Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-08-25
NO. 2ol.
MILFORD GORDON.

Gordon is probably not lord in fact. His
resonant and reverberating name does not an
pear at all in the British book Of hersldry,
lie encourages the designation Of Milford; bat
when asked in New York court who his father
was - he replied: "well, really, gentlemen,
dye know, haven't any ideah; never
thought it worth while to inquiah."
Lord Gordon came to Minnesota in 1870,
direct from Scotland, where he was very much
wanted; and his first move was to deposi,
900 with M. Westfall, banker of thi,
city Don't want any interest,"" he said, ia
answer TO question:" this is just little Din
money happen to have with me, you know,
and few thousand in interest money 10 moth
ing to me, you know. want q trusty friend
| like you Mr.. Westfall, and want you to
keep this trife, really, you see, instead of car
rying it around in my pockets / shall send to
London for some money soon--a million or
so. Would show you credentials, you know,
but men of honor" with lofty wave Of HE
hand, ''do not descend to such things" So he
came among us and deposited his pin money
with Banker Westfall. Of course his lordiy
generosity was whispered about; how he
didn't really make anything at all Of doing a
lord, and how he refused to consider the
bagatelle of interest money in q city where q
loan of greenbacks brought / per cent a
month. Then he slyly laid his plans for
"a haul"
Gordon bears close resemblance to South.
ern as Dundreary-a smallish face; dark,
curly hair; no mustaches; heavy "mutton
chop side whskers . small nose, re-
trusse man of medium size, who gives
the impression of always commanding him
self. In requirements and power of execution
he seems TO be a sort Of Count of Monte
Christie good Judge of men and supreme
master OF 'contingencies." He has . won
derful range of languages, and also of Ian
guage, from the lowest billingsgate to the
most elegant and fowery flights, from inde-
cency, obscenity and profanity to the highest
reaches of sentiment and philosophy. He
has sharply contradictory character in all
respects. At times in business he is cool and
far sighted, striking right to the center of the
mark, and again he is puerile as a school
boy; sometimes resolute and strong, again
weak and vacillating; sometimes serious, and
again volatile. The only element of charac-
ter in which he is consistent is his entire lack
of positive conviction. He was generally
polite and even courteous during his short
life in Minnesota, but he seemed to have no
more moral purpose than fawn or Yucca
tan ape.
He had been in Minnesota only q few weeks
when it was whispered around that he was
planning purchase on grand scale of lands
along the Northern Pacific road for colony OF
poor Scotch immigrants. The land officers
of the road interviewed him: ''Yes" he said,
81 do covet few thousand acres Of your
beautiful lands not for myself have more
than enough for the remnant of my poor life j;
but for my beloved sister, for the qualification
of her beneyolence. She would present to
some Of my old tenants lands in your free re-
public where they may rear their families in
peace and plenty; and to crafty my beauti-
full sister, would like to buy q few thousand
acres-not many thousand you know-say-
say-say, about fifty thousand acres or So
just little, for my poor people,"
Then there was buzz! The Office of the
Northern Pacific was sgitated. He was lord
"a lord-who spurned interest money--and
he wanted little bit of land-fifty thousand
acres, for benevolent purposes! He would
like to inspect it, Of conrse, before purchas.
ing. So they equippeds a caravan and led
promptly forth. 1t was the last of August
when the princely retinue started-from St.
Paul to the Northern Pacific, under command
of Colonel Loomis, the deviser and command
er of the excursion. Can the glories of that
caravan be told. 1t was equipped for lord.
There were half dozen teams with carriage
for Milford, besides the omnibusses, ambu-
lances, etc. There were twelve men to do
the manual labor, with a French cook and
1
gloves, and the royal table was unloaded
from the baggage wagons at every meal, and
set out with fresh napkins, silver plate and
china unhappily chinaware without the
Gordon arms.
All, it was gorgeous! Every luxury that
the markets Of Chicago, St.Psul and Mime
apolis could produce was there; and all the
game of the boundless prairie, from woodcock
to Buffalo. Champagne three times . day.
For this creature was lord, you see--a lord
as lofty and unmindful of expense as Harold
SkimpOle. When the caravan had skirted
Oak Lake, Milford wanted to see Fergus Falls
and when it had done Fergus Falls, he long O.
for Morehead, and when it had digested
Morehead,it yearned to visit the glimpses OF
the moon beyond the Red River. So, on and
on. the deluded Loomis pressed, ever rowel.
ling the sable walters, ever cajoling the
French cook, ever perspiring between antici-
patton and apprehension, and sending relays
of messengers for more potted grouse, more
cranberry jelly and more champagne. Mean
while he studied the sphinx Milford: and con-
cluded that he was queer cross between the
lofty and the lowly; he was half lord and hall
lackey; perhaps his father was an English
. earl and his mother an Irish chamber maid.
In November they came back, half frozen.
i Milod had selected his fifty thousand acres
in Otter Tail and Beaver counties. The
Northern Pacific Railroad Company footed
, the bills-$l5, 900 for two months!
The absurd farce was at an end. Milford
Gordon did not buy the land for his poor ten
,, ants, and he never again mentioned his be-
uavoIant slater IN anvbOdv.