Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-03-03
oonle.sIons 90 seIl.h Wan.


IS A. qwritera ing the Cincinnati
!. Commercial sketches his life as fol-
lows :s - siif aol.8 8 t "a
Te7day i am seVenty-fiEe years of
age, and | have been reviewing my
life. OF all men in the world We
think selfish man is to be the most
despised. Its the selfish man who
aims to crafty his own pleasuresahd
desires, regardless of the consequen-.
ces which may befall others. At
the age Of nineteen l married, and
candor compels me to say that my
partner for life was one of the love
liest of Gods creatures. Though
previous to our marriage she had re-
ceived many offers of marriage from
men Of wealth and high position in
the world, still this true, noble-heart-
ed woman preferred me above all
others, though fully cognizant that
she was marrying a poor man. Three
years after our marriage legacy of
$4,000 was bequeathed to my, wife.
In those days a man was looked
upon as "wealthy" who could com
mand $4,000. In short time i
purchased a fourth interest in the
firm at which I had been engaged for
number of years. The profits we're
immense, and at the age Of twenty
six l was indeed'a 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 busis
ness was still ina founshing con-
dition, l lbeganto impress upon every
member Of the family the necessity.
Of being economical. The children
were denied every pleasure when a
pecuniary expenditure was necessary
to coutribate in any, way to their en-
joyment. Ny family dreaded to
/ 'acquaint me with. their slightest
wants, knowing that the reply would
be you must practice economy. y
How many times have ! insisted on
my wife wearing the same bonnet
and dress s'iust one more season,
and have seen her wearing the same
cloak four or FIVE winters but l
must have a new overcoat each spring
and winter, and a new beaver as Of
ten as the styles changed. / must
also have the finest patent leather
boots and shoes, but my wife almost
feared to mention that she needed a
new pair of gaiters. ] have seen
her eeonomise 10 various ways to
enable her to purchase some article
she fancied, and iiHa truth aetually
needed. My children grew up in
ignorance, because Lcould not spare
the means TO properly educate Them
1t was my own useless expenditures
that prevented my doing full justice
to my family. MY children, are all
of a good old age. My wife is wrink-
led and gray, and we are both pass
ing down the hill of life" The hand
that writes this is atrembling one.
More than once hayeI had to wipe
my @specs,n so that I might see the
lines more clearly. 1t is too late to
make atonenient for my cruelty and
past neglect but / make this true
and honest confession as warning
to all meanly-selfsh persons, that
they may not follow in my footsteps.
For forty-6ve years my expenses
have varied bat little each year. My
night lunches have cost me each
week $3.50 for enc year, $3.50. |
have. often attended the ltheater i've
nights a week, and my Expenses in
that line have cost me not, less than
$125 per anhum.i When not at the
theater, / spent the remaining nights
in some billiard hall flor, much to
my regret, but few Of my evenings
were spent with my family and
added $40 more to my expenditures
each year hleofs fsalaii .asfl
Ny tobacco blli was. per sryear,,:....,,,.,,.,, $25
~ cigar ntn Qour per dteml - ~ ~
~ bar psli y 4 !. ss.-s ss... lie
Champaign twice per month. th.....,.s..,,,,.,., oo
These figures may seem starting,
but they are, nevertheless, true. IL
really appalled, me when the sum TO-
tai was added up. To recapituiate
Night lunches per year $50 % yesTs. tssSe
/ Theairieals Der yesf - aal--lof IS years, 5ssa
4 piiiiarSs mar vear -... -T5-for % years, 8,975
TobsecO per M yssr...s,si. SS-ior y years, ,I2s
Sigasss; Rsf;; 1857 Sior yesfs ssS M
\ ChampaEne at table per
,isss Ssss; hire each yesr so-oF IS YEAR, C
|
TOtalper yeare,., sIss-fOr Is years SIS, AZ
x SupposeS at theage ofthEty rhad
put the e7e6 out at interest, and
compounded It for forty.fve years
. calculation would astound any haI
i 20 see what a wealthy man Il would
I make me to-daysJ Let those Sho'are
foslowing IN my footsteps take warn
ing in time. 81 a,s..ss
4 Likely to be a stunning affair
- e