The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1870-03-12
AN EXCENTRIC GIVER.


The following, concerning a gentleman
who has deposited with our State Treasurer
an amount of 500 to pay for an annual
dinner to the State prison convicts, will be
read with interest:
"H. G. Dorsey, the Rhode Islander who
has given to his own and other States funds,
the annual income of which should be ex.
pended in roast turkey once year for the
inmates of the penitentiaries, is thus des.
crlbed; He is painter by trade, and con-
ducts an extensive and lucrative business
He keeps no books, but does everything
strictly upon the cash principle. He
makes no return Of income to the internal
revenue department. The following scene
is said to have occurred Enter United
States assessor. "Mr. Dorsey, what was
your income last year ?" Cant say-keep
no accounts; you see by that card my terms
are cash, and live up to them-never put
down one cent with a pen." "Can you not
give me some idea of your receipts ?" Not
tbe slightest-have made bargain with
Almighty that ! will never be richer, and
l carry out the contract to the letter am
giving away all along through the year, and
at the end of the year have from $4,000 to
$4,000 left to spend in giving persons
roast turkeys; put on what you please by
way of tax, and if you should afterward
become dissatisfied come again and take
another crack ventnred to ask on what
income he was assessed. oh he replied
on some $4,000 Oh $5,000.'
"He informed me that he comprised
society by himself, Of which le was prses
ident, treasurer, secretary and board of di.
rectors, and that while the poor of his own
town were his chief care, he had beneficial.
ries in many different States. He said that
he was formerly much annoyed by applica-
tions for loans by persons in want, many of
whom he accommodated, but rarely got any
returns. He has, therefore, posted this
notice over the door of his shop, which is
more forcible than elegant, and is certainly
from all tincture of Puritauism
"sIGN pAINTIG.
STOP!
No admittance here except on ouainess
No more money lent"
don't mind giving to the needy ;d--n
the lendng!"
"Mr. Dorsey apologized for the rough
ness OF this notice by saying that it was not
meant for profanity, but only for empba-
sis, and recalled that our Saviour's words
addressed the Scribes and Pharisces 'Ye
serpants, ye generation Of vpers! how can
ye escape the damnation Of help Last
year Mr. Dorsey offered to the head of a
certain prison 5000 on condition that he
would give his prisoners rost turkey din.
ner; the sum was accepted on that condi.
ton. He afterwards learned that the bird:
were boiled instead of roasted; and he sued
for recovery Of the 5000, on the ground
OF breach of contract. In relating the
circumstance, he remarked: IF the ole
gentleman, on the return Of his prodica
son, had said, boys, now kill the fattet
calf, and roast it for the feast Of welcome
how would he felt if, on going into tnc
kitchen, he had found them boiling thu
calfY He had himself been in circumstan
ces to know what exquisite pleasure a roas
dinnr afforded to one who had long beer
living on sodden food, and he then ant
there resolved that if he ever had the mean
he would provide roast once year, a
least, for class OF men who seldom ge
anything but boiled food. ."-Hartfor'
Courant.
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