Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-08-04
81.
UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES.

Tho recent death of ono Of the old dtime
merchant princes OF Boston, who leaves
an insolyent estate, and the still more re-
cent mlure an old established Boston
house that had woathered tho three great
financial storms OF 1887, 1857 and 1879.
recalls to the lTdueiier some remarkable
instances of financial ruin caused by
speculation IN untried fields.
In 1858 there was II large firm engaged
in the boot and shoe business, probably
at that time the largest in Boston, which
concluded 10 dissolve. The aggregate of
/ the available cash means of the firm WAS
/ 81 100000 The senior partner invested
/ his money in paying securities, aud died
few years aUerward, having doubled his
capital the junior partner did the samo
and when no died he had nearly trebied
tho amount. The other partner accepted
/ the honorary position of President OF
bank, and became interested in wildcat
spccumtions in mining aud now invcn-
tions, and to day he is almost rauper.
About forty years ago young msn be-
/ gan a. porter in large concern on South
Market street; ho rose gradually from
one position 20 another TIL ho had acquir-
ed knowledge and money enough to start
for himself, and ho chose the now fcld of
st. Louis. BY industry, application nud
shrowdness no became one of tho lcsdi'is
merchants OF that city. About twenty
ycnrs ago he decided TO retire from active
business and return TO his native State
lie had n clear cash fortune OF $500 900.
Purchasing beautiful estate within
wonty miles OF Boston, and adding there
to hy elegant and costly buildings and
outbuildings and cousoryatorios, he set
tied down TO enjoy himsolr. But he wo'
not satisfied. He saw that others had
moro than he possessed he could not 90
back to she old drudgcry business ~ IN
crease his pile, ard in an evil hour ho
came across ono of those plausible men
who pointed out to him tho sEa way
through which by single stroke he could
doublc his fortune. He yicldo1. aud in
vested his all in patent that was not
worth the paper it was written on and
that man to-day is mboring hard to gaia
daily brcal Tor himself and family.
In 1883 ono Of tho lending commissions
dry goods merchants in Boston over
reached his competitors in tade md
made himself whole in that terrible fnnn-
cial crisis, when most of our leading
houses went to the wal. As COLI toral
security for notes given tor about $50, 900.
be took shares in An incomplete Iailroal
connected with coal mine. Di.coVcr-
ing that this stock hold ~ collateral rop-
resented more than majority Of tho
whole stock, he employed brokers IN Wall
street to bear the stocl, md buy ii up fr
IL song He succeeded, and he nilcrwnld
admitted that ho cleared 100000 by tho
operation. Tho war cnmo on, and h9
succeeded in obtaining from the Govern
mont several largo contracls. Al the
close Of the war he could chinlS out at least
two millions Of dollars in solid cash. But
no was not satisfied Thoro were such
men as Oakcs Amos and John b. Allcy,
of the Union Pacific Tom Scott OF tho
Pennsylvania Central Jay Gould, Of
the Eric, and Vanderbilt, who could dis
count him four to one, aud ho wanted to
be one of hom. Government lands nud
Government appropriations and Grent
Western Rairoa schemes wero all tho
rage, and he went in, seeing in the future
hi4 two millions swelling to ten millions.
He mas lost his money and led bis neigh
bors to ruin, and is to-day an object or
pity
Thirty years ago young and prOmis-
ing lawyer WIS retained by railroad
corporation in New England, then lnrbor-
ing undor great dAiculios. lie soon got
M the truo inwardness OF the situntion,
Hnd availlng himself Of tho knowledge,
invested right and left in its securities ut
low figures. Those securities nftcrward
became appreciHtiye values, md he found
: himself almost millionaire. IIo pur
chased n splendid estate, became liberal
patron Of the nrts, leading agricultui-
ist, and was esteemed Tor his beQovolence.
His income was almost priEccly, bub
others were worth more, and he was still
young. His ambition was to mount t.
the top, and in one brief year, from being
posscssor Of 500, 900, be was to all intents
II pauper, and died recipient Of charity.
In 1913, Il young man from Il neighbor
ing town, who had been a fortunate bus
iness man till tho crisis Of 1887, started
afresh. A few years found him at tho
top Of the ladder, his credit good and his
transactions immense he bad acquired
second and handsome fortune. In day,
as it were, he lost ALL and no had not
money enough to buy his monday meals.
Not discouraged he began again at the
bottom, and laid the foundation for
third fortune, which was destined 10 DO
T throefold greater than the other two. But
, he was II man never to DO satisfied. Tnreo
! years ago he could have sold out his i'm
: mense real estate and realized 81, 800, 900.
Three months ago ho was forced to Dor
2 row money from his friends for the actu-
. al necessities Of himself and family -
! Boston Post
- A SCIENTIFIC writer snys that death hy