The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-07-12
mfsera,

In 1890, died at Paris, literally of want,
the we'll known banker, Ostervald. A
few days prior TO his death, he resisted
the opportunities Of his attendant TO
purchase some meat for the purpose Of
making a little soup for him. NTrue, /
should like the soup" he said, "but !
have no appetite for the meat; what is to
become of that? it will be a sad waste"
This poor wretch died possessed ofG125,
600 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 f800,0 900.
Daniel Dancers miserly propensities
were INDUCED in TO such a degree, that,
on one occasion, when, at the urgent So
licitation Of a friend, he ventured to give
a shilling TO a Jew for an old hat, bet
ter as new TO the establishment of his
friend, the next day he actually retailed
it for eight pence. He performed his alb
lutions at a neighboring pool, drying him.
self in the sun to save the %extravagant
indulgence of a towel; yet this poor mem
dicant had property 20 the extent of
upwards of $4,000 per annum.
The well known Nat Bently (alias
Dirty Dick Of London, was the victim
not only Of a craving for gold, but also
for old iron.
Another deplorable case might be cit
ed-that of Thomas Pitt Of Warickshire.
10 is reported that some weeks prior to
the sickness which terminated his des-
picable career, he went to several under
takers in quest of a cheap coffin. He
left G2,475 in the public funds.
Sir William Smyth, Of Bedfordshire,
was immensely rich, neutrality-suspicious.
Gus and miseriy in his habits. At seyen-
~ years Of age he was entirely deprived
Of his sight, unable TO gloat over his heaps
Of gold. He was persuaded by Taylor
the celebrated occulist, TO be couchcd,
who was by agreement to have sixty
g%uineas if he restored hispatient 10 any
degree of sight. Taylor succeeded in.
his operation, and Sir William was en-.
bled TO read and write without the aid
of spectacles during the rest of his life,
But no sooner was his sight restored,
that the Baronet began TO regret that his
agreement had been for 80 large a sum.
His thoughts were now 10 cheat the oc-
ulist. lie pretended that he had only a
glimering, and could see nothing dis
t%inctly; for which reason the bandage
on his eyes was continued a month
longer than the usual time. Taylor was
deceived by these Interpretations,
| agreed to compound the bargain, and ae-
| cept twenty guineas instead of sixty
| guineas. AZ the time Taylor attended
him, he had a large estate, an immense
amount in stocks, and $4,000 in the
house.
A miser Of the name Of Foscuc, who
had amasscd enormous wealth by tho
most sordid parsimony and descreditable
extortion, applied his ingenuity TO dis
cover some e%ffectual mode of hiding his
| gold. With great care and secresY, he
dug a deep cave in his cellar, To this
! reception for his treasure he descended
! hy a ladder and TO the trap door no at
tached a spring, 80 that, on shutting il
would fasten Of itself. By-and-by the
miscr disappeared inquiries were made,
the house was searched, woods were eX-
plored, and ponds were dragged, but no
Foscue could they find. Some time
passed ON the house in which he had
lived was sold, aud the workmeu were
busily employed in its repair. In the
progress Of their work they met with the
door Of the secret cave, with the key ia
the lock outside. The first object upon
which the lamp reflected was the CHASTITY
body Of Foscue, the mlser, and scattered
around him were heavy bags Of gold anc
ponderous chests Of untold treasure I
candlestick lay beside him on the floor
This worshipper Of mammon had gon'
into his cave TO pay his deyoirs to biz
golden god, and became a sacrifice TO hiI
devotion.