The weekly echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1868-1876, 1876-03-16
SELFIsHyEsS.
The Confessions b, a Men rho .fcIgourledges
HE TI1f5rHtify.

"Nagrom, p Covington. Ky, writes to
the Cincinnati Commercial, as follows.
To-day am seventy-fve years Of age,
and have Seen reviewing my life. OfaU
men in the world, we think selfish man
is to be the most despised. Its the self
iah man who aims to crafty his own
pleasures and desires, regardless Of the
consequences which may befalI Others.
At the age of nineteen / married, and
candOr cOmpels me to say that my part
neT for life was one Of the IOYIiest Of
Gods creatures. Though previous to
our marriage she had received many
offers Of marriage from men Of wealth
and high position in the world, still this
true, nObIe-hearted woman preferred me
above all others, though fully cognizant
that she was marrying a poor man.
Three years after our marriage a legacy
Of SIC, 900 was bequeathed to my wife.
In those days a man was looked upon as
{. wealthy" who could command $40, 600.
In a short time I purchased a fourth in
terest in the firm with which I had been
engaged for & number of years. The
profits were immense, and at the age Of
twenty-six was, indeed, wealthy man.
At the age of tWenty-eight six children
had been added to the family, and right
here Is where my selfshness began to
show. Though our business was still In
a fiourishing condition, began to i'm
press upon every member of the family
the necessity Of being economical. The
children were denied every pleasure
when a pecuniary expenditure was nee
essary to contribute in any way to their
enjoyment. My family dreaded to &C
quaint me with their slightest wants,
knowing that the reply would be, You
must practice economy" How many
times have / insisted on my wife wear
ing the same bonnet and dress 8 justOne
more season. and have seen her wearing
the same cloak four or 1--WE winters; but
/ must have a new Overcoat each spring
and winter, and a new beaver as often
as the styles. must also have the finest
patent-leatheT boots and shoes, but my
wife almost feared to mention that she
needed a new pair Of CATERS. I have
seen her economic in various ways to
enable her to purchase some article she
! fancied, and, in truth, actually needed.
My children grew up in ignorance be-
cause could not spare % the means to
properly educate them. 1t was my own
useless expenditures that prevented my
doing full justice to my family. Ny
children are all Of good old age. Ny
wife is wrinkled and gray, and we are
both passing down the hill Of life. "
The hand that writes this, Is 4 trembling
one. More than once have HAD wipe
my "specs," so that / might see the
lines more clearly. 1T is too late to
make atonement for my cruelty and past
neglect; but / make this true and hon
est confession as q warning to all meanly
selfish persons, that they may not follow
in my footsteps. For forty-five years
my expenses have varied but little each
year. My night lunches have cost me
each week 81, $50; for one year, $3.50. I
have often attended the theatre five
nights in a week, and my expenses in
that line have cost me not less than St25
per annum. When not at the theatre. I
spent the remaining nights in some bill
lizard hall-for, much to my regret, but
few Of my evenings were spent with my
family-and added S75 more to my ex-
penditures each year.
aIy tebaege BIN uas.---.--..-.--.-s 8 per year.
CaamPaEas. tsi5s PsT aSlth. Was-. u Ssr 5ssr.
These figures may seem startling, but
they are, nevertheless. true. II really
appalled, me when the sum total was
added up. TO recapitulate.
Night lunches. per year sr1O-for q years $3.50
kstsr4s, per yeaF..-.----.-- T5toE t5 Nesgs. zgs1
I0haeeos per yeaF..e---a---. -teF g years, i,l23
E8F h8ffs ~ r@aw 1-sfsv ~ g.e-sr ~S-g
Champagne at tahle, year. ior II years, $50
Carriage hire, each yeeE.-.. s-tar As Years, s,2e
Total .ssss-sos q ysarr-sa7Igs
Suppose, at the age Of thirty, had
put the S5S6 ont at interest, and COM
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