Connecticut western news., 1888-07-18
Story of Old Man Finn.

l saw him last summer, working third-class wire in Western city. Ia reply to my inquiry the chief operator informed mo that Finn had been given employment the day before. met the old boy on tho stairs later in the day, and he said, in weak voice, "Yca, am back hero again, what there is left of me. My drinking days are over, and I am about over too" He certainly looked bad, and I said to myself, If consumption hasn't marked you for It's own, your appearance bellies you" My gaze went wandering away from him as he said sadly, 'I cant telegraph very we'll any more. My hand shakes, and it is like saving wood for me to work wire-even way wire" Then he left me and pursued his way up stairs to the operating room. Old maa Finn is not moro than 55 years of age, but he has burned the candle at both ends, and his nervous system is fatally wrecked. Hs has fallen into decline of late years, and there remains for him nothing, I fear, but the bitter dregs of existence.
 Away back in the sixties, when I was a mere lad, endeavoring to master tho mysteries of telcgraphy, Finn was in his prime. H, was regarded as one of the finest telegraphers in the country, and at the time first knew him be had just completed his 21s: year. I doubt if many young mon who have their way to make in the world, attain the1r ma jority under fairer auspices than he did. Intelligent. fac-looking, and the master of rofession which at that tina was counted as ono of the f1no arts, almost, he had, apparently, an enviablo future before him. Indeed, if had been told in those dear old days that would eventually reach what seemed in my boyish eyes pinnacle of glory-such as ho oecupicd-I should have been moro surprised and pleased than I could bo' now over any prospect of future pros- perity short of tight hold on Paradise
 Somebody has recently written a poem in which two tramps figure. One inquiries on meeting the other if thero is no shado tree near at hand, and the second replies, "Ycs, little further down the road" Tho writer elaborates this idea and says we arc all tramps looking for shade tree. In his view it is always farther down the road, and but few ofus ever reach it. The idea i' we'll enough but the view is too pes- simistic to please me. believe, on the contrary, that we arc rather Ike child ren straying through house in which there arc many rooms of exquisite love- Illness, each more beautiful than the pre- ceding one. Outside of tho mansion wethink We would be content if wo could gain the hall, but onco within we stray on and on, with thoughts intent upon the possibilities which lie beyond and little needing the increasing beauty of our surroundings since wo left the threshold. It is better that we should sometimes consider tho poiat from which we started. The experiment is consolIng at all events, and makes us
 philosophic and more contented with
 our social status. Therc are not many
 of us who have made the most of our opportunities, who cannot say with tho
 Christian of old: ooh, God, I have much to be than kful for"
 Old man Finn has not o much to be thankful for as many, and that he has thrown away his opportunities is to my mind the chief reason therefor. In tho i curt vernacular of Americans, we o.tsn have the solution of a problem in one world. Wo bear of men in our own and other professions who have extra ordinary abilities, kindly natures aud many traits of character calculated to endear them to their acquaintances Wo are told, however, that they are at present down in the world," utterly used up," &c., and when we inquire the cause, the answer comes with pliu
 full regularity in that direful monosyl-
 Table ''Rum." Old man Fiun's failure in life is also susceptible of explana- tion by the men tion of that short sad
 word. do not mean to preach tenn perance sermon. h writing Q sketch.
 however, of a man whom havc known and admired, and through whose kindly aid was launched on career winch