The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-20
millionaire and Pauper.

In one of the great London drapery
ware houses an old mau, dressed Ii
shabby clothes that were fashionable
years ago, is wandering aimlessly ABOUT.
The ware house developed into one OF
those gigantic concerns whose transac-
tions are world wide.
The shabby old gentleman has
pencil behind his ear and small book
in his hand, and as he walks about he
moves his lips as if he were casting up
a sum. Every now and then he stoops
to pick up pin or piece of paper from
the floor. The pin he sticks in his coat
and the paper he sticks in his pocket.
Few people know that this shabby
and miserable old man is the founder OF
this mighty house; that he is a mil
lionair.: that, though long past woik,
be comes down to the ware house when
it opens and stays till it closes, and
that lie performs the duties OF door
keeper and receives a salary of S1.oo a
week, which he carefully boards up.
This mighty merchant, this million
aire, is haunted day and night by the
thought that he is a pauper and that he
will come to the work house.
TO ease his mind his SONS employ
him and give him $3.50 week, and
this he boards up so that he may have
enough to bury him decently.
Fifty years ago the world wss before
him; he was young, strong and clear
headed, and he determined to make q
fortune. He married and children were
born to him in the days before his
great prosperity came.
BY the time he was middle aged
man he had distanced most of his trade
rivals, and the name of his firm was
| widely known as one of the most -four
| ishing houses in London.
Even then he was not satisfied. His
sons were partners in the firm, and he
might we'll have retired and let then,
manage it. But no, his establishment
only filled one side Of the street; be
wanted the other half.
His turnover was four millions yearly;
why not make it eight? His Fl rm was
second in importance 10 the eyes ofthe
trade; why shouldn't it be the first? He
would devote another five years to the
task and then retire.
Five years passed away, aud he con-
fessed himself satisfied. He would re-
tire. The deeds should be prepared,
| and in six months he would begin to
take his we'll earned rest, leaving his
sons in absolute control Of the bust
ness.
| When five months of the six had yet
to run he had q fit in the counting
house, and was carried home to his
West End mansion. He rose from bis
illness au imaginary pauper. His mind
was gone and he was possessed with az
extraordinary mania.
He thought he was ruined. that be
had lost every penny, and that he was
compelled to work for his living. As
sooo as he could move he wandered
down to the warehouse and solicited
employment of his sons. With tears il
his eyes be begged to be taken on to dc
anything-he didn't care what. Act
| ing on the doctors advice the sons en'
ployed him.
He actually believed he would die in
the work house. at home he would
not sit in the grand rooms, but slinl
away into the kitchen among the ser
wants the proper place, be said, for
poor man.
His family tried all ways to dispel tht
illusion. One day they kept him al
home. He tore bis hair and moanec
that he should be discharged, anc
would have to 60 to the work house
They were obliged to let him out.