The Canton mail. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 18??-1882, 1876-03-04
SELFIS.HNESS.
The Confessions Of a Man nr''o dchno"foe'gcs
His IUf1Iuify.

The CONFESSIONS % ~ >hUH ""O h'h bOt'''"SeS
His Inf1IDtify.
"Nagrom," Covington: KY, writes to
the Cincinnati Commercial, as follows:
To-day | am seventy-fve years of age,
and have been reviewing my life. Ofall
men in the world, we think selfish man
is to he the most despiscd. 1t is the self
ish man who aims TO crafty his own
pleasures and desires, regardless OF the
consequences which may befall Others.
At the age of nineteen l married, and
candor compcls me to say that my part
ner for life was one of the lovlicst 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, noble hearted 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 man was looked upon rs
wealthy" who could command $40, 900
In short time purchased fourth in
terest in the firm with which l had been
engaged for number of years. The
profits were immense, and at the age of
twenty-six l was, indeed, a wealthy man.
At the age of twentyeight six children
had been added to the family, and right
here is where my selfshness began to
show. Though our business was still in
flourishiDg condition, l began to i'm
press upon every member Of the family
the necessity of being economical. The
children were denied every pleasure
when pecuniary expenditure was nee
essary to contribute in any way to their
enjoyment. My family dreaded to ac-
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 +" justone
more season." and have seen her wearing
the same cloak four OF five winters; but
l must have a new overcoat each spring
and winter, and a new beaver as often
as the styles. l must also have the finest
patent Leather boots and shoes, but my
wife almost feared to mention that she
needed a new pair of CATERS. | have
seen her economic in various ways 10
enable her to purchase some article she
fancied, and, in truth, actually needed.
My children grew up in ignorance be-
.,,,r, 7 co,,1I not upa (9N tGn r,,onnu 70,
properly educate them. 1t was my own
useless expenditures that prevented my
doing full justice to my family. My
children are all of good old age. My
wife is wrinkled and gray, and we are
both "passing down the hill of life"
The hand that writes this, is a trembling
one More than once have had TO 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 warning to all meanly
selfish persons, that they may not folio V
in my footsteps. For forty-five years
my expenses have varied but little each
year. My night lunches have cost me
each week 50 so; for one year, $50. I
have often attended the theatre five
nights in a week, and my expenses in
that line have cost me not less than 1925
per annum. When not at the theatre,
spent the remaining nights in some bill
lard hall-for, much to my regret, but
few of my evenings we're spent with my
family-ahd added $75 more to my ex-
penditures each year.
NV tobacco bill was q per year.
My cigar bill -four per diem) l6 per
.-.-...- ..-.--- -.--
Champagne, twice per month, 60 Per year.
These figures may seem startling, but
they are, nevertheless, true. 1t really
appalled, me when the sum total was