New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-12
SIL1S LAPH1M.
pouon cOrr,sponaence Minneapolis Tribune.

The character of Silas Lapham not bit over
drawn. We meet men every day who personify IT,
will give you glimpse of one Of them He was
a raant soldier In the and came out of IL with
the rank of a colonel by brevet. Before tie he
was sharp and successful salesman. soon after
the war he engaged In business for himself. and.
partly by good luck and partly by shrewd business
tact he got hold Of certain patents covering articles
that were bound TO come into very common use To
these patents he added Others and soon began manu
featuring and dealing in the articles He developed
the business. which few wears ago became large
and profitable monopoly affecting trade both In this
country and abroad The thousands rolled in upon
him faster almost than he could count them. He
branched out i'll other directions invested largely
in railroad and mining companies. and though he
lost great deal Of money in these WAYS. his monopoly
continued and the revenues poured IN As II they never
would end Like many other to-day. he appears
In many enterprises most Of which are mere channels
for working Of the great gains that his legitimate
business supplies He has lately established his famils
IN a nnc house on Commonwealth ave not fsi
from the Hotel Vendome. and touching elbows as I.
were with aristocratic neghbors on all sides. The
bouso has been built and furnished artistcav and
tncrfnre OF without anv particular reference
To his own taste. The architect knew what to do.
and the fnshcrs and decorators were told to do what
they lborrht proper Here the master Oh the house
entertains nth what he considers largo hosnitatv
and resaes his guests with accounts Of his own eI-
travagance in house furnishing thn nrirrs OF various
uicture-. ornaments. etc
He crowns boorish manners with certain grun
swaceer that in his own estimation passes for per
feet ease and royal hospitality and which be appears
20 think we'll calculated to make his guests feel at
home. He gave card party the other evening al
which ladies aud gentlemen went attired In evening
dress to find their host comfortably robed In Ms
drssipg Gown. in which he remained throughout the
evening. The card PLAYING frequently disturbed
by grnf commands from the host to some lady OF
gentleman 10 90 aud look at such and such an oDec'
in one Of the for which he paid much money
price named WHOM announced the host
bade the hostess out and about tbs
a. he had alIeaiy been out and found "a devil of
row" This GROW" he explained To the company
"a M les. q catastrophe that the entire melting Of
the Ice cream Although the companv included
newly married coupie who were the sDccai guests
the most naturally lacked the knowledge that he oueh
=. .sa the bride out to sumner. and after severa
awkward minutes tho partv struggled a. best they
conld into the suDDer room. where the host nal al
rr.dv pre -cmpted a good and comnan iln2 posiuon
r.,s nan "a one of n class here In Rosfnn He ran
not understand whv the hest In the civ snouh no
omen their doors TO him and come 70 MS caru pare'
hut he "a bent with terrible enerrv upon eetun'
tns,sr He will spend the balance Of his ~" IN learn
ing the things that money cannot IA