Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-15
MONEYHASNO CHARM
WALTER WELLMAN DECIDES NOT
TO BE A CAPITALIST.

Especial correspondence1
AT SEA, OFF LONG ISLAND, Sept. 15.--
| was trained a practical printer, and
Hove the printing business; my voca-
ton is that of newspaper writer, and
love that. Yet whenever | have been
asked what profession l would follow if
could take my choice my reply has
been, "A capitalist"
To me it has always seemed, as /
doubt not it has to you, dear reader,
that an ideal existence would be possess
sion of a big fortune, with no worry
about income save how to spend it, with
no demand on ones energies save pur-
suit of new plans for having fun.
But take it all back. do not want
10 be a capitalist. win stick TO the
newspaper business, working hard for
living, racking my dull brain TO please
both readers and managing editor, and
when fall back done for, worked ont,
no longer able to satisfy public and en-
ployer-as it is said all writers fall back
sooner or later-I will take up the stick
and rule and set type. Anything but
being capitalist.
This change of heart is due to
knowledge which l have recently ac-
quired of the capitalistic business.
have discovered that il is not what it is
cracked up to be. have studied an OBJ
ject lesson in capitalism till l have
become convinced it is a thing to
be Stunned as we would fly from the
nimble germ of cholera or the insidious
bacillus Of yellow fever. This object
lesson is my host on board the gallant
yacht which is now steaming toward
New York harbor.
1t is not nice to sit down and gossip
about ones host-to use him as an OBJ
ject losson--but in this instance DELHI
erately violate good taste in order TO ac-
complish the worthy purpose Of con-
vincing hundreds Of thousands of read
ers who are not capitalists, but who
yearn to be capitalists, that they will be
much better off if they remain what
they are.
Two or three years ago out IN Idaho
was a young miner. He worked with
his hands down in the bowels of the
earth. welding pick or q spade, some
times for others at so much per day,
sometimes for himself in claims located
by himself or partners. He was steady
and industrious young man, and in
course Of time saved up $4,000 or
$4,000.
Another miner had claim for sale
and offered it to our hero. The latter,
whose name was De Lamar, examined the
mine with the alertness and acuteness Of
an expert He concluded it was good
thing and offered $1,000 for it. But
this offer was not accepted. The owner
had hopes of getting a bigger price from
Senator Jones, of Nevada, whose agent
was at that very moment inspecting the
property.
Senator Jones Is one Of the keenest
men in the world on mines, now that
Senator Hearst is dead. If he had gone
to Idaho himself he would have bought
this mine IL it had cost him $500, 600
But his agent was not enthusiastic, and
the best the senator would do was Sl0,-
1 600. Young De Lamar saw this $40, 900
and went it $4,000 better, aud for Si2,-
coo the mino became his.
He knew he had good thing, but his
widest dreams had never pictured the
reality. In three months the promising
mine-the west is full Of promising
mines-had. been developed into one Of
the richest finds in all Idaho. Instead
of thousands it was worth millions.
All good things como to New York for
a market. De Lamar brought his mine
to Gotham, but was induced to go on TO
London. "New York has silver, but
London has gold" said Tom Ochiltree.
to whom the young Idaho miner had
been introduced. London is the place
to finance big thing. Over there mil
lions lie idle yearning for investment. A"
So De Lamar and Ochiltree went on to
London. The latter had entree over
there. He knew clubmen, lords, mil
lionaires galore. He was popular with
them because his stories had made them
laugh. They had confidence in him
because he was trusted by John Mackay,
although perhaps they didn't know that
Mackay paid Ochiltree $1,000 year to
entertain him-$5, 900 a year to be a
milhonaire's court clown. De Lamar
knew this, but lie didn't care. "Tom is
a good clown and earns his money, and
he is a square man and can get in with
those rich nobs on the other side, and
that's all want"
They did get in with the nobs on the
other side. They talked mine to them.
Experts were sent all the way to Idaho.
The surveys and assays were verified,
for nowadays our English friends don't
buy American mines with their eyes
shut. And finally London company
bought two-thirds interest in Mr.. De
Lamars mine for about COCO 900
$3,O0O,OOO. This great sum was paid in
cash, and thus it was my host became a
capitalist.
In addition to the 100000 in cash
he still owned a third Of the mine, and
rs it proved to be very, very rich the
/ income from his share has been more
than young De Lamar could spend, let
nlone the principal and the interest
upon i'll
7 Lucky De Lamar" the world said.
Lucky boy" he said to himself. Then
he started out to enjoy his millions. The
world was at his feet. He could, with
the magic pOwer of money do almost