The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1883-02-03

asked to see one with . larger brilliant
another was brought him. but he wantet
. larger still; the whole of the diamond
rings usually exposed for sale in thu
establishment were brought to him II
succession, but still the 'sOn Prince
craved to see something finer an(
larger" Finally the servitor rummaset
the safes for the finest and costliest jewe
and produced it, and yet the s.Oi
Prince" asked II he had not ring fineI
than that 'sNo," said the servitor, who
was becoming lively suspicious, s'that
is the best that can be obtained in New
York at this moment" The value put
upon it was q, 900 or $4,000, and nc
sooner had the ssOil Prince satisfied him.
self that it was the best ring in the es-
Enlistment than he slipped it onto his
finger and hauled out of his pocket and
deposited on the counter not . check,
but bills and coin in payment. The
servitor eyed the strange youth in
amazement, and, not unnaturally. sus-
| pected that he must, to be in possession
of such an amount of wealth, be red
handed from some bank robbery or the
pfIlage OF some millionaire's money
chest. A messenger was sent in pur-
suit OF the youth as he strolled along the
street, admiring on his finger s.the finest
ring in the city," and he was logged to
one of the fashionable city hotels, where
the messenger learned that the sus-
pected bank raider was no other than the
''Oil Prince" who had already gained
wide notoriety for his extravaganza.
One day. having exhausted his purse, be
made hasty journey home. with view
of replenishing it. He found his wife
and her relatives in q state of rebellion
against his neglect of her. and against
his extravagant habits. To silence them,
he handed over to his wife $40, 900, beside
buying her q small property to reside
upon. and. this done, he again sought
the society of his companions and the
revelry which his wealth commanded.
His game Of extravaganza and dissipa-
ton, however. was doomed to have.
Termination, and his Eldorado to become
unproductive. After two or three
years successful operations on the Nc
Clintock farm, the wells became COM
paratively dry, and asthe oil spectators
departed to other districts in search of
more prolific sources of oil, the ..Oil
Prince" found his supply of wealth cut
of, and his farm ruined for the produc-
ton of crops. Some of the companions
in his revelries had SO shattered their
constitution as to hasten them to prema-
ture graves, while the most robust
had no other matters to attend
to than ito dance in attendance
upon the s'Oil Prince" with his supply
of 3d. 900 day cut of. The "prodiQal''
returned to his wife ON the little proper
ty he had bought to stifle her complaints
in the days of his wealth. Settling down
to practical business, he found employ
ment in driving team which he owned.
and subsequently he secured an appoint
ment as station agent on the Oil Greek
route. He was in the habit of saving.
after he had ''sown his wild oats, :" that
in his wealthy days, II had lots of fun.
but | did not really enjoy myself after
ALL" A few years ago a banking COM
pany publicly announced that it held
deposit of go. 900 in the name Of John
Steele, and that It had not been claimed.
The attention of the 'sOil Prince" was
drawn to the announcement, and he was
reminded Of the circumstance, which he
had forgotten, that in an interval OF his
''sprees" he had deposited that sum in
the bank. With this sum, and with the
gift he made to his wife, the Ion
Prince after all, is lifted above penury.
and in . humble cottage he is often re-
minded of the evils which an improper
1se of wealth may craafA The ef<>rr, ~