The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1889-05-10
PORTLAND'S LADD-IE..

( A correspondent of the East
lOregonian has the following ihter-
testing description OF the Portland
IShylock:
! Speaking Of Ladd reminds me
of passing that gentleman's resi-.
denee the other evening just as
the old man was entering. His
carriage halted in the rear Of his
residence: A body servant who
sits beside the driver, alighted,
helped his charge to the ground
and placed d pair of crutches under
his arms. Slowly the old fellow
dragged himself around to the
front steps of his mansion. Every
move seemed to cause him pain.
His face gave unmistakable signs
of suffering. When he finally
reached the foot of the steps leads
ing to the front doors, the servant
brought him a wooden frame re-
sembling a contrivance sometimes
used to teach babies to walk.
This was put over his head and
the scent was made by placing the
frame on the step and then crawl.
ing up while the body was support
ed by the arms, the frame being
raised as each step was reashed.
When at the top his crutches were
again handed to him.. the great
double doors swung upon their
hinges and the old millionaire dis
appeared. | stood there in front
Of that beautiful place and began
to think and say to myself: "This
man is worth millions of money
and I am a poor -of-a-gun.
There is my faithful, hard-Wofking
little wife toasting herself over
the stove preparing our frugal
meal; there are three chubby little
urchins with her and we are all
poor. For their sakes how 1 would
like to be rich. How [ Woald
dress them; how l would feed
them; how happy | would make
thems' Then thought ia another
direction and says to myself;
"Well, Mr.. Ladd, you may have
your great houses, and servantss
and carriages; you may have your
great acres annd herds; you may
have your notes and mortgages
and stocks and bonds; you; may
have your tons OF gold and silver
I'd rather be myself, just as l ann
sound in body and limb, with six
bits in my pocket, than have all
your vast wealth and be compelled
to- teke with it your poor old
paralyzed, worthless legs" This
man is at his private desk in the
back of his bank-Ladd & Tilton'S
bank belongs to w. S. Ladd; there
lie no Tllton connected with it now
from 10 a. IN. to 5 p. m. Every
morning he is driven around town
from 8 to- 10, generally accom-
panied by his two little grand
children. He invariably carries
in his hands a number of sheets Of
paper upon which a memoranda
of matters that are to be attended
to before entering the office. are'
written. He often drives into the
country to- look at his farms and
thoroughbred stock, on which oc--
casions his favorite vehicle is a.
/ very common two seated buck
board. He takes his morning,
drive in an. open barouche, and
is invariably accompanied by a
pair of crutches and body SER,
want, and always drives fine, large
horses. The greater part OF his;
time at the Office is, spent I'M
listening TO- the schemes and
propositions of people who want
money. He hears nothing, sees
nothing and knows nothing but
figures, money and interest. He'
has very poor pain Of legs but a.
remarkable head for business
His fortune, is estimated at fronl
$5, 100000 to $1O,ooo,ooo. His
oldest son, w. NJ, Ladd, is a chil.
loft the old block.