St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-09-14
UPS AND DOWNS OF FORTUNE.
| Men Who Were Once Wealthy Now
Selling Tickets on Chicago
Elevated Loop.


of Chicago men who once were in a flu
ent circumstances are to-day COM
PEELED to work for modest, and in some
instances, small salaries. Unlucky
speculation caused the downfall of
some, while poor business methods or
careless neglect has wrought the ruin
of others. Some have been forced to
the wall because they did not say "no'
when friends importuned them to in
dorse notes, and considerable num-
Der have been beggared by extravagant
families, says the Chicago Inter Ocean.
An exemplifcation of the ups and
downs of life may be found in trip
around the Union elevated loop. Three
men, gray-haired and bent with age,
whose combined wealth few years
ago was more than 100000, are en-
ployed on the loop as ticket sellers.
They used to handle dollars where they
now handle nickels, and the dollars
were their own. One of the men was
well known few years ago as the head
of large installment business. He
had agencies in 20 or more cities. His
line was household articles, and from
a small beginning he built up large
trade. The head of the concern made
semi-annual visits to his managers, and
when on these trips he travelled like
prince. He had a magnificent home in
an eastern city, and lived in style be-
coming man of his means. No society
affair was success unless his wife and
daughters took part.
One day there came a crash. He had
Endorsed notes for business friends
and was compelled to pay the
amounts. About that time his own
business began to show marked de-
crease in sales, and collections were
never SO poor. He mortgaged his
home to keep things running and in
less than two years had nothing left
but some outstanding accounts, all
his offices having been closed. To-
day he is as poor as the begrimed Ia
borer who lays his nickel down at the
little window as he passes through
on his way to catch train. Less
than 20 years ago his check would be
honored for $150,0O0, and his credit
was almost unlimited.
Another man who sells tickets to
support himself and aged wife was a
lumber and grain merchant in Mich
igan before he met with reverses.
There was no man in the state more
highly respected than he. In the
days of his pro: perity he gave a sum
toward the building of church five
times greater than the amount of his
present yearly salary. His sons and
daughters attended Ann Arbor uni
versity, and their 'pin" money alone
would be considered a good income
by many families. This mans fall
from riches to comparative poverty
was caused by unlucky speculation.
The other ticket seller who "has
seen better days. was formerlya Chi
cago manufacturer with an extensive
plant on the South side. Partly
through his own neglect of business,
and partly on account of an extrav-
agant family, whose every whim was
humored, this man was reduced in
circumstances until he was glad two
years ago to get position with the
Union Loop. He was we'll known in
the Chicago business world few
years ago, and many persons pass his
little window daily who were once
guests at his hospitable home They
fail to recognize in the changed fea-
lures of the old ticket seller the man
who years ago entertained them in
regal style.