The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-04-29
MISCELLANY.
KLEPT0MANIA.


One of the most remarkable propensities
incident to human nature is what appears to
be natural predispostion for thieving. do
not allude to that class of persons whose want
of proper training, and whose vicious sur
roundings has left them destitute of q sense
of moral injustice nor to those unfortunate
creatures whose absolute want would seem to
afford some excuse for overstepping the
bounds of honesty nor do l allude to that
more inexcusable class of politicians who OBJ
tain office, often by fraud, for the purpose of
prcying upon the public treasury. But | al
lude to class of persons who seem impelled
by some innate, irresistible force to appropri-
ate to themselves the property of others,
where there appears no inducement whatever
for doing so. The Greek term at the head of
this article appears altogether appropriate. as
1t implies kind of mania approaching SO near
to insanity as to require the services of the
physician rather than the police officer. The
attention Of the public has lately been drawn
to this subject by number of our eastern pa
pers in consequence of several girls OF the
age of fifteen, of highly respectable parent
age, being arrested for purloning gold rings,
perfumery, &C., from stores of several mer-
chants in Chelsea.
A young lady of the principal city in
neighboring State, beautiful, fashionable and
accomplished, of wealthy parents and always
literally supplied with money, yet she seldom
went into a store, where opportunity offered,
without stealing some article which she reildi-
ly returned on being followed home.
Another lady. a widow, the owner of sever
al valuable houses, and in all respects highly
respectable, except for the irresistible pro-
pensity of stealing. Merchants dreaded to
see her come into their stores, always watch
ed her, and several times have called her aside
and taken stolen articles front her before she
left the premises.
A young lady, the daughter of physician
of some emine ice in the State of New York,
when visiting her acquaintances, omitted no
opportunity of pilfering small articles, such
as ieWelry, scissors, thimbles, and even spools
of thread when nothing more valuable offered.
But the most noted case of a mania of this
kind was that of Lord Darlington of England.
A bachelor of wealth and respectable connec-
tions, but of restless disposition, and when
horsemanship was a favoiite exercise among
the higher classes, he was always foremost in
the chase, and prided himself in being the
kingdom, commonly in disguise or with an as
summed name, and without q servant; He was
liberal in his expenditures and charitable to
the deserving poor. But singular as it was he
had a passion for highway robbery, and
tbouoh this was we'll known, yet for long
time he avoided detection. Many Of his feats
are traditional among the families in parts
whera thew occurred, and where lie was re-
oarded among the peasantry as a hero rather
than a dangerous man. 1t is related OF him
that as he was riding one morning through
rural district, he saw a woman by the wayside
apparently in great Distress He stopped and
| manfred into the cause of her sorrows when
she informed him that she Was widow with
several children upon small tenement where
.be had resided several years, but owing to
some losses she was unable; for the first time,
TO pay her quarterly rent that she had been
varied to leave the premises that her goods
were that day to be taken in execution that
she WIS then expecting the landlords stew
ard. and that she had no means Of relief
swell. good woman," said the horseman,
show much will relieve ybu?" "If had
ten ouibieas," said the woman, " theyswould
.,,ow me to remain " / will give you the
money! said her questicher, "if YOU will DC
sure to take receipt when you pay the mon
ev.u This was readily promised the steward
received his rent, but had not proceeded far on
his way before be was robbed Of the ter
] guipeas and . considerable sum bssides NJ