The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-29
AN ILLINOIS CURIOSITY.
GIVING AWAY THOUSANDS, But TOO sTrNeY
To WEAR SOCKS

TO WEAK EONks-
"Do you see tEat old man?" said a friend
| to me- as we were walking down the prinei-
pal thOroughfare Of Monmouth, Ill.
l followed the direction which bis finger
pointed and saw lank, peak faced and
gTay-headed man shambling along the side
walk. He was poorly clad. and seemed &C
cupied I'm thought As nodded a yes to the
query the new character that had dawned
upon me disappeared in a doorway.
"Wen, he is too stingy to wear socks and
he is one Of the leading merchants of the
town"
It WAS w. D. PRESLEY, the noted phian-
thropi5t and curiosity. Although be has
made several fortunes in business. he is now
comparatively poor. Christian missions have
got the money. Il is estimated that within
a few years past he has donated to missions
at least $500 It's only quite recent ythat
he gave SO, 600 to some Christian cause, end
having no more money at hand, he addition
ally gave his note for 5000, which was soon
converted into cash.
The strange fact of it all IS he absolutely
denies himself the uecessaries Of life that be
may give the crying beathens more. So Pc
nuriOus is he, in fact, that he viii chase fy-
ing paper over the piazza for quarter Of an
hour to use in wrapping. His twine be un-
twists until he makes of the ordinary strings
three pieces. Here is an instance Of his saw
ing method a man who had just purchased
a pair of boots walked into Presseys store
one day to purchase some small article The
boots were extravagantly done up in inisi,e,4
wrapping paper and strings. He left them
on the counter. The old gentleman took
them to one side while the customer was
busy with clerk. and re- wrapping them,
tied the straps with a small piece Of string,
saving the balance Of the material for bis
/ own use.
/ A few years ago PRESLEY went to New
' York to lay in heavy stock Of goods. BE
always was great admirer Of the Stewart
/ house, and there he located to purchase his
/ goods. He bought sparingly the frat day,
/ and when evening came requested the man
/ ager of the department in which he was pur-
chasing 10 permit him to remain there during
the night. He was as usual clad in cheap
! mountebank costume, and the manager, not
/ knowing him, sent messenger to Mr.. ORA
/ per Babcock, Jr., who happened to be in the
city at the time, to inquire if Pressiy was e
/ correct and responsible character. Mr. Bah
cock, of course, returned word that be was.
The old gentleman was then given the liberty
of the department.
/ Before leaving the manager requested
/ PRESLEY to accompany him 20 supper but
no, he had lunch with him. and taking from
a coat pocket some broken crackers and
cheese, he sat down on a bale Of goods aud
commenced TO eat. When tue department.
was opened on the following morning he was
found asleep upon the floor He again pac-
took Of his frugal meal and continued bis
purchases until his bill had aggregated near
ly $50, 600. Afterhaying made arTang -1e-f-
for time payment and given instruction Tor
the shipment Of the goods he asked what
discount would be made for cash A liberal
per centage of was given him, and reaching
into some mysterious corner Of his under
clothing, he brought to the light a lsrgc roll
of money, from which he paid his bill u full.
The clerks to this day have not forgotten the
strange merchant from MOnm0uth.-DcnUer
Tribune.