Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1901-08-22
UPS AND DOWNS OF FORTUNE.
uen who Were Once wealthy Vow
selling Tickets On Chicago
Elevated Loop.

Through reverSes in fortune scores
of Chicago men who once were in afiiu-
ent circumstances are to-day com
PEELED to work for modest. and in some
instances. small salaries. Unlucky
speculations 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 mo-
when friends importuned them to in
dorse notes. and a considerable num-
Der have been beggared by extravagaut
families. saws the Chicago Inter Ocean.
An exemPliicafion Of the ups and
downs OF life may be found in a trip
around the Union elevated loop. Three
men, grav-haired and bent with age.
whose combined wealth a few years
ago was more than $500. 200. are en-
Ployed on the loop as ticket sellers.
They used 70 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 instaliment business. He
had agencies in 20 or more cities. His
line was household articles. and from
a small beginning he built up a large
trade. The head of the concern made
semi-annual visits to his managers. and
when on these trips he travelled ike a
prince. He had a magnificent home in
an eastern city. and lived in STYLE be-
coming a man Of his means. No society
affair was a success unless his wife and
daughters took part.
One day there came crash. He had
Endorsed notes for business friends
and was compelled to paw the
amounts. About that time his own
business began to show a marked de-
crease in sales. and collections were
never 50 poor. He mortgaged his
home 70 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 la
borer who Laws his nickel down at the
little window as he passes through
on his way 70 catch train Less
than 70 years ago his check would be
honored for s150.OO0. 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 periry he gave a sum
toward the building OF a 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 unluckv speculation
The other ticket seller who has
seen better DAYS was formeriya Chi
eago 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 20 get a position with the
Union Loop He was well known in
the Chicago business world Il few
years ago. and many persons pass his
little window daily who were once
guests at his hospitable home They
fail 20 recognize in the changed fea-
lures of the old ticket seller the man
who years ago entertained them in
regal STYLE