The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-04-11

| iOI tuc OCCdelDn, anu tIt m0lOen VIII want
new dress and general outfit. Who is TO
supply these wants Those who advertise.
The press, judiciously used. will be the
method by which the bold and enterprisipg
| will Oil their treasury with the fruit of this
grand national movement.
BUSINESS MAN AS A CURIOSITY.
1t may be reasonably expected that
among other interesting characters who
will attend the centennial will be found the
Oldest merchant in the United States. /
do not refer to age, but to term of service.
The commercial agencies in this city agree
that the man entitled to this distinction is
Lucius j. Smith of Johnstown. He has
sold goods for 81 years, and is siil attend
ing to business. Mr.. Smith was born in
Rutland 76 years ago, and went in boy
haod to Johnstown with his father. In
his 18th year he opened little grocery
and also worked at harness making, to
which trade he had been bred. He soon
| devoted himself entirely to his store, and
| from this beginning has obtained wealth
and distinction. | was in Johnstown some
time ago, and called on this veteran of
trade, whom | found bright and cheerful,
with but little appearance of age. He in
| formed me that he had occupied that stand
A years, and had lived in his present resid-
ence the same unusual period. Mr.. Smiths
great success is explained by careful atten-
ton to business and by liberal advertising.
Forty years ago he was almost the only
| merchant in Johnstown that appeared in
| the papers, where his column was hand
somely displayed. This was part OF his en-
terpriee, and has brought its full reward.
| BE has paid more for advertising than any
merchant in Fulton county, and as re-
suit is now the richest of that class of bu-
siness term. lie never asked for an extern
sion, and has moved on in steady success.
THE PRESENT AND THE PAST.
While speaking with Mr.. Smith l re-
ferred to the present 'hsrd times" aud
asked him how they compared with the de-
preston which followed the war Of 1912.
them" was his reply. "When / opened
store neither potatoes, butter, eggs, or such
produce, could be sold for money. We
paid in trade six to eight cents per bushel
for potatoes six cents per dozen for eggs,
and seven cents pound for butter. Grain
was teamed to Albany aud sold at low
rate for cash. bought oats at 10 cents
bushel-the price for years. Farmers then
had poor fare, poor clothes, and worked
| like slaves to keep afoat." This is a sad
| picture. Farmers have ii bad enough now,
| and it is consolation to look back on the
difference. This was the lesson l learned
| from the oldest merchant on the continent.
THE coGmAN BOOK.
The allusion TO the past suggests a briei
reference TO an article in Tuesdays Times
concerning Irving Brownies collection Of
rare and antique books. Such collecticn
is interesting TO all who are charmed by
antique literature, and may add that this
taste is nothing new, for a century and
half ago Pope thus spoke Of it;
| Authors, like coins, grow dear as they grow
1t is the rust we value, not the gold"
Among other works mentioned in your
| list noticed with special interest "Mrs.
| Coghlan's Memoirs" This is very small
volume, and though by no means as val
liable as others on the list, is, nevertheless,
| literary curiosity. The Astor library,
with all its pretension, does not contain
copy, as l learned by application at its
desk Gabriel Furman, a former resident
of this city, had one which is now in the
one have met. The special point of in
terest connected with this little volume is
the reference made to it by NJ. l.. Davis in
his life of Burr. Mrs. Coghian confesses
her ardent attachment to young American
| officer, whose name she does not mention.
She was then Margaret Moncrietfe, an art
| less and enthusiastic maiden, who was
| easily smitten by the fascinating youth.
| Her hopes Of marriage were disappointed.
lie who had made so intense an impression
was in no condition to enter matrmony,
nor was his intimacy with the eek based on
any such expectation. Her description of
her feelings gives some idea Of Burr's won
derful and most dangerous power over wo-
man. She was soon atterward forced by
her father into marriage with Capt. Cogh-
Ian of the British army, and this violence
to her affections laid The foundation Of all
her sorrows and the extraordinary MYSTERY
of her last days.
FORCED MARRIAGES.
Mrs. Coghlan frequently refers to the
wrong inflicted on her by this ill., starred
marriage, whose misfortunes were, as she
says, foreshadowed by the fate CT the Of
floating clergyman. This was Auchmeety
| rector of Trinity church. He was imme-
diately taken ill and died within three days.
1t was the last marriage he ever performed,
| and he would not have served IN this could
he have read its future history. just such
marriages are occurring in the present day.
Sometimes they ale followed by rupture
and aration, and sometimes the parties
drag on in state OF torpid endurance.
They may eventually get accustomed to
each other, but even in such instances life
is shorn OF its chief joy-thst love which
| should hallow matrimony. Pope tells US
that "the cordial drop of life is love alone.
The violence done by wedlock to the af-
fections has given charm to the most thrill
ling and painful romance, as il fncly illus
trated by Scot,s tale of the bride of Lam
mermoor." l have seen a number of these
forced marriages. One was the case of a
poor girl whose brother Ga base and selfish
wretch) was afraid his sister would become
an expense to him, and 10 escape this he
urged her TO marry man she disliked.
The day before the ceremony she picked
up the miniature of her betrothed, and in
the bitterness of her agony threw il across
the room, but Notwithstanding this, the sac
rifce took place. Another case was that
of = well known lawyer who was deter
mined his daughters should marry itch.
One was fastened on to a landed proprietor,
whom she detesteu through life. The other
was forced to marry merchant whom she
hated. The only a,tra action the man poss-
essed in the fathers opinion was his money.
The ceremony took place, but coon after
ward the hated husband failed. The wife
was then aided by her father 10 obtain
western divorce, which sullies her reputa-
ton and threw blight upon what was nat
urally a fine character The woman still
lives. but has never recovered from tie dam
age inflicted on her by soulless hut am
bilious father.
L. Il. l..
given power TO her name vhich her po-