Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-05-03

Carpet B0Eger-The Pluck enat
W1ns-CuriOus Termination Or
Breach OF Promise Case. &c; 900
NEW YORK, April %, 1872.
Dear journal:
Whether men and women become hard
ened by familiarity with scenes OF mlstor-
tune, or heartless by attraction with the
world, is an unsolved problem but one
NAV every dav, see in New York such ex-
hibitions of utter coollessness and selfish
ness as make him almost lose faith in the
human nature. Only yesterday l was
crossing to Brooklyn ia ferry-boat. A
man entered the cabin, his face Scared all
over with the marks of some terrible calami-
ty, and nothing remaining OF his eyes save
two white balls from which sight had de-
parted forever. He was grey-haired
withal, and teebly leaned on the
arm of his old wife, as he tottered
along asking for dole of mercy at the
HANDS of the crowd. A little boy, too,
dirty and ragged chung to the mothers
dress. and the trio moved sadly together,
picture of want in its most terrible guise.
. A penny, please sir, for papa-he's
blind''-said the childish voice. "Get out
YOU pest''-exclaimed the person appealed
to ''you beggars ought to be in the work
house." He was man whom judged
from his age and dress to be millionaire
and an influential member of some fash
ionable church. The face of the mother
flushed, and she bit her lips to keep back
the tears. AS he turned away however, a
poor sewing woman dropped into the out
stretched Land some of her own hard
earned wages, and it was pleasant to hear
the grateful God bless you for your kind
ness to the old blind man" that came from
the heart of the helpless creature. They
passed on, and l watched with some curl
osity, their progress. In crowd of two
hundred people, perhaps dozensrespond-
ed to the mute appeal-not more, and sin
glllarly enough, nearly every giver of char
ity on that occasion was working man or
woman.
The incident Carries its own lesson, and
TO nv own mind at least, illustrated what
may be observed in every large communi-
| ty, to-wit, that the charity of the poorer
| classes, and their sympathy for each other,
| outweighs all the boosted Christianity OF
the millions who wear their religion as an
outside label, aud when polished up fO1
| Sunday use, expect it will prove free
ticket into the dress circle of Paradise.
One, however, finds unfortunates in New
| York at every Uninterrupted men, old
women, little children, all beggingfor bread.
| At night they pack the Station and lodg-
ing-houses like sardineS-in layers, and by
| day they ply their vocation. God help
|
! are dozen who deserve real charity, and
rarely get it. Recently | found wai1
asleep after midnight on the curb stone
around the monument of Washington ir
| Union Square. 1t was bitter cold, and
woke the little fellow up. "Why don't
YOU 90 home?" ''IIaiu't got none, sir
! '.Wheres your father and mother? 2
"Hain't cot none neither, sir" "Why
don't YOU 90 to the Station House, them
"What's the use of cove like me goin' tc
the perlice Office when | can sleep in {
doorway" That cOnundrum being one
too much for me, l started the little ''cove'
| to neighbOring shelter and left him.
.1Some men are born to good luck, anC
others have it thrust upon them" FCul
years ago, a citizen of New York ven
South, with nothing in the world but p shir
and a bottle of whSkey. He turned poll
tician, played the carpet-bagger to perfec
ton, secured fat office, and has made two
| hundred thousand dollars. The other day
he drove up the new Boulevard near Cen
tral Park, and bought three building lots
price thirteen thousand dollars. BefOr'
the transfer deeds were executed, he sole
two for twenty-one thousand dollars, anC
then investing in "Erie,' made thirt.
Thousand more.
Another young New \ orker, year ago
pledged the only bond he had in the wOrlt
as Margin" 1t amounted to less thai
five hundred dollars. He went into stool
speculation, was lucky, and in six month
had to his credit ninety-three thOusan'
dollars. His friends persuaded him t
| abandon the |'Street' and be content
lie did so and went to Europe, but on hi
return could not resist the temptation to g
into what he thought "a sure thing" Yes
terday | saw him perambulating Wal
f street, seediest among the seedy, and
, reckon without money enough in his poke
, to buy square meal of cold Victuais
Such are the ups and downs of life in Ney
, York.
Other men create circumstances, an
; have bold grit and grip about them tina
will win success in any station. l have i
, my minds eye young man, who tie
, years ago was poorer than the most of Us
but with sharp eye to business, and
keen knowledge of human nature, he de
voted himself to the one single, and seem
ingly purposeless, idea Of pOpularising Bat
, brick. tie borrowed a hundred dollars
, bought his material, pulverised it finely
and sent it forth to the trade in sittin
, boxes. 1t was a new thought it "tOok ;
, people who used it once wanted more, an
the consequence is that the young ma
aforesaid-his name is {. G. Sabin-is tC
, day the President of the New 7 ork Bat
Brick Company, employs no less tina
, twenty-seven travelling agents, at salarie
ranging from fifteen hundred to four thou
| sand dollars year, and is himself wort
f nearly quarter of a million of dollars
, Industry and pertmacity have been bis sol
: levers, but he has used them with will.
| have just heard from All eye witness,
, good story connected with one of the cit
prisons. a man had been sued by his in
namorata for breech of promise, and bein
} a nonresident and unabl- to give bail,
, was incarcerated i'll the usual place. Tim
and again the woman offered him releas
on condition of marriage, but b
| obstinately refused, and for thre
years has lived in the firm conviction
that a prison cell is infinitely superio
/ with all its disadvantages to a matrimonial
''sell." At last however lie consented t
the tying OF the GOrdian knot, and tn
, woman, all triumph, sent for a magistrate
/ and the twain were duly made one. TIL
necessary papers to effect his release ben
, signed, he turned to the Warden and oh
servcd-''NOw, this is all right, amt it-n
| going back on this thing, eh p" ''NO," re
piled the Warden, ''yOu are free to DO a
you please" "Well, then, goodbye, oil
lady; you've kept me in here three years
now I'm of for an airing. Take my oil
clothes, take my name, take anything b;l
} myself and you're welcome" But ain
: you going home, my dear?" asked hi
l wife.
l "HOmc! Home ~ exclaimed the mar