The Florida agriculturist., 1889-06-05
BY JULIAN HAWTHORNE,
'The Great Bank Robbery" can American Penman Etc
AUTHOR Of

reality; for facts are stubborn, and ac-
commodate themselves but awkwardlv
to the rules of artistic construction and
symmetry Like rocks in New Eng
land farm, they are continually cropping
up where they are least wanted. And
yet it will sometimes happen that nature
so nearly accommodates herself to art
that the story assumes a tolerable grace
and proportion. and such a one is con-
tanned in the pages that follow But,
although the sequence and character of
the events has been adhered to- the names
of the persons are changed; for the affair
took place but short while since, and
nearly all the actors in it are still alive,
and several of them moving in the best
society in New York.
Mr.. Rartemus Nolen was representa-
tive of good New York family, and
was possessed Of comfortable means; by
profession he was a lawyer He was a
member of the Episcopalian church. and
he married, at the outset Of his career, a
lady of the same persuasion, woman
of excellent education and gentle and
benevolent disposition. The first twenty
years Of their married life passed hap
pily and prosperously, two sons were
born to them, and few years later a
daughter, Pauline Mr. Nolen achieved
honor and eminence in his profession;
the boys did well in school and after
ward at college, and the daughter gave
promise OF singular intelligence and
beauty-a promise which was afterward
fulfilled
But at length the current of luck took
turn, and began to set against the
honest lawyer He was affected with a
cataract in one of his eyes. which had
not proceeded far when the other also
showed signs of being affected; this mis-
practice. and finally compelled him to
abandon it almost entirely Of course,
practice meant money, and the cessation
from it diminution of income. There
was still enough left, however, to live
upon with comfort. if not luxuriously;
but unfortunately Mr.. Nolen, being de-
prived of his customary mental employ
0AOAOS OOOh W VI OGIiCI
and one of the subjects of his meditation
was the feasibility of getting larger re-
turns from his invested property Among
his acquaintance were many men whose
trade was finance, and Bartemus got in
the habit of cOunseling with them upon
financial matters No doubt they gave
him the best advice at their disposal; but
when one begins to buy stocks, advice is
of little use. and Mr. Nolen. after several
ups and downs. came down with some
what of a thump, to the extent of about
third part of his total possessions At
this juncture he proved his exceptional
good sense and self control. for he never
risked another dollar in speculation
Neither did he reveal the fact of his losses
which was at least prudent But these
virtues could not save him from being
and feeling good deal poorer than he
was before He owned the house he
lived in. and continued to live in it: but
he curtailed his expenses. and by strict
economy contrived to render them less
than his income. His sons would soon
be through college, and would then. it
was to be supposed, take care of them
selves 1t was for his daughter that he
was saving, and he hoped to leave her at
least decent fortune after his death