Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-02-17
CRGSUs OF LYDIA.
Some of the Characteristics of the
Ancient Millionaire.

Some of the characteristics of the
Ancient Millionaire.
CIGsus was a King Of Lydia, who
Oy lavish display of his wealth, go
his name in the papers. Historian:
disagreed in regard to the manner IL
which.he laid the foundation of his for
tune, but it is known beyond dispute
that he did not lay 1t filling a long fel
want with an eight page morning papel
IT back county town.
Cresus had father, which did mo-
surprise him when he heard of it, whost
bonds were registered in the name o.
Alyattes. Alyattes was a frugal ole
king who never taxed his people more
than eighty-four cents on the dollar ol
the assessors valuation. He took hi:
son CTesus into partnership in tht
reigning business, which was paying
very well in those days, and as first
assist King CroeSus was quite a success;
from the start. Alyattes was getting
old and gouty and tired. so he turned
the work pretty much over to CIesus
but continued to take the bigger part
of the profits. Alyattes took great
interest in his income and held on to
dollar with a beautiful and impressive
grip.
1t was during this partnership
between Alyattes and his promising
and industrious son that one OF the
humorlsts of the day remarked in al
unguarded moment that Lydia had a
pair OF Kings that generally took the
pot.r The humorist died next morn.
ing by request at $50 O'Clock.
During his active career Alyattes by
close attention to business and his ready
and vigorous grip, LAID by neat sum
for a reigny day. and when he closed
his labors with a funeral in the year 56S
B. G. he left Cr9SuS in very comfort.
able circumstances. 1t is said, how.
ever, that when CIesus looked over the
undertaker's bill and saw how much ii
cost to bury a great man he was taken
with a severe chill and therefore
dreaded death as long as he lived.
Immediately after the funeral of bis
father CIesus opened business at the
old stand in his own name. He
thanked the public for past favors and
ventured to hope for a continuance of
the same. He announced that there
would be no change IN the policy of the
administration, save that he might have
to advance the tax rate. When buSi
ness got little dull in Lydia, Cr95uS
decided to extend his trade to some OF
the adjoining counties. For time be
did a thriving business. He put him.
self at the head of an army and
pranced out into new fields ana .obbed
and murdered and plundered and confiS.
Gated with grace and dignity Of man.
ner which won him the admiration OF
all competitors. When he covered the
wealth of neighbor or personal friend
he did not get up any SOFT OF stock
company or other high-toned scheme
and invite his neighbor and personal
friend to come in on the ground floor,
He Just went after the wealth, killed
his neighbor or personal friend, so that
he might not come to want and be
thrown on the county, and fetched the
wealth home with him. This plan
saved a great deal of talk and the
robbed nan a great deal of worry and
loss of sleep.
When CFesus had gathered in about
all the wealth of the thirteen adjoining
counties, more or less, he felt tolerabIy
well fixed for time, but yet too poor
to have first-class, high-toned funeral.
He believed, however, that his wealth
would allow him to spend some weeks
at a Florida health resort, if he could
get half rates OF account Of the profeS-
sion.
But about this time CIesuS heard
that Cyrus was running an opposition
business in his line over at Media, and
he decided, on the impulse of the
moment, to go over to Media and see
Cy.
He found Cy at home. Cy was glad
to see him, too, and did all he could to
give Cresus a lively and impressive re-
ception. While the interchange Of
greetings was going on between this
fine pair of Kings, Cr9Sus suddenly re-
membered that he had come away with
oGt his umbrella, and as there were in
dications of a storm, he started back
toward Lydia as fast as he could travel.
Cyrus came right after him. Cyrus
was 4 social sort of King and didn't
want Cresus to go away mad. He was
afraid he had hurt the feelings of his
visitor in some way, and he desired to
overtake him and learn the cause of his
extreme haste.
Cyrus followed Cresus all the way to
Lydia, and when he tad gone there he
liked the country and the climate so
well that he decided to stay awhile and
rest. He said he needed great deal of
rest because he had to travel very fast
to keep in sight of Cresus.
Cyrus was q humorist in his way, aud
while he was resting IN LYDIA he decided
to play a joke of CI9Sus by burning
him at a stake, but at the last moment
he changed his mind and had his hired
man read four hundred and thirty pages
of the Congressional Record of the coun-
try to CrGsus. Strange TO say, and to
the great surprise of Cyrus. CreSus
survived. But he was never after~ ards
the bright and joyous man he was before
Cyrus trifed with his feelings in such a
shameful way.
Cyrus, who was now running the
government, liked Cresus so well after
he became well acquainted with him
that he made him Assistant Secretary
of state. Cyrus took care of the
Treasury and attended to paying out
all moneys himself.