The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-02-14
CONFESSIONS OF A SELFISH MAN,
A Bl, OF Sarcastic Advice Given Free to All.

CUNfESSlUNS VI A SELflSh MAN,
. A Bit Of sarcnstic Advice Given Free to All.
; To-day I am seventy-hve years OF age,
and 1 have been reviewing my life. OF
all men in the world we think q selfish
man is to be the most despised. 1t Is
the selfish man who aims TO gratify his
own pleasures md desires, Regardless of
the consequences which ray befall 9th
ers. AT the age Of nineteen I married,
and candor compels me to say that my
partner for life was one Of the loyeliest
Of Gods creatures. Though prsvious
to our marriage she had received many
offers of marriage from men Of wealth
md high position in the world, still this
true nobie.hearted woman preferred mo
above all others, though fully cognizant
that she was marrying poor man.
Three years after our marriage legacy
Of $40, 900 was bequeashed to my wife.
In those days man was looked upon ag
wealthy who could command $4,000.
In short time I purchased n fourth in
terest in the firm with which had been
engaged for a number Of years. The
profits were immense, and at the age Of
twenty.six I was, indeed, n wealthy man.
At the nge OF twenty-eight SIX children
had been added to the family, and right
here il where my sclfshness began to
show. Though our business was still III
\ aourishing condition, I began to i'm
press upon every member Of tho family
the necessity Of being economical. The
children were denied every pleasure
when a pecuniary expenditure was neces-
Sary to contribute in any way to their
enjoyment. My family dreaded to ac-
quaint me with their slightest wants,
knowing that the reply wonld be: "You
must practice economy" How many
times have l insisted on my wife wear.
ing the same bonnet andilre "just one
more season." and have seen her wear.
ing the same cloak four or live winters;
but I must havn now oyercoat each
spring and winter and q new beaver as
often rs tue styles. I must also have the
finest patent leather boots aud shoes,
but my wife almost feared to mention
that she needed new pair Of CATERS. l
have seen her economize in various ways
to enable her to purchase some article
she flncicd aud, in truth, actually need
cd. Ny children grew MP in ignorance,
because I could not spare (i) tho means
to properly educate them. It was my
own useless expenditures that prevented
my doing full jnstice to my family. My
children are oil of good old nge. Ny
wife is wrinkled and gray, and We are
both "passing down tho hill Of life.
The hnu,i that writes this is n trembling
one. More than once have | had to
wipe my "specs" so TINT l might sec
the lines more clearly. It is too late TO
make ntonemeut for my cruelty and past
neglect; but I make this true and bon
est confession as warning to all mean-
ly, selfish persons, that they may not
follow III my footsteps. For forty.tiv
years my expenses have varied but tlittle
each year. My night lunches have cost
me each week S2.6Os for one year, $3.50.
l have often attended the theater five
nights week, and my expenses in that
line have cost me not less than Sl25 per
annum. When not at the theater l spent
the remaining nights in some billiard
hnll--for, much to my regret, but fewof
my evenings were spent with my family
and added S75 more to my expendi-
tnrcs each year.
Ny tobacco bill was. S26 per year
Ny cigar bill (four per iem) wa l4G per year
Ny bar bill was. s.........,...... l75 per yeAr.
Champagne, twico per month,
was. s...................... Oper yoar.
These figures may seem startling, but
they are, nevertheless, true. 1t really
appalled, me when the sum total was
added up. To recapitulnte for iorty.tive