Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-01-16
A Rich Bachelor.

Ihe most unhappy = perhaps not
quite that, but the least happy-man L
know, says q New York correspondent.
is rich bachelor with 5000 year,
and no one but himself to spend it on.
he IS generous enough, out not always
IN a way to make him most happy.
Time hangs heavily on his hands. He
Lives In handsome lodgings, and, as he.
Is a prince of good fellows, is constantly
In demand for dinner parties. 81 wish
L could be as busy as you are," he said
to me one day. Here am, worn out
with doing nothing" and he sank into
big arm chair. What was your pro-
gramme for yesterday, for example?" L
asked him. Well, let me see. Yes
terday was about an average day. got
up at II; had a light breakfast at DePg
at 1870; went down to Wall Street, and
found I'd lost $50, 900 at clip. Walked
up town to the stable, got my trotter
anG drove out on the road. Came back:
dressed for dinner party. After din
ner, played poker till 3 o'clock. Then
home and to bed. Here it is l o'clock,
and I'm just up" ''And that's an av-
erage day" " Yes, all but the $50, 900
clip. 1 don't lose that much every day."
Why do you go near Wall Street,"
"What's fellow to do ?" he answered.
One must have some excitement, and
the diversion [ get out of Wall Street is
worth the occasional losses. Sometimes
l win, and that keeps up the interest. ;"
" Ii it makes you happy" said I, "the
money is well spent" "Happyp he
replied, with the most disguised look.
" Why, [ was happier a dozen years
ago, when I had but 50, 900 year that
earned by hard work than I have been
since. A little excitement is not happi-
ness. Real work is the only thing that
can make man happy. Perhaps you
think you'd be happy if you had my in
come, but you wouldn't" I thought I
would; but / saw he was In no mood for
argument. He was in the doll-stufed-
with-saWdust humor, so 1 said nothing;
but l thought to myself that if our in
comes should be exchanged would
know better how to enjoy his than he
seemed to. However, | ventured to
suggest, "Can't you find any amuse-
ment in society 2" 'sSociety! Why"
said he, "society is more demorahzing
than Wall Street. I was at dinner
party last night, and I heard more scan
dial than I could remember if [ tried. It
was nothing but Mrs. So-and-so has
gone to Europe and lef her husband
here. She is paying the bills of GER
tain -. | met them last summer at
AK les Bains. She had her children
with her, etc. or, did you know that
Mrs. - had threatened to order Lady
- out of her house on account of her
husbands deyotion?' etc. Then we adj
journed to the card room, ladies and all,
and played poker until morning. Some
OF the ladies won, and others lost; but
they got so excited over the game that
couldn't bear to see them, though the
stakes were small They weren't all
married ladies, either. Ny friends ask
me sometimes why don't get married.
Do you suppose I want wife that talks
scandal and plays cards for money!
When marry, if ever do so foolish
thing, it will be from the bosom of New
York society. I know it too well. Yet
see how people try to get within its any
thing but sacred circle. know one par
venue who retains well known society
woman, whose position is higher than
her bank account, and takes her to New
port and Washington, paying all her ex-
penses just for the sake of the introduce
lions she gets by that means" What
my bachelor friend says is true, but he
makes no exceptions. There are, how
ever, many ladies of society who neither
talk scandal nor gamble.