Ellsworth American., 1877-05-31
Misrell
Very Smart Indeed.

Al the close Of one Of those financial hur-
ricanes which periodically affect the United
S'atc- deemed it well TO adopt Il custom
prevailing IN thar great country. The Gus
tom al5u!r 10 I, going West" People
are very ;Dud oi going West, and under
take the Journey from yariou, aud often
mixed motives. Nv own motive, were
very mixed. In the first place | had rc-
criycd from my friend Wash Sparkiugton
best of friends aud intrepid OF spcculat-
Or. the coolest hand st poker, and the
ueaies. organizer Of corner ever met
"a lew points" concerning the rising
yoIng township known a. SAmpsille.
through which a railroad was shortly to be
driven, for the purpose Of developing the
resources OF the country. and enriching
those spectators who had got the point
cariy. IN the second place it was very hot
in New ork. and my physician had rec
commended a change OF air. Thirdly, | had
just broken of an engagement TO marry
Miss Nettie Fish, whose pa originally a
fcrryman, had recently struck lie" and
was bumptous accordingly. Fourthly, a
pool" sell certain stocks short" in
which | was heavily engaged. had not
proved success. As Sparkington OBJ
served. the bottom had fallen out OF the
spec. Filthy. things had gone gener-
ally wrong with me, and it was necessary
to change the venue in order to avoid uu-
pleasant consequences.
Under these circumstances | concluded
to try Sampville, aud endearored to recu-
perate By buying up the land Il rough
which the projected railway was to pass.
4 farewell dinner at Delmonico's was
given in my honor by 'the boys" All the
usual formaliiies were observed, and a.
-. t.l
among the golden youth present tina. was
going to Europe to negotiate the sale OF my
family property. an efligy. in ice cream.
OF the good ship BaratLra. in which | was
supposed To be about TO cross the Atlantic
ferry. occupied the centre OF the table.
Mumm's extra dry aud the finest Chamber
tin circulated freely; and | flatter myself
that, considering the awkward posture OF
my affairs. | made reasonably brilliant
aud effective farewell Grafton.
Forty-eight hours later | was in Samp-
vile and was at once impressed by the ev-
idence of prosperity visible in that flourish
ing location. The first duty OF man has
been fulfilled by the construction of an
enormous hotel. where indigestion could
be acquired on tife most eXhorbtant terms.
There was no lack of excellent food, viii
laiuouslv cooked. and the loss OF the flesh
soul Still there was compensation. Sit
ing opposite 10 me at the table was a
Western belle eating green corn after the
primeval fashion. that is to say by seizing
a corr cob-plentifully ancinted with but
ter-at either end, and gnawing the juicy
morsel without regard TO appearances.
On making inquiries concerning the
land on sale at Sampville, my spirits were
slightly dashed. Somebody had evidently
got the "point" before me. Looking care
fully over the lots through which the rail-
roads must necessarily pass, | found that
they had been bought up within short
time by single speculator-one of the Or
iginal settlers in Sampvile. His name.
Van klauwenhock. indicated his descent
from fine old knickerbocker family, and
/ marvelled much to find the representative
of an ancient race veeetating in the West.
or course | hated him. He had clearly
torestalled my little speculation, and. if to
be bonght off at all. would not part with
his purchase except at large profit.
Much depressed and fatigued by my
stroll. driited into the Ketchum house.
the big hotel aforesaid Bringing up at
last against the bar. my ear was attacked
bv strident voice exclaiming. Il guess
I'll take mine straight" and turning sharp
ly round, encountered my old friend Hez-
ekiah Dodge. who from high legal and
political position. had step by step taken
the down track, till ne had sunk into a
Ioafer round a bar ont West. Ii was the
old story, plenty OF go but no ballast.
Hez would-in the beginning-work for
weeks like a man, and then 20 ION bust, y