantages
'But am not
ever, that am, and that shall be happy to
assist you to the best of my ability. In
fact devote the chief part of my time to an
agency Of this kind; and have placed more
than one young man of small means on the
road to fortune.'
! began to have high idea of the abilities
and benevolence of Mr.. Lynx, which was
materially diminished when he acknowledged
that he was in the habit of receiving a Ger
tain commission-say ten per cent, for
etfecting an investment.
'Have you any favorable chances for in
vestment now on hand?' inquired with
some anxiety.
Tempting, sir, tempting,' was the reply
of MIR. Lynx. Il have some lots in Constan-
tinople.'
'Constantinoplev l repeated in some
uncertainty. The only associations which
the name recalled were of certain city
lying between the Sea of Marmora and
Bosphorus. OF course, Mr.. Lynx could
not mean that, or if he did, | had too
little confidence in the Turks to venture
my money there. My doubts were removed
by the further remarks of Mr.. Lynx.
'Constantinople is town in Minnesota,
which venture to say, in the course of ten
years will contain twenty-five thousand in
habitants.'
81 do not think ever heard of it,
'That is not surprising. Thirty years
since Chicago was mere trading post
amid the wigwams of the Indians. Now it
bids fair to rival our largest eastern cities
| might point out many other examples, but
it is needless. You, sir, do not need to be
informed Of the almost magical growth Of
the Western towns and cities. Never was
truer stanza penned than this, by Bishop
Berkley:
| "westward the course of empire takes it's way,
The four first acts already past
| The fifth shall close the drama Of the day
| Times noblest offspring is the last"
replied in the affirmative, and vcnturct
to inquire more particularly respecting tht
town of Constantinople.
fortunately replied Mr.. Lynx, Il have d
plan of the town in my pocket
He drew out a large sheet containing the
the plan of the town regularly laid out into
streets, lots, etc., with here and there pub.
lie building indicated.
'There,' said he indicating the center part
with his finger, 'are two churches, Methods,
and Baptist, and it is proposed to offer the
contiguous to the Congregationalists. on
condition of their erecting handsome
church edifce upon it. In the immediate
vicinity some ten acres are reserved, as you
perceive, for a public park. This is a
thing which ought never to be forgotten in
laying out a town. looked out of my
Office window upon the brick wall opposite
and cordially agreed with Mr.. Lynx in this
last remark. sThis little black marks he