The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1868-04-11
A Fool and his Money.

The Pittsburg Ledger gives the
following. sketch of the history of a
snob:
John W. Steel, familiarly known
as johnny" Steel, and somewhat
distinguished as an soil princeR y hay
ing for a considerable length of time
enjoyed the princely income ofs2OOO
per day, filed in the United States
District Court last week, voluntary
petition in bankruptcy. Many of
our readers will remember his roman
tic exploits in the East, published
some time ago, during which he is
reported to have squandered several
hundred thousand dollars. After
having "sowed his wild oats" and
losing his oil farm, he found himself
in rather straitened circumstances, and
was recently compelled in earn
a living by driving an oil
team. His indebtedness, as set
forth in his petition, amounts
to over 100000. Steel is Penn
sylvan an by birth, and is now in the
neighborhood Of twenty-three years
of age. He has had but little educa
tion, has no business qualifications or
shrewdness, and seems especially cut
out by Dame Nature to attest the
truth of the proyorb, that "fool and
his money are soon parted. Of his
early youth we know very little; man
hood and riches sprang upon him
about the same time. Hisinterest in
the famous McClintock farm and oil
wells, in Venango county, bequeathed
him by his father, for a number o.
years yielded him an income of $1,000
per day. This princely income was
the means cf awakening in Johnny
an ambition to seek other fields and
sources of amusement than those of.
fered in the wilds of Venango. W.
heard of him first by his lavish vast
of wealth in Philadelphia. Here h'
made the acquaintance of Messrs
FSkiff & Gaylord, of minstrel fame
and one of his first rash purchase
was an entire new outfit for the min
strels, composed of velvet coats ant
vests, and plain trousers. Many 0
our readers will remember the troupe
in this uniform. To those eccsntri,
costumes he added diamond breast
pins of the first water, and q new sui
Of clothes for each member for tn
street. Several members of earn
cross & Dixey's minstrels, of Phila
delphia, were also favored in the sam
manner,
Another of "Johnny's" eccentri
acts in Philadelphia is related as fol
lows: Walking along Chestnut stree
one day with friend, he espied
beautiful span of horses attached t
a splendid carriage, just turnin
down from Second. To see was {
envy; 50, hailing the driver, Sam NJ
who, as it happened, was also tt
owner, "Johnny" coolly asked him
he would sell his establishment. Sai
looked credulously at the customel
wondering if he was drunk or Graz,
when "Johnny" again put forwar
the question. "Wkat will you take fc
the whole rig2" Sam, with a winl
and while knocking the ashes fro
his cigar, doubtless thinking to frigh
en- his unknown questioner, replie'
HWell, about $1,000 win take the lot
"Johnny" answered by laying seve
one thousand dollar bills on the sci
Of the vehicle, and, taking hold
the reins, coolly said, chop out" an
chop out Sam did, while "Johnny
drove of, leaving Sam standing
amazement on the corner. The dl
I was spent in riding about the city al
spending money lavishly; toward ev
t Ming he had employed i man to dri'
t and finally, while winding up the da
he reached the Girard House, aligh
ing on the pavement ho asked i
driver as to his, circumstances, al
5 learning that he knew "the grip
poverty" Johnny made hima pre-