The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-03
ddSt a Word or Two
Of CdSdaI Mention

Down In Minooka there lives a hardy
citizen, who has seen twice thirty winter
suns return. and from appearances bids
fair to see a good many more winter suns
come and go. When the Graveyard Insur-
ance company was at its zenith in this
valley, large number insured this man
and felt confident that his days on this
sphere Were numbered. True, he was
not very rugged then, but he had been
possessed of an iron constitutions: AMI his
insurers calculated that when once a Wig
orous and able-bodied man begins to de-
cline, he goes down the toboggan swiftly
and surely, not like one who drage out
a lingering existence. But the months
went by and there was no sign of his ap-
preaching dissolution. The collectors came
around frequently and took up the premi-
ums, and so much had been paid in on the
man that the policy holders got alarmed
and feared that 1t wouldn't be long before
they would have more paid in than they
would get out when he died. Demij johns
Of the worst grog that could be "-ectiiied"
were presented to him. and he received
them with thanks and duly consumed tho
contents. but his health did not appear TO
suffer. Eventually the policy holders got
together, and this Is no joke, and they
subscribed purse to send him to Ireland
on q visit to the land of his birth. They
sent him across the ocean in the middle
of winter. thinking that the strain on him
would eventuatc In his death. For several
months the Dostcfiice was visited every
night in the expectation that letter would
arrive announcing his death, but none
came At last.on balmy day the fol-
lowing spring, he walked into Minooka
rejuvenated in health and looking for all
the world as though he had found Ponce
de Leon's fabled fountain of youth. He
celebrated his return not long after BY
getting married, and 1t wouldn't be wise
to take "A policy on him today. Suffice It
to add that he ascribes his reinvigoration
to rot gut whiskey and a steeraSe voy-
age to Ireland.
-:il:-
For those of us who are only moderate
~ supplied with this worlds goods there
is always a fascination about guessing al
how much rich men are worth. The av-
erage guess Is rarely accurate. but it EN-
ploys the mind. The sight in yesterdays
Philadelphia Inquirer Of Il paragraph con-
cerning Abram Nesbitt, of Kingston, "the
reputed owner" as 1t says. .of more tam
gible wealth than any other man in the
commonwealth" recalls conversation
once had with leading Wilkes-Barreans
on this subject. 1t was on the occasion
of the visit to Spring Brook of a party Of
the officials and guests of the Spring
Brook Water Supply company. Mr.. Mes
bitt was in the party and the talk turned
to the subject of his wealth. There were
various estimates-al the way from $S09o,-
600 to $1,000. .000-but all agreed upon one
point-namely. that Mr.. Nesbitt is the
wealthiest citizen of Northeastern Penn
sylvania.
-:ll:-
The street light at the corner of Quincy
avenue and Vine street would be a good
subject for investigation. 1t Is dark more
than half of each night, and no resident
living near 1t any longer expects it to be
of any service.
--:il:-
Wilkes-Barreans haven't lost confidence
in Scranton push notwithstanding occa-
sional suggestions to the contrary. The
Wilkes-Barre boari of trade bdnquets to-
morrow night at the Wyoming Valley
House. Captain w. a. May. president of
Scranton's board of trade. IS going down
in response to an ihvitatiLr requesting
him to RESPOND to the toast low Can a
Board of Trade be Made as Successful
as Scrantons Board" That isn't exactly