Evening journal., 1894-10-30
EX- -HOSTLER IN SOCIETY
Young Mr.. West Stirs Up Ridge
wood, N. j., Greatly.
HE WORKED IN A LIVERY STABLE.

h"h Since ne mas Beoome Heir to HII5,-
600 He Has Built Fine House, Is Pro-
posed at the swell Club and May Marry
Waitress In tho Hotel
RiDGEwooD, n j., Oct. 80 The peo-
plo Of this pretty town for the past two
months have been having better time
gossping than they have had for tho bet
tor part Of decade, and all on account
Of young Englishman named John West
who, aftor being hostler at the Herbert
House for two years, announced that he
had fallen heir TO fortune Of $685. 900
and that he was going to stay in Ridge
wood and invest II in real estate.
The Four Hundred OF the place felt
themselves in pretty pickle when this
announcement was made What were
they to dof Could they receive with open
arms youth who for two years had clean
cd horses al the limp Yet the fact re.
mninod that he had 1925. 600 in cash.
and. apparently TO prove that he had. he
proceeded TO buy 81 400 tandem team
and let "A contract for $40, 600 house to
be built on one Of tho most fashionable
streots. But to oounteract that again 1t
was rumored that he was engaged TO one
OF the mattresses Of the hotel and was go
ing to marry her.
And SO the people OF fashion OF tho
town thought and thought, and talked
and talked about this young man, and
they are still doing It, undecided as TO
how they VIII treat him--ignore him or
take him up. All sorts Of rumors were
flying about concerning him. 1t was said
that when he came to Rldgowood he
was penniless and had to walk His for
tune was estimated from 500, 600 to 10
timos that amount and finally Il was
said that his name had boon proposed at
the Ridgowood club; that his election
would speedily follow, aud that society
was waiting to receive him with open
arms, stable or no stable waitress or no
waitress.
Tho Ex-HostIer's story.
Mr.. West was found by a reporter with
out any difficulty no the Herbert House.
whero he was waiting for his oonchman
TO bring around q new horse he had
bought in the morning and which no was
going to try. He Is small and slight
with dark hair and mustaeho which
shows promise OF becoming bigger some
day IIo also has what IS called In this
country an English accent.
Il don't know what all this fuss is
about, no said 60 the reporter There
ism anything wonderful about my get
ting Sl2h, 900, for / have always known
that I was 70 got it, you know, and am
going 70 have moro when my fnther dies
didn't have 10 work as hostler, you
know.
What mnde you leave England and
become onopn he was asked
swell, you know, my father, David
West, is q rich man, who lives In New
~ nrlsat Ipatlnpd IA a. "a rnttroS onvtat.,
OF the British navy My grandfathers
name was John Lanrelot West the same
name as mine, and ho lived IN Ingate.
stone, Essex. 10 was he who loft me the
money. Now. won't 70 Harrow and then
travelled all through Europe, Asia and
Africa with my father. / had all the
money / wanted and spent most OF my
time with the horses.
Now, i had chum named Arthur
Donelly, son Of Sir Peter Donolly an
Irish bRronot. Vol, now, you know, one
day wo had a little quarrel, and he foil to
Ruying mo and said that couldn't earn
my own living That made mo hot,
and wagered him R100 that / could earn
my own living with my hands, and he
took me up. You know people look at
things differently in tho old country from
what they do here, SO withoIy letting my
people know | sailed on the Campanin on
her second trip and landed in New York
In June, 1892, with $3.50 Ia my pocket. I
had friend there, and through him came
down to Ridgewood within month after
landing and went 20 work for Mr.. Estis,
tho we'll driver After working a month
at that found / was not strong enough,
and so l came TO work for Mr. Herbert as
hostler. You know, no added, II was
he hoe a..
market
MY father wrote to me to 90 home,
though he didn't know what kind Of work
] was doing, but / knew what guying
I'd get and liked tho country and staid.
for knew it would be only a short time
before I'd get this money"
Engaged Co Waitress.
Have you 81, 400 tandemS was
asked
Yes, and bought IL from an English
doctor whose name / can t give, but who
drove il at Newport all summer, whore 1t
was considered tho handsomest in town.
And have the best coachman in Bergen
county too.
Well, is It true your fiancee is a wait
ross In this hotelP'
Er--well--really, now, you know
W0iA y A1A1 NHaN AiA 1nk4Htni UHt ~
not TO a Ridgewood girl, assure you,
and that is oil he would say on the sub
iect
Has your name been proposed for the
Ridgewood club?' the reporter asked him
"Yees, Mr.. West drawled. adding
that he did not care to tell who proposed
him.
And that Is the story of the young man
who has kept the social circles Of Ridge
wood in ferment for a month and Is
likely to keep on doing so for some time
to come, for he is going to give big
champagne supper on Nov. IL, when he
comes Of age, and when his new sl5, 600
house is opened he intends to give house
warming which will astonish the natives.
There seems to be some doubt, how
ever, about his name being proposed at
the club. Mr. Walton, the secretary said
that he knew nothing about it, and no
would know If it were SO, and he also de-
MED that a split had come in society upon
the question Of the admittance Of tho
young man.
The last thing that Mr.. John Lancelot
said to the reporter when they parted
was, And l got that 500 I wagered
too.