The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1882-02-25
What Constitutes Riches.

The late Hon. William L. Marcy ~
able Secretary Of State under Preside,t
Pierce, used 10 enjoy giving the follow IN,
forcible illustration Of what constit,,.,
riches:
ITO be rich," said Mr.. Marcy, "reou;res
only satisfactory condition Of the mind
One man may be ric!, with a hundye,
dollars, while another in the possess;,,n,
Of millions, may think himself poor: ord
as the necessities Of life are enjoyed bv
each It Is evident the man who ia the h,..>
satisfied with his possessions is the
richer"
To illustrate this idea, Mr.. Marcy 70.
lated the following aneceiote: "Whie T
was Governor Of the State Of New York y
said he, Z" was called upon one norn;n.,
At my Office by rough specimen of ).
backwoodsman, who staiked in, and b.,
gan conversation by inqu:ring If this was
Mr.. MarcyF
l replied that was my name,
Bill MarcyF said he. nodded assent
Used to live In Southport didn't YEP
4 answered In the affirmative, and he.
gan to feel little curious to know wh,
my visitor was, and what he was driv;n.,
at.
That's what l told EN- cried the bach.
woodsman, bringing his hand down I'm
his thigh with tremendous force; i toll
'em you was the same old Bill Marcy who
used to live in Southport, but they
wouldn't believe it, and ! promised t;,e
next time came to Albany 10 come and
see you and find out for sartn. WHY, Won
know me don't you Billi'
II didn't exactly like to ignor his ac.
quaintance altogether, but for the life Of
me couldn't recollect ever having seen
him before; and SO I replied that he had
a familiar countenance, but tina. was NOT
able to call him by uane.
"My maine is Jack Smith, answered
the backwoodsman, and we used to 30
to school together thirty years ago, in the
little red schoolhouse in old Southport.
Well, times has changed since then. and
you have become great man, and got
rich, suppose!'
4 shook my head, and was going to
contradict that impression when h. broke
in:
oh! yes you are; know you are rich,
no use denying it. You were Conn.
troller for-for long time; and the next
we heard Of. you, you were Governor,
You must have made heap Of money.
and l am glad oft, glad tQ see you getting
along SO smart. You was always smart
lad at school, and / knew you would
come to something
4 thanked him for his good wishes and
opinion, but told him that political life did
not pay so we'll as lie immagined. ~
suppose, said l, fortune has smiled upon
you since you left Southporty
oh! yes, said he; 4 hain't got nothing
to complain Of, must say I've got along
right emart. You see, shortly after YOU
left Southport our whole family moved up
Into Vermont and put right into the
woods, and reckon our family cut down
more trees and cleared more land than anv
other in the whole State
And SO you have made good thing
Oft. How much do you consider your.
self WORTH asked, feeling little curious
TO know what he considered a fortune, as
ne seemed to be so well satisfied with
his.
WELL he replied, 4 don't know exactly
now much l am worth; but think
strengthening himself up0 If all my debts
were paid should be worth three hundred
collars clean cashv And he was rich:
for he was satisfed."