The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-06-27
(The End.)
DIAMOND in HIS TOOTH.
Il Was Put There When TheO. Frazier
Had q FOrtune-N0w the Lad
Saws Wood for q Living.
From the Washington Post.

From the Washington Post.
Among those provided with food and
shelter at the municipal lodging house
within the last few days was a young
man whose dress would scarcely indi-
cate that he had been reduced to a PEN
niless condition, neither would 1t be in
ferred from his actions that he was ac-
customed to seeking accommodations
furnished free by charitable COM
munity. Yet it was there, and for
three days and nights he was obliged
to remain under the roof Of that insti-
tuition. One of the rules OF the home
for the destitute Is that each person
provided for there must exert a cer-
tain amount of energy upon the wood
pile. In this way any Individual may
earn nights lodging or a meal Of
victuals.
Theodore Frazier was the name regis
tered upon the book but the name sig
nified nothing In particular, and 1t was
not for two days that the remarkable
history Of the young man was learned.
He had taken his turn at the wood pile,
and, although quite awkward in the
use Of q bucksaw, he paid in full the
price asked for the accommodations at
forded him.
Superintendent Cutler, of the lodging
house, observed that Frazer carried an
unusual amount of gold in his teeth.
Nearly every tooth in my head Is
crowned with gold. and what is more. I
have a diamond-set TOOTH" Frazer told
the superintendent. With this he
showed an incisor in which was set u
solitaire diamond of little less than
half a carat In weight.
Il had them put in there when I had
with" he observed with a sigh of regret.
The superintendent became interested
in the young man. Never before had the
roof of the municipal lodging house
sheltered man nwith mouth full Of gold
and diamonds. 1t was indeed a rare
thing to see such rich ornamentations
among the poverty stricken.
II suppose you wonder what l am do
ing here" remarked the possessor Of
the golden teeth. and taking note of the
fact that the story of his life would not
fall upon unappreciative ears, he began
to give an account of himself. BY way
Of introducing the subject he said:
FORTUNE THREE YEARS AGO.
LESS than three years ago I was
worth $4,000, but now I must work for
living. having lost every cent of my
fortune"
WAS it drink that reduced you to
you present condition."
NO" was the proud answer. 'It was
my friends"
"All through my life I was provided
with all the good things this world
affords, and my father, being a pros
porous man, left me at his death the
sum Of $4,000, principally in currency.
or that which could be easily converted.
In less than eighteen months after
the money was placed at my disposal it
had all slipped through my hands and
l found myself one morning a pauper.
when I fell heir to such a princely
sum little dreamed that would ever
be in want, but am going to make the
best Of the situation and endeavor to
earn livelihood as best I can"
The young mans father realized a
fortune from the sale of an iron mine
in the south, but just where the son
did not care to say. His own history
was all he would tell. In registering
for his first nights lodging he gave
Memphis, Tenn, as his address, and
that Is probably his former home. He
Is now twenty-four years old, and came
into the inheritance about the time he
attained his majority. He started out
well by going to a dental college at
Philadelphia to fit himself for that pro-
fession. Availing himself of the SER
vices of an expert dentist, Frazier had
gold crowns put on nearly all his teeth.
A cavity appeared in one of his incisors
and it was then conceived that a dia-
mond setting would be something of
novelty. Why not a diamond? He had
plenty Of money-more than he needed
80 a pure white stone was purchased
and set in the tooth.
While in Philadelphia Frazier en-
gagged suite Of rooms at the Lafayette
hotel where he kept open house for his
friends. Then began his downfall Be-
ing generous, his alleged friends i'm
posed upon his hospitality. The money
began to go rapidly but the amount
seemed ineXhaustible to the heir
FORMER FRIENDS DESERTED.
His luxurious apartments and expen-
sive friends rapidly reduced his bank
account. When the money was no more
to be had, the friends who had Jared
SO sumptuously at the hands of Theo-
dore deserted him to seek other lambs
not yet shorn. He was Of no further
use to them, and then 1t was he learned
that friends are plentiful while money
lasts, but very scarce when the ex-
chequer becomes depleted. The world
seemed cold and cheerless when the
last penny had been spent, and there
was no longer friendly roof to shl1tse