Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-08-15
AIeason of Real Life,

IN some most appropriate remarks IN
reference to the doplorable phase of
our present American society, as illus
tratcd bvthe case of young Cooper
unprecedented in that city last week
Tor forgery and fiaudulently obtain
ing 500 ,e0e from the government, just
when he had arrived from Washing
ton with his innocent bride on the
way to Europe for an extended we'd
ding tour. From q prospect OF appa-
rently boundlcss happiness, tho new
mace wife and her attendant friends
were thrown into the deepest conster-
nation and distress. The case has its
lessons more impressive than those OF
romance, and it is more fearful in its
reality than the pictured disiresses Of
a whole library Of fictions. Cooper,in
addition to being prepossessing in APP
pcarance, and without any indication
of the swindler or forger in his MAN.
ner, has, it is said, several qualities of
great value to an honest business man.
Had he applied his talents and bis
natural qualities and advantages 70
some honest business with the same
spirit, energy tact and zeal with which
he employed them in the commission
of crime, he could not have failed to
be successful, and ultimately to have
become much wealthier than he was
during the few hours when he was
possessed Of his ill-gotten fifty thou
sand dollars. lie chose another course,
however-and whyY Is not his crime
and destruction clearly traceable TO
the depraved passions so prevalent in
these days for getting rich at u single
stroke, no matter by what means or
at what cost of present character and
future welfare? lie was, or had been,
in good employment he had in Wash
ington free entrance to what is call
ed "good society,"" he did not lack
means to maintain respectable posi-
ton he had won the love of good
young girl; and yet he swung loose
from every tie that should have bound
him to life of honesty and honor
and why? Not from necessity, but
from morbid desire to indulge in
fashionable dissipation, to luxuriate
among the expensive follies that can
only be purchased by money. There
fore he must be rich, and rich at once,
even by crime and, throwing for that
stake, he has lost all--character, lib
erty, friends, home-everything. A
mountain of gold could not purchase
back what he has thrown away. His
poor wife may still cling to him, but
what words can paint the abyss Of
agony into which he has plunged that
trusting but now heart-stricken wo-
man, or the long years Of shame and
anguish that lie before her, to be ended
only by the grave Hers is one of
tho wounds that even time cannot
eflectually heal. And this is one Of
the mournful but inevitable results of
oil such crimes-that it is not alone
the convicted and sentenced criminal
who suffers, but the wives, mothers,
fathers and children of the culprts
who suffer in mind and soul more
intensely more-than can be inflicted
by any human punishment.
The case is one worthy of special
notice, and points terrific moral.
Young Cooper, a husband of but few
hours, and believing himself rich and
beyond detection, and with all the
bright anticipation OF luxurious bri-
dial tour before him. and yet at that
moment destined to be The occupant
OF felon's cell before evening, with
the earthly happiness of his innocent
and trusting young bride in the mean
time utterly destroyed, certqinly pre-
sents lesson from real life far beyond
the power ofanyromanee.-B1H. Sun.