The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-04

tate. there dwells q farmer, fat. rudy. and
contented, knowing. as he does. that the
owner of Biltmore would give q cool MIL
uon any day to GUST him
Fillmore Is SO planned hat Its borders
end upon stresms, in forests and upon
large adjoining estates of gentlemen. BIZ
Nye's place touches Biltmore upon one
end. These people never annoy the owner
OF Biltmore and he does not feel that he
has any territorial boundaries. Except
for this one farmer!
This old man sold his estate to George
Vanderbilt, but carefully marked of one
section OF 1t for himself. lie did not sell
quite all he owned. There was still a mar
row strip left. Upon this he moved his
little farmhouse and stubbornly refused
to bulge. Every year immense sums have
been offered him to sell the little farm
house and live elsewhere. But there he
lives, placldly smoking MS pipe, filling his
two or three acres, and enjoying the shoot
ing and fishing OF his neishbor. whose
land dips down into a valley just there,
making the old mans farmhouse a yeri-
table spying ground.
CORBIN THwARTED.
Austin Corbin bought his immense coun-
try estate more craftily than most Million
aires know how 10 GO. For months before
he built his house he had old farmers
going around with their pants tucked in
boots saying TO the farmers around. wal,
| guess I'd like to buy a strip OF that land
o. yourn!"
Think O. settling hereabouts?" tho
farmers would ask.
"Wall. ye-es. If you don't hold your land
too high"
And so his crafty agents got hold Of
many and many a hundred acres at the
regular market price.
But there was one old farm In the
interior OF the forest land who said moth
ing, but sawed wood. When the make
believe farmers approached him, he an
swered, IL guess L won't sell jest yit. In
the spring this here woodll all be gone.
Then I'll sell the place ter yer"
We've got him cinched," said the
wise agents. 'Tha wood is only good
for this seasons chopping." Meanwhile,
they bought up enough land to make a
handsome park and began to turn stone
for a house. But in the spring the old
man thought differently about moving.
Guess I've thought better Of It," he
chuckled.
The ground was broken, the stone cart
ed, and the mansion completed. Then
came the stocking of so great an estate.
" IVY VAh "a NENA ~ 80 ~ Ar -@FN
friends, MY boy. do you see those grouse
running around; and can you hear the
quail? Ny boy, I'm a few years III have
finer shooting than Beresford has got on
his place"
A startling squawk OF the wild fowl
broke the stiffness. a stamping OF game
in the woods told that a disturbing ele-
ment was at hand. Through the elegantly
planned park came AZ old man with a gun
on his shoulder and his dogs at his heels.
where are yoo. going - demanded Mr..
Corbin.
Gong home" replied the old man Ia
conicaily.
I'm see about that" said Corbln.
A lawyer was called in and the law
was read. But the closest application
could find no ~hindrance to a mans reach
ing his own properly. "a man Is entitled
to a gangplank &c his own habitat" was
the ulumatum. And they could get no
further. That man still holds the prop
erty. He has an idea his grandchildren
will sell for millions.
There is a well known story that Levi
+. Morton. with his Jersey pigs and his
Attorney cows. would dearly like to pur-
chase a snug bit OF property that lies next
20 his, but the owner holds on for pecu-
liar reasons. He wants to be next the
rose ne ~ 4 lhlAAAN4AiA VI V'AA iNINNNs
and the privilege Of saving that he lives
next to Morton is worth twenty votes TO
him. When so lofty a reason restraints a
man II is q mean politician that would
seek TO tempt.
A LEMON TENANT.
At Lenox, upon one Of the lovely hill
sides heading up to october Mountain, the
Harry Whitney country place. there
stands n little shanty with n cobble-stone
foundation and a single sprawly tree brow-
ing alongside. on one side OF II end great
estates. Many and many a time have the
owners of the property on each side tried
to buy Of the old woman who owns II.
But she. poor thing, keeps a thin-sided
cow and sells her milk to the %neighdOrs
and holds on. At first she wanted 5000.
Now she refuses $4,000. But she is old
and can't live forever. Then her little
place will be bought cheap from her son,
who urges her TO sell.
Such are a few OF the tales OF men
who, having great estates, want one lit
tie spot besides. And such IS the tale Of
mans cupiiity that these owners. poor
and suffering for necessities, bear their
poverty and hardships. sure hat n gold
mine will open at their feet II they can
only wait long enough FOR IL.
ALBERT CAMERON.