The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-02-10
CONFESSIONS OF A SELFISH MAN.


To-day am seventy five years of age,
and 1 have been reviewing my life. OF
all men in the world we think selfish
man is to be the most despised. 1t is
the selfish man who aims to crafty his
own pleasures and desires, regardle ss of
the consequences which may befall 9th
ers. At the age of nineteen 1 married,
and candor compels me to say that my
partner for life was one of the loveliest
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 poor man.
Three years after our marriage legacy
of 100000 was bequeathed to my wife.
In those days man was looked upon as
wealthy who could command 80, 900.
In short time purchased fourth in
terest in the firm with which had been
engaged for q number of years. The
profits were immense, and at the age of
twenty-six 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 selishness began to
show. Though our business was still in
a fourishing condition, I 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 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 would be: "You
must practice economy" How many
times have 1 insisted ON my wife wear
ing the same bonnet and dress "just one
more season." and have seen her wear
ing the same cloak four or five winters;
but l must have new overcoat each
spring and winter and new beaver as
often as the styles. I must also have the
finest patent leather boots and 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 fancied and, in truth, actually need
ed. My children grew up in ignorance,
because I could 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 good old age. My
wife is wrinkled and gray, and We are
both passing down the hill of life. Z"
The hand that writes this is trembling
one. More than once have had to
wipe my "specs SO that I might see
the lines more clearly. It is too late to
make atonement for my cruelty and past
neglect; but I make this true and hon:
est confession as warning to all mean
~, 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. SO; for one year, $130.
[ have often attended the theater five
nights week, and my expenses in that
line have cost me not less than $l25 per
annum. When not at the theater spent
the remaining nights in some billiard
hall-for, much to my regret, but few of
my evenings were spent with my family
and added $75 more to my expendi-
lures each year.
My tobacco bill was. s............ S25 per year.
My cigar bill Qour per Ciem) was LAG per year.
My bar bill was. lI5 per year.
Champagne, twice per month,
was. Observation-Disclosures. 60 per year.
These figures may seem startling, but
they are, nevertheless, true. 1t really
appalled, me when the sum total was
added up. To recapitulate for fortytive