Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-04-28

Anlmerican Family.

Nv companion was not himself bro
ker. but be had been among the brokers
several wears, and had seen good many
ups and dewns in the street. 81 know
something about it, he said, land am
convinced that there is no more dangerous
play in the world than stock gambling.
its fascination when it once takes hold is
irresistible, and the final ruin is almost
certain. l have known many cases, but a
single one will do tor illustration. Among
the thousands of outsiders who dabbled
in Wall street ten years ago was one-I
don't want to give his real name, but will
call him Richards. He operated through
our house, that is. the house in which |
was employed as bookkeeper, and as he
soon became daily visitor, got to know
him so well that we often had familiar
chat. I sometimes met him IN the even
ing besides, and our acquaintance ripened
into intimacy At first his luck in the
street was pretty good, and one day when
he bad made a thousand ur so in an hour,
he asked me to dine with him that even
ing in Delmonico's. Most of our talk was
about the street, and when bottle of wine
had made it pretty free ventured to sug-
oest that as he had done pretty well he
should begin to think about getting out.
"'Well,' he said. Il have thought about
it, but | don't see my way just yet.
must have $4,000 year for nv family.
and how else can get it p
l asked if his family was large. and he
said it consisted of his wife, two daughters
and a son.
..And you need $40, 900 year to live
on; isn't that pretty high p
WELL he said, high or low, can't
get on with less. The girls are always
asking for money. In summer they must
90 to the watering places with their moth
er, and in winter there is ball or u party
every week. 1t costs a great deal Of
money and the money must be had in
some way
INLAY | ask how much money you
have as capital-that is, money you can
really call your own?'
well, altogether. l suppose | could
rake up $4,000. Now, what want to
know is how could use that so as to make
SIC, 600 a year don't really fancy this
Wall street business, but-what am to do?
| must have $4,000 year, and though
have looked around a good deal | cannot
find any other business that will produce
it,
"'Why not reduce your expenses !?
YOU say YOU can't do with less than
$40, 900 year? think you are mistaken.
Many families live well on less than
S5 900, and some on $4,000. Does your
family know Just how much money you
have?'
81 have tried over and over to make
them understand, but it is no use. When
Il. tboro 10 fill
thev get it. and when say cannot afford
OF money. | really can't make them un-
limited and the amount of the matter is
that must have $4,000 year.
IL lost sight of Richards soon after by
going to another house where had a bet
ter offer, but heard from time to time
that his luck was not SO good. 1t must
have been FIVE years before l met him
again. He looked like another man; his
face was careworn and his clothing barely
escaped shabbiness. After a few words
asked him if he was still in the street.
mo he SAID, that's all over
"'Well. l hope you came out all right
".All righte Yes, if you call coming
out without dollar all right
81 was sorry. OF course, to near OF his
i'll luck, and asked il he had gone into
any business. No. he said, it was not
easy for man who had nothing, to 90
into business; but his friends were trying
to do something for him and there was
some hope that they would succeed. They
were trying to get him a place in the Gus
tom House. asked him what the salary
was and he said he understood it was
81 800. with chance of something better
after while. 1t would have been cruel
to remind him OF what had said five years
ago about not being able to live on less
than 900, but while we were lunching
together he gave me to understand that
he was living with his wife and daughters
in small house on the outskirts of Brook
lyn, and that the son had obtained a clerk
ship at Sl5 week. which was the chief
support of the family. Cor. Of Detroit
Free Press.