Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1884-11-27
Ancient Millionaires.


Thousands of men have envied Aston,
Stewart, Vanderbilt, Maokey, Keene,
Could and the other fellows who can
buy strawberries at 81 per box; but the
richest of them are mere Migrants when
compared to some of the ancients. There
was Minus, for instance. He was the
sea of NimrOd, the old hunter, who made
lions scratch for holes and tigers take
to bitches. Old MIN left his boy about
el30,000,O00 in cash, beside 10000 cattle,
piece Of land about as big as Arkan-
saw, and $4,000 likely slaves. There was
no lawyers in those days who made a
speciality OF breaking wills and young
Minus quickly took possession and cast
about for some plan to keep him out Of
the p0orhOuse.
He was considered poor young man,
and had he been seen Juggling his girl
to an lee cream saloon or riding out in q
livery rig his friends would have said he
would have brought up in garnet. By
lucky capture Of territory from the
Assyrlans, together with 10000 slaves,
125,000 cattle. ten wagon loads of silver
and jewels, and q few other trifles, Minus
walked up the social ladder until big
bugs asked after his wife and babies and
he could lose three games Of billiards
without wondering If the owner of the
saloon would take a "staAd off," He
was worth e350,000OO0 when he died, and
yet for the last five years of his life he
went without mutton because the price
had raised to three cents per pound.
The heiress with $50O00 bank ac-
count considers herself some pumpkins.
but what three cent piece she would
hav al 81 Of Go
is. She not only had the lucre left by
Minus, but in 10 years she had increased
ii two fold. Just multiply e350,000,000
by two, and you have the amount of her
bank balance, to say nothing Of jewels
and clothing and furniture and palaces
and slaves and cattle. Had she sold out
and cleaned up she could have drawn
her little check for about G700, 100000.
She didn't worry where her spring bon
net was to come from, and when a new
style Of dress goods came out she didn't
sit up nights for fear some neighbOr
would secure pattern first. While she
made it lively for her enemies she was
soft on her friends. She gave her wait
ing maid 100000 in lump for dressing
her hair in new style, and tossed the
same amount to her dressmaker as a re-
ward for the excellent fit of one particu-
lar dress. One day when she saw poor
old man travelling the highway on foot
she presented him with 500 asses to ride
on, and insisted on his accepting $4,000
| to pay his toll and tavern bills.
Cyrus, King of Persia, from the year
| 538 to $50. had some little change to be-
| gin with, and in ten years he could draw
| his check for G6000O0O00. He didn',
haggle over the price of slave when 8
man came to buy it. but presented hin
with 1000. He at one time owned 10000
horses, 10000 cattle, 100000 sheep, l5.O0(
asses, and $4,000 slaves, and when he go
tired Of a palace costing 100000 III
gave it away to some poor washwOmaI
with seven children to support. He on
day sat down to a dinner which had cos
100000, and In the afternoon he went OF
$4,000 drunk. The police didn't rul
him in, or he would doubtless have In
sisted ON paying fine Of 100000 ant
presented his honor with corner h0us
and lot in the tOniest part of Baylon.
King Menes was another we'll heele
man. 1t was too much trouble to conn
his cash, and so he weighed 1t. One da
when an old friend asked him for tn
loan of few dollars until Saturda
night he sent him procession Of sixt
asses, each loaded with 100 pounds O
gold coin. He paid 100000 for a bir
which could whistle, the same for trio
dog, and he had such f0ndness TO
white oxen that he shelled out G25,00
apiece for them, and at enc time had
drove of 1000. When he got out wit
the bows he made things lively. Durin
one spree in his city of Memphis he CAV
(: away 100000, and didn't get drunk 9
, that. At one time he had 100000 gol
, chains, 100000 finger rings, 10000
swords, 100000 daggers, and land Onl
knows how many fish lines, jack knives
, cork screws and tobacco boxes. His wifi
! had 100000 year as pin money, an
when his eldest son went to Thebss
,, see the elephant he was followed by SO
friends. 1000 slaves, 1000 horses an
|, 100000 for fare, check and beer money
Blank bills of lading, for lumbe