The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-02-07
The Fataiityof Orersrork.

Il is said that the financial crash Of 1857
killed thirteen bank presidents in the city
Of New York They were not all crushed
to death instantly. Some were, and they
were dug out Of the ruins only to be bnri'
ed. Others survived sevenal mouths. They
dragged their shattered frames about from
place to place; some crossed The ocean and
wandered in foreign lands, seeking rest and
finding none. Some lived on year, two
years or morr. wrecks indeed Of what they
had been. "dying at The top" as Dean
Swift said he should die, and as he did.
Perhaps the number thirteen is an exngger.
alton. Perhaps It should not he stated at a
dozen. But more than that number OF bust
ness men, men Of finance and standing, on
whom great burdens Of responsibility and
anxiety rested. sliccumbed to that storm.
and are now ut rest IN their graves. At
this moment, many men Of higl, position In
commercial and professional life, merchanis
bankers, ministers, lawyers. and some ply.
sicians, are travelling In Europe in request
ofrepose Of mind, relaxation from the cares
Of business who have gone TO late. A
friend of ours, recently returned, has men.
toned the names Of some lie met abroad,
who are searching in vain for a new lease
Of liic.-Thcy are dying ut the top. One
Is from c.. He begnn in trade in
that city less than ten years ago. he was
prosperous from the start. As the grain
was poured into his granarics. he gold or
grccnbacks flowed into his Golfers. Riches
Increased. and he set his heart upon them.
The more he had, the grenter his greed for
more. He gave his mind to, his business all
day and most Of tho night. Ito hud small
time to sleep, and none to pray. lie is
now sick and wreck. In the prime Of
life, in the midst Of his days, he was threat.
ened with softcning OF the brain. He Is
dying at the top.
A New York merchant is over there with
his family. They and man servant and
courier take care Of him, and lead him from
city TO city and land to land. They were
In Paris in the early summer, and at Ger
man watering place later, and will winter
In Italy or Egypt. he has no pain and dc.
nies that he is out Of health. But others
have to do his thinking, and they lead him
"whether he would or not" for he IL only
child in their hands. by and by panly-
sis will take bim as he sits in his chair aiicr
dinner, aud his family will bring him home
as freight. He Is not dead now, but he Is
dying at the TOP. FiRy clergyn'en, perhaps
more, have gone from the United States
within the last six months, because they
were overworked themselves. II comes to
the same thing. Their people got ont Of
them all he could get, and asked for more.
Perhaps as many lawyers, politicians,
men in various departments OF active life,
have been compelled, for the same reason,
TO suspend their labor and seek in foreign
land respite from that intense application
to business wllicl, has threatened them with
premature buriul. There are Inore men
thus driven to death in America than in
any other country. We arc the hardest.
worked people on the earth. Tho rush Of
mind in this country is unexampled abroad.
In England and OF the continent Of Europe
there IL mental competition and activity,
AMI rivalry and greed, and great industry
and earnest ,ssvoiion to useful lslsOns, anil
men accomplish, great things and aim at
more but they nre not IN such haste to be
rich, nor so ierec in the pursuit Of good,
nor 10 restless in their ambition. You may
see The difference In the street, as men
walk to their several callings. Here they
20 with rush Ms if they were to be ruined
if not ut the place Of business inIiime. Four
thousand merchants on the same floor in
Hamburg present n widely different specia-
Gle from the same number in New York.
In no city but ours could an exchange 10
opened for business in the evening. Our
people are In such haste to do what is TO bc
done. and are 80 fearful that others will 60
ahead of them IN the race. and they sacri.
fee health and lite In the pursuit Of what is
often of no Use to them after they have got
It, for they ure then hopeless invulids or
dead men.