The Princeton union., 1881-08-04
MISERS.

| From the San Francisco Alta.
The death of the miser Foscoe, who
amassed an immense fortune by usury and
every advantage he could of the necessities
| of the unfortunate, was dramatically appro-
pirate. Fol reasons of safety he dug hole
in the ground and secreted his treasure
there; he made trap door with spring
lock, and would 60 down daily to gloat over
his savings. He lived a solitary life, but
one day his neighbors remarked that he
had not been seen for an unusually long
time. They made search for him through
the house, the woods and in the ponds, but
failed to find him. Years afterward, when
worknlen were repairing the house, they
came across the secret cave in the cellar.
On opening it they found Foscoe's remains
and the heavy bags of untold treasure. He
had died with the object of his devotion.
The methods by which misers have ac-
cumulated their huge fortunes are much
| the same-it was by saving, rather than by
| making money, that they became rich.
Daniel Dancer dined off two or three boiled
eggs, and warmed up his cold pancakes
that were left over by carrying them in his
pocket. ELVES, who was worth nearly a
million dollars, carried old bones in his
used as fertilizers. Another miser used to
boil piece OF beef and fourteen hard
dumplings on Sunday; that would be the
allowance of food for himself and sister
for the week. Dancer saved on soap, new
or using it OF towels; he washed himself in
the river and dried himself in the sun. He
| used to beg pinch of snuff, putting it in
box he carried with him. This he exchang-
ed for farthing candle, which lasted until
the box was again filed. He used an old
meal sack for shirt, and bundle of straw
for pillow. But he was singularly gener-
GUS to his dog, to whom he allowed q pint
of milk day. He died worth half mil
lion dollars.
There was celebrated miser named Aud
ley, who lived in the time of the Stuarts,
| and whose keenness as business man was
remarkable. He was originally employed
as clerk at six shillings week, and in the
course of few years, by dint of econo,ni-
cal practices that come natural to persons
Of his ilk, had accumulated sufficient to en-
gage in speculation, His habit was to buy
bad debts for trife and afterward com
pound with the insolvent. An anecdote
will illustrate his method: A tradesman,
Miller, owed merchant named White. s2OO,
and seeing no other chance to obtain it,
| MILLER being insolyenD sued for the amount
Audley goes to him and offers him s4O for
the debt; the merchant accepts. Then the
miser goes to Miller and obtains his quit
mnce of the debt for ESQ, upon the condi-
ton that he pays for the accommodation
The insolvent signed the contract, which he
thought was offered in benevolent spirit
The contract was that he should pay to
Audley, twenty years from that time, one
penny consecutively doubled. on the first
day of twenty consecutive months; failing,
to pay fine g5O0. Miller, acquitted of his
debt, arranged with his creditors AID COM
menced business. Two or three years at
terwards the miser began to call for his in
stallment, and Miller found on calcu lating
that on the first of the twentieth month he
would have TO pay s2, 88O;so he refused the
payment Of his bond and gave Audley the
s5OO forfeit.
Vandille, remarkable French miser, was
at one time the mayor of Boulogne, and
while in that position partly maintained him
self by being milk faster general of the
market. While munching q scrap of bread
he would partake of these gratultous
draughts. He always travelled to Paris on
foot, and fearful lest he should be robbed,
took good care never to have more than
more money he begged on the road. By
i
the French government. he made fortune
of g80O, 600, sprung from single shilling.
During the very cold winter Of 1874, he
found it necessary to purchase some extra
fuel, and endeavored to beat down the wood
merchant in his price. The man drove of,
and Vandille stole few logs from the back
Of his cart. In Fastening away with them
he became overheated and contracted q bad
fever he sent for the surgeon, telling
him he wanted to be bled. AS the surgeon
charged half ivre, which was considered
too much, barber was called in, who
Il aIagreed to open vein for threepence. But,
friend. said the cautious miser. how Of
ten will it be requisite to bleed me?" Three
times" said the barber. Three times!
And pray what quantity of blood do you
intend to take from me at each operation?'
About eight ounces each time. That
i will be ninepence; too much! too much! ]
i know cheaper way: take the whole TWEEN
/! ". four ounces at once, and that will save