Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-06-14
FILlEY'S LIFE TASK.
The Story of His Trust In and Be-
trsyal by Friend.

Giles +. Fllley was buried a few days
ago. The same Mother Earth that took
to her bosom years ago John How, the
man who ruined him, has received this
Jean Vatican of modern days, and both
are at rest. The story of Giles f. Filley
is as old at the eternal hills-conhdence,
trust, betrayal by a friend, rigid after
adherence to duty and ruin for so doing.
This man for 80 years gave his brain, the
sap of his strength, the soul OF his honor,
to the effort of discharging a S1,35O,O00
obligation, every dollar of which morally
and legally should have been paid by
John How, but which legally Mr.. Filley
was bound to discharge. He never COM
planned; he never said that such punish
ment was unjust. Year after year until
the failure of his concern, the Excelsior
Manufacturing company, last month, he
shaved and shaved to pay the debt he be-
lieved he owed.
Just before the deputy sheriff came in
January last finally to close the doors Of
the long established Excelsior Manufac-
turing company Mr.. Filley walked wea-
rily into the office of his son Charles and
exclaimed
This is hard, my boy. 1t is hard to
lie down like this after so long a life
time
For so years he had been a prominent
business man of this city whose name
was respected as are few. For 80 years
OF that period he had been wiping out
the dishonor OF n friend. Little wonder
that he was weary or wonder either that
with the closing of his establishment, his
debt of honor still not wholly discharged,
the heartstrings should loosen, the cord
of life snap and death come. Such a sto-
ry seems unreal, a bit of romance, be-
cause it is so real, SO absolute a matter Of
fact.
When John How was mayor Of st.
Louis during the closing days Of the civil
war, he was thought to be the wealthiest
man in the town. He owned extensive
tanneries and other business enterprises.
The home of How was on Locust ave-
nue., and next door-1527-was the Filley
residence. The two men were bosom
friends. Mr.. Filley trusted How as only
one man gives himself to another In
whom he believes. Both were on the
highroad to riches; for each, life could
not seem to be brighter. How needed
ready money. He appealed to Mr.. Filley
for aid Mr.. Flley instantly Endorsed his
notes for amounts that in the end aggrc
gated 100000. A little trouble over one
of these notes led Mr.. Filley to investi
gate the standing of his friend. How
fled the city. Then it dawned on his
neighbor that he was legally responsible
for every dollar paid on the notes he in
dorsed. He accepted the situation.
His friends urged him to go into bank
ruptcy and settle for so cents on the dol
lar This he refused to do. He drew on
the resources of the Excelsior company
to meet the notes. He never compro-
missed but two of the notes-one held by
a bank which would accept nothing but
a compromise and one possessed by the
late Captain Eads, who would take but
so cents on the dollar. The other notes
with interest were paid in full-all but
few. Death interviewed and prevented
their payment. The interest on the notes
in the 80 years aggregated over $500 900.
but Mr.. Filley made no remonstrance.
His business prospered for time. Up
to 1880 and 1881 he was able to keep
abreast of his misfortune. Then a fire
and strike cost him S2J000O. Still he
recovered from this until three years ago,
when n change in the conditions of the
iron trade seriously affected his company.
lie had no reserve capital to draw upon.
HIS llfe's work was represented by the
Cancelled How notes. He breasted the
rising tide as best he could, meeting pay
ment after payment. Last month he could
no longer command money, and the end
came. Now he is in his grave.
How, after his exposure and flight, ap-
peared in Arizona, where he led dogs
life. He returned to st. Louis in time,
but was coldly received. He offered no
atonement to the man he had wronged
Going from St. Louis to Montana, he
died there, friendless and pauper. The
amount of his Indebtedness yet unpaid
by Mr.. Filley when he died was $3.50, 600.
This will be settled in the final winding
up OF the firms affairs. So that, al
! though the brave old man was forced to
quit before he could do all he intended
the How Indebtedness will be wiped out
by what he built up and Filley's name
be stainless forever.-Chicago Times
Herald.