Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-05-09
4 .StrdU0e iStOrUs
The eventful career OF "a strange man
From n great name to depth OF deg
radation-An un,.ritten romance.

The eyentm1 career OF strange man
From n grent name TO depth OF deg.
radation-An un,vritten romance.
Romance and reality walk hand in
hand the present hides the past. and
throws a charitable vail over the mistor-
tunes OF many whom We see about uJ
every day. Wrapped up in the pursuit
ofprescnt objects, with The past life sealed
from casual gaze. there are scores OF per-
sons whom we meet daily. whose his
tories would be entertaining, instructive,
and interesting, could they bul be laid
before our eyes 1t is not for us in our
daily life to pry open the secret gates OF
our fellows who may have met the re-
verses of fortune or been bulfeted hithcr
and ththcr by The waves of an adverse
fate; but occasionally q character comes
before US on the public stage who has
more of the romance OF fiction than
the reality OF truth about his life. Tn.
der such circumstances we can but follow
up The train of inquiry to discover the
lights and shades OF q chcckered life.
especially when that life is one both re-
markabIc in its detail and strange in its
results.
There is in the city of Denver man
whose past life has been one of opulence,
magnlicence, penurJ and poverty who
has known the smiles of distinction, and
been received by some OF the most dis
tinguished men Of the times; who is
courtly in his manners, and proud above
the tattered garments that cover his per-
son; who has education, and has been
reared in refinement To day our people
sec him in'thc streets, pass him by note
the dignity OF mein that struggles
beneath the covering OF poverty, wonder
who he is, perhaps, and think no more of
il. That man was educated in one
OF the first institutions of learning
in this country, finished his course
! in n German university, and was
afterwards made professor in the college
from which he had first graduated. The
life disagreeing with him, he left it for
the law. where he distinguished himself
in New York in some OF the most cele.
bratcd criminal cases that have come be-
fore the bar of thai city. While prac
ticing his profession he received n lucia
tive appointment from the government.
and afterwards left this country on mis-
sion to one of the European govern
mentS. In the meantime, ho had
amasscd much wealth, but his habits OF
life becoming such, owing 10 his associa
tions and peculiar temperament, he
finally fell into diSsoIutc train, in which
he was only arrested by the death OF his
wife, who departed tins life while he was
absent in Europe. Shortly afterwards
he returned to America, and again he
quickly rcgained his lolmer proud posi-
ton, and was couued, admired, and
favored by all who knew him and sought
the benefit Of his brilliant intellect, his
courtly manners, or his prominent in.
fluence. His life had been checkeled
thus far. but he had known
power and wealth, and these had
made Tor him name His rest
less ambition did not allow him TO
remain quiet long, and the next we hear
OF him he had become Il prominent
writer and was fast carving 4 bright
name in this profession. His talents did
not rust, but the round OF dissipation
overlook him again, and again he fell.
From bad he went to the worst limits OF
debauchcry, and finally. his money
gone, his former fattering friends turned
the cold shoulder OF scorn upon him, and
he was left alone. Wandering west, he
finally located in California, where he
once more made Il fortune, and once more
bid fair TO make Il name, when again he
was dragged down by his once great and
insidiously fatal foe. Finally he has
brought up in Denver. He wanders
about the streets like the grim spectre of
fallen pride and Il promising name. He
is remarkable and still he is not; he is
noticeable, and still his appearance be-
tokens the remnants of a msspent life.
His name we do not give; if we did it
would be recognized at once as connected
with some of The greatest families OF the
country Denrer NeCs.