St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-16
OLD STARCHER'S LESSON.


London Truth
Thirty years ago Stuart Starcher had
been notorious young man about town;
he affected to be notorious young man
about town still. Since he began to sow
his wild oats three generations OF youths
had come, sown theirs and gone; but
he continued gayly scattering crop after
crop, and imagining all the while that
the world regarded him as the same
wild young fellow he was of yore. When
he rose in the morning and looked in
his glass he could not but see that his
face was wrinkled and his hair was thin.
When he took his afternoon stroll in the
park he felt only too painfully that his
step lacked lightness and his figure
dropped. These and such like unpleas-
ant '.finger posts" he contrived to con-
ceal, as he thought, if not from himself.
at least from the world. His toilet, it is
true. made an immense demand upon
the skill of his valet and the resources
of art; but when it was completed he
fiattered himself that he was to all out
ward appearance as youthful as many
men thirty years his Junior.
Having thus III exterior renewed his
youth. it was his delight to spend bis
afternoons and nights with the boys"
There was something pathetic in the
efforts which he made to do as these
sturdy young roysterers did. He would
stroll with them in the st eets, gamble
with them at the club, shuttle off to the
theater ito mash" with them the ladies
of the stage, until he was ready to drop
with fatigue. All the time he i'm
agined that the lads took him for one of
themselves. He forgot that there were
few of them who had not heard their
fathers talk of "Old Starch" tell Of
his elopement some twenty years ago
with poor, wealthy Miss Cash; wonder
what had become of the child of that
marriage, and laugh at the old fOgy'S
atfectation of youth.
There was just one point upon which
Stuart Starcher acknowledged the eff
feet of wears, and that was on the point
of worldly wisdom. He not merely adj
mitted. but he boosted of the width Of
his experience and the prOfundity of
his knowledge of men, women and
things. Every possible trouble or diff
Guilty a man about town cold get into he
had been in. He had been in love and
in debt. hard hit at cards, and threat
ened with the divorce court; he had
eloped with an heireSs, been in scrapes
with the ladies, and had fought duel.
Every conceivable adventure he had,
according to himself, come through, as
he proudly declared, without as much
as scratch. He was as vain of his as
tuteneSS as he was ashamed of his age.
On this great fund of wisdom and eX-
perience he was always ready to. draw
for the benefit of his young friends
when any of them got into trouble; it
was the only fund he was ready to
draw upon. He was as least as rich as
he was wise, but he was as prudent
with his money as he was prodigal with
his advice. He used to S v, he did this
on principle; he stuck to his money be-
cause if lie did not somebody else
would, but as to his advice he could
would take it.
In this observation he scarcely did
himself justice, for his advice was not
only often taken but Ofteu sought, and
among those who most needed and
sought it was one of his youngest and
most intimate friends, Hon. Frank Ter
rington.
Hon. Frank was a true Terrington:
that is, he was most of his time in high
spirits and low company. and he was
happily blessed with many friends,
many follles and many debts. He was
never long out of trouble, and did not
seem to care much to be so. He was
not OH good terms with his father; no
Terrington ever was.
Hon. Frank was the favorite nephew
of a very wealthy old aunt. That was
all that he had to live on yet for long
time, but with the aid of usurers he
contrived to live on it very well. But
one fine morning what should the
wealthy old aunt do but 20 and get mar
ried! The first intlmation OF this horrl-
BILE example of feminine thoughtless-
ness which poor Frank had was the an
nouncement of her wedding in the
morning papers. He read the shameful
intelligence with a throbbing brow. His
aunt had callously taken from him his
only livelihood, for now his credit, like
Othello's occupation, was gone.
AS was his habit when in trouble he
went and consulted Stuart Starcher.
What was to be done? that was his ques-
ton.
s'Done!" exclaimed Stuart Starcher.
with his youthful manner, but shaky
voice. Done! Why, my boy-my poor
boy, you must marry. This alternative,
this resource. is fearful one to fall
back upon. When fellows stone
broke there's nothing else for it"
"But who would have me?' asked
Frank. Before my aunt married L
might have had chance of marrying a
fortune. had prospects then: but now.
when Eve nothing. but bad reputation
and big debts
'Confound the reputation" said Mr..
in va
manner, land blow the debts! l speak
deliberately, and not, as you may i'm
agine from the turn of my periods,
without consideration. Frank. my
boy, l weep for you. l thought you
| were lad of spirit and resource. but L
was wrong-yery wrong"
ooh, cut this chaff, man, and be
serlous,'' replied Frank, little nettled
bv Mr.. Stuart Starcher's butfoonery
over his distress. I'm ready to marry
money if l can get the chance. But
how am to get it? Everybody worth
ANYTHING in town knows me. How am
| l to marry money if money won't
marry me?'
"But it will, Frank" said Mr.. Stuart
| Starcher. MARK ME, it will, if you
only follow my advice. / know what
Pm talking about, can tell you. Now
| lislen. / never meant you to try the
game on in town; as you say, you and
your position are too well known here
| to permit you to carry on operations sue
| cessfully. But towns not everywhere;
| when you know little more you'll
know that. There are other places
where you and your position are not
known, and where money-any amount
of money-is to be picked up. Did you
| ever hear of Snuthnort Scarhnrnugh