Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1883-11-18
idols l.y broken and behind him.

idols lay broken and behind him
He was still gentleman. But, says
the Spsniard, Who is there SO poor
as a poor gentleman ?"
Well, fifty thousand dollars were
handed this good and worthy gentle.
man by this old Californian, who is
not willing 10 ever let bis own name
be published in connection with the
gift.
The other circumstances is Of less
import TO any one but myself A
new and unskilled dealer in stscks,
an utter stranger, found himself one
morning routed, horse. foot and
drsgoons Half desperate, be rushed
down to the old Californian, and
asked his advice.
Advice He gave his advice 70
this stranger in the shape of three
hundred shares of the Western Union.
These shares in a few days turned cut
profit Of aeariy three thousand dot
lars And still he will not permit his
name 20 be mentioned in this connec-
ton Very we'll; I will not give you
the name of this "old Californian. +"
Neither will ! give you that of the
venerable banker who received the
fifty thousand dollars. But | see no
reason you may not know the name
of the embarrassed spectator who re-
ceiyed the three thousand dollars
worth of advice" You will find
it subscribed at the head of this ram
bling sketch
Who was ever So generous as is the
old Californian
In conclusion, while writing of
wealth for a city where gold has been
and is almost a god in the eyes of
many, let me implore you do not care
much for it. Nor would l have you
very much respect those who pos
eess it.
In the first place, the foundations
of nearly all the fortunes of the Far
West have been almost purely acci-
dentsl. After that it became merely
q question of holding on to all you
could get. OF course. many threw
away their opportunities there. But
remember that many others gave
away all they had to help others, and
are now gray and forgotten in the
mountains, while they might have
been today at the head Of their fel
lows in the city.
! know it 10 hard to teach and
preach against the traditions and prac.
tice of all recorded time. But while
money may remain to the end 1.-The
root Of all evil" l think one may
grow, If not to despise it, certainly
not to worship it. And SO it is that
l wish to sandwich and wedge in this
fact right here. Iimplore you do not
too mnch admire the rich men of this
rich land, where wealth may be had
by any man who is mean enough to
clutch and hold tight to it.
tell you that, in nine cases out of
ten, great acquired wealth lifts up in
monumental testimony the meanness
Of its possessor.
knew two neighbors. old Califor
mans, who had about equal fortunes
They we're both old settlers. both
rich, and both much respected. In
that fearful year, 1852. when the dy-
ing and destitute immigrants literally
crawled On hands and knees to reach
tho settlements, one Of these men
drove all bis cattle up TO the noun.
tains. butchered them and fed the
starving. He had his Mexicans pack
all the mules with flour, which cost
at that time almost its weight in gold.
and push on night and day over the
mountains to meet the strangers there
and feed them, so that they might
have strength TO reach his house,
where they could have shelter and
rest.
The other man, cold and cautious,
saw his opportunity and embraced it.
He sat at home and sold all his wheat
and mules and meat, and. with the
vast opportunities for turning money
TO account ia that new country, soon
Became a prince in fortune.
But his generous neighoor died a
beggar in Idaho. where he had gone
to make another fortune He literally
had not money enough to buy u
shroud; and he died among strangers,
by the roadside, he was buried with
out even 90 much as pine board
coffin.
saw his grave there only last year.
Some one had set up rough granite
stone at the head. And that is all.
No name-not even . letter or date.
Nothing. But that bowlder was fash
ioned by the hand of Almighty God. +.
and in the little seams and dots and
mossy scars that cover it He can read
the rubric that chronicles the secret
virtues of this lone dead man on the
snowy mountains of Idaho.
The children Of the }" Prince" are
In Paris. Upheld by his colossal
wealth their lives seem 10 smbrace
the universal world. he 10 my friend
He buys Ill my books, and reads every
| line I write. When he comes to this
sketch he will understand IT, And
he ought TO understand, too. that oil
the respect, sdmiration, and love
which the new land once gave these
two men gather around and y buried
beneath hat moes-growa granite
stose; and thss / know. svsa with all
his show Of splesdor, hat his hear
b - cold and - empty - that dead
maat hand.