The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-01
Tempting Fortune.

In recording the losses of great fort
unes, from various causes, it becomes
very delicate matter to touch upon one
point. More fortunes actually acquired.
still more in prospective, have been swept
away, as it were, in an hour by the demons
of drinking and gambling, and this is the
point we refer to. There is dcmorali-
Zation attached to these two vices that.
when once fastened upon an individual,
scarcely admits of control or reform,
and for the reason that insensibly they
induce other and less dangerous exCesses.
A gentleman of this city had occasion
to call at a certain place not far from
State street, during business hours, to
collect rent bill. "What was nv as
tOnishment," he said, q" to find it gam
bling-house, and what was more astonish-
ing was to see gathered around the
table of the dealer some of our promi-
nent business men of Boston. 1t was not
difficult to forctell the fate of these men,"
and it came-ruin, financially and So
clally.
In 1S49 there was young man, the
junior partner of one of the largest com
mission houses in Boston, as thorough a
business man as ever lived. IN 1850 he
left this firm and became the head of an
other firm which did an extensive West
crn and Southern business. After a few
years there appeared to he a change for
the worse in the habits of this gentleman
and the credit Of his firm was discussed.
One morning the writer happened into
the counting-room of the late Col. Fay,
and in course of conversation the ques-
-.
reply to Il direct inquiry Col. Fay re-
marked: Young man, when l see
person 60 into a-bar room early in the
morning and swallow full tumbler of
spirits | make up my mind that his
habits are not only bad, but that they are
confirmed. One year ago Mr.. IS
credit stood as high as that of any man
in Boston. | should hesitate now to take
his note for any amount; his failure is
only u question of time" Within a year
he failed. His splendid talents, how
ever, saved him from the ruin common
to such men. He died the recipient of a
salary, though liberal, less than fifth
part of the income he had received as a
business man.
A still more emphatic illustration
comes to mind. The junior partner of
one of the largest-if not the largest
dry-gocds commission-houses in this
city, bearing the name of and allied to
one of the most respected and honored
families in the State, and by marriage
connected with the greatest of then liv
ing American statesmen, acquired
through his social compromising the
taste for strong drink. He had an in
herited fortune, and business future of
great apparent promise. His social po-
stiOn was unqucstioned; he was the
husband of one of the most highly gifted
and beautiful women, and the father of
promising sons and daughters. From
the hour of his first yielding to tcmpta,
ton his decline was rapid; his fortune all
wasted his social position destroyed, he
died leaving an Inheritance of disgrace
to his children, and it is "a mOurnful
closing of this sketch to add that his Oldest
son came to violent death in the prime
Of his manhood through the sin be-
queathed to him.
About forty years ago there was a
firm doing business on one of the North
end wharves. The firm ranked high in the
commercial list; it had extensive foreign
CohHoCCloIo' lHc ochlol partner W
longed to one of the Oldest and
wealthiest families in Boston; he was
educated in the commercial schools of
Holland, and was a thorough merchant.
The Junior OF the trim came from the
ola Colony, and represented one Of the
old families OF the original Plymouth
stock. AT one time he was regarded as
one OF the most accomplished young
business men OF Boston; he was fine
linguist, man of refined taste, and of
more than ordinary literary ability; his
rise SoClally ana commercially was re-
arA"oIe' "eaItn seemed 10 come WIN
ouI eAerI,on' he erectcu mouse IN the
court emu Oh tne Guy "hiCn' Ior us
lhaShli'cehce anu Ihe taSte Oh us sur
rouhoih8S' was the tax OF the time; ne
hau an accomplished wlfe, and he
was me iatner OF oeautltul lam
ny OF chllaren' ne entertained mag
hlncehtly; MS mousse was llI!ed with rare
works OF art, ana yet he bore himself
Win becoming modeSty. Like tropl-
Cal thunderstorm out OF a clear sky
came the astounding news That the firm