The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1892-03-17
S25O,OOO.


to say. standing upon that golden
middle ground. near enough to youth
to enjoy it, near enough to age to re-
spect it, near enough to wealth to
enjoy it. near enough to poverty to
respect it. 1t is pleasanter thus to
think and am fairly content. If I
could be richer and younger should
no doubt choose it. but am not of the
opinion that l should choose to be
richer than am and older; or poorer
and younger.
Revolving thoughts OF this philo-
sophie and comforting kind in my
mind one morning a month or so ago
as sat in my Office down town. mis-
cradle specimen Of Il man came in.
He was about my own age, l should
say. but further than that am scarce
ly willing to carry the comparison.
Dirty, ragged, palsied in mind and
body, unsteady of limb and eye. alb
ject. malodorous. he stood there a
fitting picture to paint in the bottom
OF wine glass
Next day he came again, at about
the same hour, and the next and the
next for week. Each time he re-
ceived my money and received his
thanks. and as far as | could discover,
each was satisfied with the exchange.
| had money to spare. and he had
thanks to spare; we spared them to
each other and l feel that mutual
benefit was the result.
On Saturday incoming when | came
in, the janitor told me a dead man
had been found in the building, evil
IDENTIFY suicide. and with q few nat
ural and reasonable Inquiries passed
Cd, and opening my door found under
it solled envelope directed to me in
nervous, jerky chirography, which
was entirely unfamiliar.
1t was comparatively bulky COM
municatiOn. but with it was shorter
note of explanation, from which I
learned that my needy acquaintance
OF the week past was on the point of
suicide, but that he was anxious for
me to know his story and had at con-
siderable pains prepared it. and had
delivered it in person, as "a last re-
membrancc to one who had beiriend-
ed him.
The letter read as follows:
FRIDAY, CITY, 6 p. m.
Mr.. Brodkaire II get your name from
your office sign)
Ny DEAR SIR-You have been kind
to me and | want to tell you my story
and will you have it printed in the
newspapers SO that from it some, as
weak as / am, may be protected, and
some much stronger may BE- warned?
l am As years old and at 20 l had a
Vile and one child and was quite well
fixed in business in the country town
where the parents of both of US lived.
But was ambitious and thirsted for
wealth as many young men do. All
the money on earth could not have
brought me more happiness than that
which surrounded me as was, but
did not look at it that way, and me-
glectlnG what was about Inc, thought
only OF money, money. money. I was
not avarlcious, though. and was much
more given to dreaming and wishing
for money than | was to pinching and
boarding and driving hard bargains
LOT it. ! wanted money. not for what
1t was IN itself but what 1t might be
converted into with reference to nv
own pleasure. Things ran along thus
for q year Or 50 when one day in an
old scrap Of a New York paper read
Il notice in the Personals" to this
elfc t:
If \. 7. H.. wherever he may be, will
address his full name to H. A., p O. box
?999 or call on him at his office. No. 4,
Mail street. he will hear of something
greatly to his Disadvantage
The notice struck me as a most De-
cullAr one in several respects. 1t was
scarcely possible that any man would
SOCK to hear of something to his dis
advantage. and it was mo st unusual
that X. Y. l.. could be the initials of
any man s real name. But they were
mine (Xerxe5 Young Zimmerman) and
that far felt that the notice in some
way applied to me. | cut it out and
showed it to my wife. and after a good
deal OF chatting on her part, I put it in
my pocket AMI said no more about it,
But l kept straight on thinking about
it. and within a week I had addressed
letter to II. A., and in two days I
received an answer. In it he re-
quested me to come to the city, with
proof of my Identify and the disad-
vantageous information would be
forthcoming as soon as / had estab-
lished my claim.
Securing the necessary credentials
but keeping the object of my visit
from the knowledge of nv wife T left
home one morning. and at noon was
standing before the office of my mvs-
FERROUS correspondent. I went in
without ceremony and found an old
man in dingy little room. clean, but
poorly lighted, and with him, as his
secretary, apparently, a boy of Is.
The old man was no doubt a lawyer
With - limited practice. for the dust
showed on his books and the carpet
co the floor was little worn by the
tread Of clients He was an odd old
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