The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-11-30
ABOUT HIS YACHT.

nau never tOiu me ABOUT MS HrSt eHOrt
to be an amateur sailor.
"Well, do you see that group OF
Young men, yonder, sitting ON that
pile of molding-frames by the foundry?
They were sitting there, or other
workingmen just like them, eating
monday lunches, just the same, on the
occasion of my going down to the
wharf that day. They looked up at
me as l passed and then at my fifty
eight thousand dollar plaything float
ing at yonder dock. 1t came over me
like flash that exactly twelve years
and four days before, |, too, was pro-
badly eating a grimy foundryman's
lunch in this very yard, as ponniless
as the poorest wage Garner of them
all. And now? Here | was, dressed
in a natty suit, tripping along down to
fool away time without limit, and toy
with what to them would be fortune. "
He said that he never, by any other
event, great or small, so sharply rea-
lized his CHI inge in human lot. The
thought of how lucky he was, or bless
ed if you ple1se, among his fellow
men, became like an oppressive cloud.
The eyes of the molders seemed to
burn his face as they gazed on him. He
hung his head as if he were ashamed
to be so much better off than they. He
felt like turning to the boys and apollo
giving for his elegant leisure.
Il say, boys, | don't deserve this. 1t
was all stroke of luck, and the good
God had nothing to do with it. Heaven
thinks more of you than of me, no
doubt, especially now that | am an
idle good-for-nothing half my time. l
hope you working people don't hate
me. l insist upon it, l am not hate
full; Il haven't harmed anybody to get
this; stumbled on it. l used to wear
overalls like you, AID work with
the ladies'.
1t was curious, even to himself, he
went on, what resolutions he made for
charity that day. Then was the time
to have approached him with subscrip-
ton papers, for the heather, or for the
new hose-carriage house for No. Four
He felt that he ought to even up the
hard lot of some one. He wondered if
all other newly rich yacht owners felt
the same way; never had read any such
confessions as he was now debating to
me; wanted me to write it so that the
struggling poor youth of the land would
better understand the fellow out of their
ranks who got up to yacht owning:
thought the reading of this would cause
kindlier feelings toward men like hi m
self. l suggested that probably the
world would only laugh at it, and say
that not one in hundred millionaires
who had climbed from nothing had his
sensitive nature, nor his generous
heart-no, nor his memory of the day
of the dirty hands and leather apron.
But on this point he disputed me.
What do you Judge, readerP What do
you say, some other reader of his own
class?
! believe that it takes time to get
used to diamonds so that they feel
natural. 1t takes time to get accus-
toned to carriage and span, so that
you are not all the while wondering
what other people say to see you driv-
ing so handsomely. The habit of ele-
gance is very hard to acquire. One
can no more feel perfectly at ease in a
magnificent palace just after entering
it from his old plain residence.
Splendid rooms disturb sleep and drive
away appetite. The homely feeling"
is gone; in fact, it rarely ever broods
over such dwellings OF state, for if one
be born to a palace, he was also born
to servants rather than mothers
ministry or fathers fondling. If the
truth were told, we should be surprised
by the WEAKNESS OF grandeur the
heart-sick disappointment the CALLING
and chatting endured by the majority
of our lucky friends-the suddenly rich
Americans. They have brains without
refined tastes, genius for finance with
out any other cultivation OF genius.
They are very bright people, but it is
the gathering rather than the posses
sion of wealth that really amuses
them. They are generally people of
strong common sense, and for that very
reason they are keenly alive to the APP
pearance of things; they realize the
ill-iit of the new fine clothes.
This yacht, of which am permitted
to speak, is rarely used now. In fact,
it is for sale. The owners new ''fad"
is an academy which he is building in
his native town. II am ashamed of
the expense put out on the craft the
first year or two. Why, 1 kept her up
at an annual expense OF thousands of
dollars; not that / enjoyed it, but be-
cause l had got the thing. / purchased
her in order to get some good out of
my money for myself. But, bless you,
il was perfect sponge. | used to
walk round on her, trying to get my
interest money In viewing q capstan
and cushioned cabin; others might
have salt water in their blood and get
fun out of her; but could not. She's
steamed up now to take us over to
Newport, but I'd rathet go by cars"
But that is only the WEAKNESS of
great wealth. He has simply become
tired of toy after toy. His horses do
not now amuse him; his academy will
soon be finished and done with. Work
is really the happiest thing in this
restless able mans life. He is never
SO companionable as when hard at
work. Work brings smile, tunes up
his voice, warns his hand. He is q
genius in managing men; that is the
secret of his fortune. In his Office he
is simply magnetic; everything bows
to the magic Of his wand in business
intercourse. Down town he is all