The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-01
ANECDOTES OF MISERS
People Who Have Had a Passion Tor
boarding.
SOME MIGHTY MEAN MEN
English Msers and Their PeculIarl-
ties-"Plum Turner" and "Vu.t-
ure Hopkins"- John Cut
Ter and His Statue.
SOME MIGHTY MEAN MEL
From the Boston Herald.

rom the bOStOu iteTdlu'
"Two peculiar extremes of human char
acter," said Squire Ben, as the old-timers
began their daily seance, "are illustrated
in the spendthrift and the miser. Tho
former is never satisfied unless he is in
the act of spending, or rather squander-
ing, his substance on things of appetite
or fancy. The latter delights only in ac-
foundations. HIS great misery lies in
having to part with any OF his boarded
wealth, while that of the spendthrift con-
sists in having wealth only to expend.
1.-THE moralists. we are told, have dealt
fairly with the miser; if honest, he can DO
so only by the skin of his teeth, as tho
saying is. History tells of illustrious VIII
lains, but there never was an illustrious
miser, though the keeping together of
wealth, and having and holding 1t fast is
too often e great idol of human worship,
to which so much incense is offered up
every day. These sacrifices have in all
times furnished the world much to laugh
at and ridicule and even to despise.
1--WE have had some famous misers in
| America, but mother England furnishes
examples which throw them into eclipse.
Plum Turner and 'Vulturo Hopkins,
two noted English mlsers, are immortal
| lied in Pope's Moral Essays. The first,
| Richard Turner, had been a turkey mer-
chant. He died in 1888. When possessed
of Sl,5OO,O00 he discontinued his coach,
| because interest was reduced from TO
| per cent. He then put S30O,OOO INTO tho
Charitable Corporation of London for bet
ter interest, but lost 1t. This loss be took
SO much to heart that he kept his cham
Der ever after. 1t was thought that he
would not have outlived this loss, but that
he was heir to another considerable
estate, which he daily expected, and that
by this course of life he saved both clothes
and other expenses.
Tho second, John Hopkins, by his
rapacity obtained the name of 'Nulture.
He lived a worthless life, but died wealthy
He would give to no person living, bu
left his riches, amounting to about 1900,
600, so as not to be inherited til, after thC
second generation. On his counsel repre-
senting to him how many years 1t must b'
before this could take effect, and that hi
money could only lie at interest all thu
time, he expressed great joy thereat, an'
said they would then be as long in spend
ing as he had been in getting it,
Hopkins was a wealthy London mer
chant, and was the architect of nearly IN
whole fortune, which originated in SOM
highly fortunate speculations in III
stocks. and was considerably increased q
the explosion of the "South sea bubble" il
17aO. On one occasion he paid an evenin
visit to Guy, the founder OF the hospital 4
SouthwIck, who was also as remarkabl
for his private parsimony as for his pull
lie munificence. On Hopkins enterin
,, the room Mr.. Guy lighted a farthlng car
! die which lay ready on the table, and do
, sired to know the purport of the gentle
, mans visit.
, ~ have been told said Hopkins, 'th5
YOU, sir, are better yersed in the pruder
9 and necessary art OF saving than any ma
, now living, and, therefore, wait upon 20
for a lesson of frugalIty; an art IN whic
: used TO think | eXcelled, but | am told
all who know you that you are greatly n
SUPERIOR And is that all you con
abou, p replied Guy; why, then, we ca
|, talk this matter over in the dark Upo
. this, he with great elaboration, ext.
: guished his new-lighted farthing candl
Struck with this example OF ecouom
! Hopkins rose up, acknowledged himse
7 convinced of the others superior Thrift
= and took his leave"