Dodge City times., 1883-03-08

pecC IS naCura r1SnCS, Simply UccduSc
some young men, with more money than
brains, can be found to bestow them.
In a small community like our own the
amount of money which man on a sal
ary has right to spend for anything is
tolerably well known, or very nearly
guessed at and if he is thought to be
living beyond his income. while it makes
his lady friends very delicate about re-
ceiving his favors. they hardly see the
way clear to decline and yet not hurt
his feelings.
AS we are writing for purpose we
may illustrate what we wish to hint by
true story. In large city, not very
far away. a young man lately held po-
sition of trust in an extensive house. and
large amounts OF money passed through
his hands daily. He had grown up in
the business from boy, and had been
promoted for his capacity and honesty,
until his salary was large enough to
support himself, his mother and sister.
very comfortably. The family had been
poor for years. but they had kept up ap-
pearances very we'll. The son was a
man OF retined tastes, loved art, music,
books and flowers, dainty d nnerS and
the society of cultivated people, every
thing which man has RE hit to enjoy,
if he can honestly afford if. The small
house was exchanged for larger one,
whose rooms were bright with pictures,
vocal with sweet songs, and redolent
of the rarest roses. Friends were en-
tertained Hospitality, and the sister
placed under the care of the best teach
ers to complete her education. All who
knew him praised his many good quail
tiles. and only a few were made
thoughtful by all this lavish expense
and generosity. Strange to say, the
last people to know anything about
his mode of life were the otti-
GERS in the institution where he was
employed. He was always punctual
and diligent, his accounts always
seemed straight, till at last the crash
came. By one of those little things
which some men call accidents" and
others 'providences,' heavy defalca-
ton was found out, amounting to
thousands of dollars A systematic
process of embezzlement had been go
ing on for some years, carefully hid by
skillful fixing of figures, the loss falling
mainly on poor men, women and chill
dren who had entrusted their small
earnings to concern of unsta'ned re-
pute. Swift punishment of the guilty
followed on the discovery. and now the
offender lives where there are few pict-
ures on the walls of the room. where his
food is not prepared by famous cook.
nor his coat made by fashionable
tailor. Such condition of things
could very rarely happen in any other
country than ours. 1t would be barely
possible n England or France for sal
aried officer of famous bank or any
other institution to advance his style of
living without provoking instant sus-
picion and inquiry. But here, where
whole communities engage in specula-
ton. in gambling operations of all sorts,
the sudden rise of a man would natur-
ally be attributed to some sudden streak
of luck, some fortunate investment.
That, however, is not the chief point of
the story to our mind.
1t is to be noted that the life of this
young man was, to sight. all right. He
had no vicious habits, no vulgar tastes.
He loved everyth ng that was refined
and artistic, hated everything that was
low and vulgar. Where others wasted
money on beer and billiards. he spent
it on books and bouquets. He had, as
many have. the tastes of a gentleman.
but also, like many, not the money to
crafty those tastes lawfully. So he
got it as he could. He was not able to
say ''Non' to the lust of the eye and
the pride of life, as they tempted him,
and so he fell. And there are men all
around us who. with opportunities like
his, would be in danger of su ering
like shameful fall. They admire pretty
things, and they buy them, not for
themselves. but for others. They hate
to appear mean or stingy,. If other
men provide flowers and candies and
carr ages. they feel that they must do
the same. even if it be to their own i'm
poverishment of pocket or principle.
Not to be farther tedious, we tell them
that, if they are brave enough to imi-
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