Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1867-12-23
Dead, of Rich sIan.

Wo learn from Gen. Miller, one OF tnC mem-
bers Of. the Board OF Supervisors, Of tho par
tieuars Of the death Of a rich beggar in the
village Of Greenbush, named Frederick w.
Rowhl, which sexcceeds in dramatic interest
anything we have read in long time. Rowhl
came to Greenbush few weeks ago, clothed
in rags thin, emaciated, and apparently half
starved, looking the very picture Of poverty
and Wretchedness. disappearance was enough
to excite the sympathy and charity OF every
heholder. He was an old man, bent with age,
his hair whitened with the frosts Of many win
tiers; sorrow, poverty, and misery had evident
ly been his companions through liie
tenement-house In the village and was there
attended for time by a charitable lady, who
brought him food and otherwise ministered to
his wants. Almost every day the old man
would beg in the streets, and with such good
fortune that as often as he sought alms he re-
turned to his hovel with we'll filled pockets.
Nothing was known by the villagers OF the his
tory Of the old beggar, but it was supposed by
all that he was what he seemed, and to relieve
the distress Of fellow creature was believed to
be their highest duty. But little more than
week ago the old man disappeared, the door to
his room was fastened, and even the kind lady
who had given him food, knew nothing Of bis
whereabouts. .s,a
Thus matters went on until Sunday morning
last, when the landlord who had allowed RoWhl5
to occupy room in his tenement concluded to
burst open the door, little supposing, however,
that in doing so he would come upon the
corpse Of the old beggar. But such was the
case Stretched at full length upon little
pallet sot straw lay the dead body of the old
IT. lod
than week, and from the manner in which
bank notes, bonds, deeds, and bank books were
living upon the floor about him, it was evident
the beggar and miscr had died 10 a struggle
counting his boarded wealth. In his bony
fingers he held bank book showing deposit
of 800 in banks at North Adams and Pitts
field, while two $50 bills served as a pillow for
his head, and deeds of property In Pittsheld
and Government bonds to considerable amount
were lying upon the floor beside him.
The scene could not have been more drama
tic if presented upon the stage. The CHASTITY,
repulsive features, the tattered habit OF the
miser, and the wealth for which he bartered
his soul lying around, formed picture which
not even the mimic scenes or the stage could
rival in intense dramatic force. 1t exceeded
anything the imagination almost can conceive.
The news of The discovery Of the dead man
passed rapidly from mouth to mouth, and
large. numbers visited the apartment to gaze
upon the dead miser surrounded by his wealth.
But as if in mockery of the life he led, the
money left by the old wretch secured him
decent burial, and he went down to the grave
attired more respectfully than he had ever
known when alive. Kind hands, forgetful Of
the past laid him tcnderly away in the tomb,
there to sleep in oblivion uutil the last great
trump shall sound, and he shall then learn
whether the treasures Of earth are counted
among the treasures OF Heaven.-1Toy 1an'es.
No MORE HEIDsIcK.-To be humbuggcd
being conceded fine sensation when blended
with perfect ignorance of the fact it is interest
ing to reflect upon the accumulation Of happi-
ness which must have existed in New York up
to last Saturday night among the high llvcrs
of the haut ton and the demi monde, before
the grand discovery was made that they had
all, or nearly all, been in the habit OF drinking
for pure champagne, Now Jersey cider, and
German ,sauterne. 1t has for sometime past
been a popular belief that the champagne gen
orally consumed in this country by ordinary
wine bibbers was a spurious article, at best but
fair imitation. But itnow appears that to a
great extent, my lord and lady OF the uppe,:
ten, have also: been crownlng their feasts with
the same sparkling beverage, concocted ny
native genius, with the ready. appliances OF
modern chemistry. The government, it seems
imposes lax ,ot SIX, dollars in gold upon the
imported article, per. dozen quart bottles, and
six dollars iu currency upon limitations, and the
manufacturers ofthe latter, by using, imitation
bottles, labels and stamped corks, have been
enabled 5to drive thriving trade with all
classes Of customers, both by paying the cur
rency tax, and by eyading the tax altogether,
and selling their spurious connections Tor genu
ine On Monday and Tuesday allot the }, known ~
manufactorics of champagne were seized by the
Government officials 6.oa zsoo.. %.'t.
AHANILLA AND STRAW WRAPPING
WI sPAPER.-Just received another supply