Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1882-08-25
A Petroleum Romance.


this morning citizen Of Pittsburg who
was at one time salesman in retail gro
Gerry there, at salary Of $500 a year.
When the petroleum excitement became
rampant he went to Titusville without any
money, and after a few weeks fell in
with prosperous speculator and "struck
oil" making $500 900 to $500 ,000in year.
He increased this sum to $1,5OO,OOO, and
was urged by his friends to retire from the
oil regions with the wages of his luck
This he refused to do. and before another
twelve months he had lost it all but few
thousand dollars. Then he returned to
Pittsburg and went to work IN a legitimate
way. But the fever of speculation attack
ed him once more. and he betook himself
a second time to Oil Creek. After vari-
Gus shifts and adventures. fortune revisited
him, and be was able to count his million.
Trying to double this-he had fixed his
figure at $1,000, 00O-he was again fnanci-
ally wrecked. This time he was so poor
that he stayed among the wells, and was
forced to earn a livelihood by becoming a
day laborer. New opportunities opened
to him, and third time he got very rich.
Reckless speculation once more brought
him low, and he left for California, hop
ing to improve his prospects there. The
fascination of petroleum drew him back.
He made fourth fortune, aud lost it; and
finally fifth, with the same result.
Within few months the tickle goddess
has smiled for the sixth time, aud he has
invested all his money in Government
bonds-well nigh $1,000. oo0---and for
sworn speculation. He sold all his oil be-
fore the recent tumble in prices, and says
he has learned wisdom by experience
Having more than he will ever spend, he
ought to be contented financially, and run
no more risks; but doubt if he will. The
$4,000 900 he had fixed upon he has not yet
reached; and he will be different from most
SPECTATORS if Re can resist the old greed.
His wife, who is here with four children
two grown-up girls and two boys on the
eve of manheod-was the counsellor that
induced him to buy governments. He him
self is not yet fifty. In no other country
than this could man make six fortunes
and lose five in less than twenty five years.
In America alone is the tale Of Aladdin
and his wonderful lamp daily, yea hourly
verified --Bosto1 Advertiser. ,.@,...,"! .
SOME VULGARITIEs OF "GOoD SOClE-
TY.'-Asking questions, private and per-
sonal, is one vulgar habit, and telling your
own business, which no one wants to hear,
is another. Asking the cost of a present
that has been made to you; pumping" a
servant to hear what has been given by
way of parting vail; loud talking in pub
lie; hard staring at table; insolent disre
spect to husband, wife, sister or brother;
showing temper in trifes and making
scenes in public; showing an embarrass-
ing amount of fondness and making love
in public; covert sneers. OF which people
can See the animus if they do not always
understand the drift; persistent egotism,
which talks forever OF itself, itself. itself.
only itself, and cannot even feign the most
passing interest In another; detraction of
friends. and it may be of relations-a hus-
band telling of his wife's unpleasantnsss,
a wife complaining of her husband g faults;
the bold assumption of superiority, and
the servile confession of infinite unworth-
mess; all these are signs and evidences of
vulgarity- of q far worse type
than that which eats its fish with a steel
knife and SAWS ssvOn WASH and teach of
the men we're -, .-.s'~ do. 'igA
In fact, the tlue vulgarity resolves it.
self into the central point of evil-selfsh-
ness. The unsel6sh can never be really
vulgar. They may be uncouth, but they
cannot be more; while the best top-dress-
ing of manner to be found in the whole
world cannot make the substance refined,
where that one foul canker of egotism and
Indifference to others lies at the heart of
things.-Quee1.g& N .@t a9@ "a 4
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