Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-02-28
enced downright bad luck, and rare good
fortune. too,


men of thorough-going American business
man. His ventures proved profitable in the
main, and then, all at once, accident fillet
his pockets one night when he slept He was
the possessor of half a million. He was In
the middle of the current, a prominent craft
in the stream that allured thousands foated
great majority.
1 seldom met Eugene now. We were In
different channels Chance brought us face
to face one day in front Of The Era office.
allow are you, Nedl Had dinner! Come
with me. want company. No refusal
now"
snake IT tonight, at homo, and III be ON
hand"
II wish could; but the truth is, AM 30
seldom at home now-1 don't know when I've
spent night, or rather an evening, at home"
And this was my bookish friend who,
year ago, oould not be induced to leave his
snug library, or coy living-room, where his
wife and children were his chief companions.
Half an hours conversation proved to me
that my friend-the man had respected and
loved-was as dead as the Pharaohs. In his
place found a man who seemed bundle OF
nervea He had lost the repose Of my old
friend, and with 1t his grace While 1t was
impossible for Eugene F. to become either
coarse or brusque, his positive manner and
tones, his decision, gave him an angularity
that was less to be admired than his former
ease and urbanity.
~Now you have made your pile, Eugene,
suppose you will be Off to Europe some Of
these days. Possibly we may lose you alto
gether."
He looked at me with undisguised astonish-
mont. "What makes you say thatT
"They say you are worth nearly million.
"Sse here-this is in confidence, Ned-they
say great deal that isn't true. But in this
instance they are not far wrong. But why
should quit on millions Have some more
Mushrooms This is the only place can get
a decent steak In town"
"rve seen the time you would have been
content with quarter Of million"
ayes; in the long ago. Do you know,
was a fool in those days. Nature never in
tended man should be content. He ought
to bo just as eager to make his tenth--yes,
his hundredth million for that mattsr-as his
first. For my part-but mind you don't lot
your hive know 1t; don't care to get them
after me-rve no intention Of quitting till
I've five millions"
"You have only another step to take and
you will establish your claim to all the privi-
leges enjoyed by aristocrats. He laughed.
mo, / am too sensible for that" he re-
piled; although, for that matter, You know
always held nature had made its divisions.
There will be hewers OF wood and drawers OF
water as long as grass grows or water runs
~ meant there is danger that one day you
will look with contempt on man with less
than ten thousand year"
"Dont blame me, my boy" ho replied, in
patronizins manner | Immediately resented,
"if I've set my peg for five millions"
"I've seen the time you were az we'll off.
enjoyed the world, literature, art, the society
Of your friends, and, above all tho compan-
ionship of your wife and children, and on
less than three thousand year. for happen
to know you gave literally and lent freely"
81 can only repeat -s5, 600, 900 is my figure
And I've only made tho first notch on that
stick"
allow If you fail! You never know when
the seesaw will bump you on the ground
The next day Eugene F. lost $780, 900. A
week later he was not worth $40. There
came out of Il contest, such as was never wiz
messed before nor since between oil operators,
mere wrecks of men mentally and
morally, physically and financially, chief
among whom was Eugene F.. The tar
antnlas bite had poisoned his life's blood
He was no longer the brisk, neat, scrupu-
lousy dressed. quiet-mannered gentleman
He WAS unshaven half the time. His eyes
were shifting, never steady, and partly dis
colored. Unrest and the fever of speculation
left their traces stamped-l should say
branded him RS an unsuccessful man.
once heard a man land ho belonged t.,
my own guild, nlore's the Pity say that all
labor was degrading He cited our great
manufacturing centers-pointed to homes of
the workers whose products are the very pill
lars of the earth, so far us its commercial,
monied, and many of its social institutions
are concerned, and proved to his own suits
faction that the tendency of ell labor was To
brutalize. to harden, to destroy the sensibili-
ties. He made the too common mistake Of
confounding effects with causes.
wonder what this student would say II
somebody should cite to him the cass Of Eu
gene F.. 1t might puzzle him to define the
precise value OF the patent OF nobility he
derived through two years intercourse with
the men who govern the worlds marts, and
represent the ramifled interests Of trade.
Eugene was rushing--he never walked al
other men walk now-past me ono day, when
! caught his arm.
"Hellol Howdy old boyi
"That's precisely the question l have de-
termined to ask you. Come In here and
have q glass of wine" AS led him into a
little snuggery few frequcntad, he answered,
"Permit me to nominate brandy or whisky
for mine"
Looking him in the faco as Of old, said,
1.-THE battle has gone against you"
@Yes. l haven't a dollar TO my name.
Ned"
was amazed. thought there was some
thing left that he could turn into cash, and 1
could not help expressing my thoughts
"No no! Nothing Of the sort. | could
haye-in fact should have--managed differ
emily, and put aside something's little bit in
real estate, or a few bonds but didn't"
"What nextT
"What nexta' he repeated dreamly and
drearily. "Oh I've not mad up my mind"
Eugene" said briskly, 4go back and ask
for your old place l believe it's there for
the asking. And In six months you will look
back on your experiences oil as a bad
dream."
"You are right, Ned. I always thought
you slow goer, but you are right nine cases
out Of ten. III act on your advice and I
thank you from the bottom Of my soul for
the interest you manifest in me-"
He was as good as his word. But before
the month was out, he joined forces with
another clerk, and made $3.50 on turn in
oil He was bobbing up beside the dashing
operators inside Of month
A month later there was battle royal last
Ing three days, in which the bulls and bears
were so thoroughly mixel and blended that
it was with extreme difficulty the best in
formed observers could determine the rela-
tive positions of the horned and clawed COM