The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-06-27

| anu JeWcileu SettlnSS-ltlS Expert
ence in phia-Occupant of
| Municipal Lodging House
Among these provided with food and
shelter at the municipal lodging house
within the last few days was II young
man whose dress would scarcely dictate
that he had been reduced tn IL pennilcss
| condition, neither would it he inferred
| from his actions that he was accustomed
| to seeking accommodations furni she'd free
| 10y II charitable community. Yet he was
| there, and for three days and nights he
was obliged To remain under the roof of
that institution. One of the rules of the
home for the destitute is that each person
| provided for there must exert II certain
! amount of energy upon the wood pile
! Iii this way any individual may earn Il
nights lodging or IL meal of victuals.
| Theodore Frazier was the same regis
tered on the book, but the name
signified nothing in particular, and it
was not for two days that the remarkable
| history of the young man was learned
| He had taken his term at the wood pile
and although quite awkward in the use
| of bucksaw, he paid in full the price
| asked for the accommodations afforded
| him.
superintendent Cutler, of the lodging
| house. observed that Frazier carried an
unusual amount of gold in his teeth
Nearly every tooth in my head is
| crown ed with gold, and what is more.
have Il diamond-set TOOTH Frazier told
the superintendent. With this he show
| ed an incisor in which was set "A solitaire
diamond of Il little less than half carat
in the weight.
II had that put Oh there when had
more money than knew what to do with, -
he observed with II sigh of regret.
The superintendent became interested
| in the yOnng man. Never before had the
roof of the municipal lodging house
| sheltered Il man with IL mouthful of gold
and diamonds. 1t was indeed Il rare
| thing 10 see such rich Communications
among the poverty stricken.
II suppose you wonder what 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:
Less than three years ago was worth
! $4,000 hut now must work for Il liv-
| ing, having lost every cent of my for
| tune
WAS ii drink that reduced you to
your present condition?''
No, = was the proud answer. 1T was
my friends
All through my life ! was provided
| with all the good things this world afford
ed, and my father, being II prosperous
| man, left me at his death the sum of $50.
O0O, principally in currency. or that
which could he easily converted. In less
than eighteen nlnnthS nf far h.
was placed ut my disposal it had all slip
ped through my hands and found my
| self one morning IL pauper
w hen fell heir to such princelv
sum little dreamed that would ever be
| III want, but am going to make the best
of the situation and endeavor to earn a
| livelihood as best ! can
The young mans father realized IL for
tune from the sale of an iron mill in the
South but just where the son did not
| care to say. His own history was all
| mat he would tell In registering for his
first nights lodging he gave Memphis.
| Tenn, as his address, and that is prob
| ably his former home He is now a Years
OLD, ana came into the inheritance about
the tlme he attained his majority He
started out we'll by going to II dental col
iege at Philadelphia to lit himself for that
profession Availing himself of the ser
vices of an expert dentist. Frazier had
gold crowns put on nearly all his teeth.
n cavity appeared in one of his incisors
and 1t was then he conceived the idea
that diamond setting would be some
thing of a novelty Why not Il diamond
lie had plenty of money-more than he
needed-so pure white stone was pur-
chased and set in the tooth
While in Philadelphia Frazier engaged
suite OF rooms at the Lafayette Hotel.
where he kept open house for his friends
Then b' gan his downfall. Being gen
erous, his alleged friends imposed upon
his hospitality. The money began to 90
rapidly, but the amount seemed mex
haustible to the heir
ms luxurious apartments and ex-
pensive friends rapidly reduced his bank
account When the money was no more
to he had, the friends who had Jared so
sumptuously ut the hands of Theodore
deserted him 10 seek other lambs not vet
shorn lie was of no further Use To
them. and then ii was that he learned that
friends are plentiful while money lasts
but very scarce when the excheuuer he
comes depleted. T. world seemed cold
and cherries when the last cent had beeu
spent, and there was no longer Il friendly
roof to shelter him. He gracefully ac-
cepted the unpleasant situation. and al.
though untitled to battle with life, he
was possessed with versatility.
After trying several schemes he at last
purchased quantity of cheap iewelrv
and began traiiicking in that article