Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-06-14
How a Life Was
Lost and Won IS

. n
"A solemn black. speaking not
s superfiuous word to guest or mental
methodical in every movement, of a
presence which at once inspires re-
sSpect and almost reverence-such is
the personality of an old, white
haired man, who, a few months ago
attracted the attention of all who
saw him during his sojourn at the
Westminster chambers.
From day to day the curiosity Of
the other guests of the hostelry
grew. Men were sent by their wives
TO try to get the mysterious person
age TO talk, but in vain. They were
always met with courtesy and re-
spectful words, but like a snail the
old gentleman would draw back into
his shell of silence as soon as he dis
covered that mere curiosity was the
instigator of the conversation.
Dick Davis, who covered" the
hotels for one of the daily papers,
had laid the most intricate plans, by
the use of which he hoped To way
lay the silent stranger, but each and
every one was frustrated. At last.
being almost driven TO despair, he
81 decided to forget all schemes and
plots and simply send HIS card to the
man in question, with an accompany.
ing note, seeking an interview.
What was the SURPRISE OF the
young newspaper man to receive an
answer which informed him that the
request would be granted.
He proved to be no less "A person
age than Col. Thomas sheldon. of
New Orleans, now nearly 90 years
old, who has been first a prosperous
b and happy cotton planter. next a
dissolute gambler and spendthrift,
and now is known all over the coun-
try as philanthropist and general
well-doer.
Inc colonel rose as the reporter
entered the room, and on motioninp
the younger man to n chair, said:
Ot course, Mr.. Davis, after hear
ing my name, you are partially ac-
'quainted with the story of my event
ful life. 1t was my intention to keen
secret to myself the full story of nv
downfall and subsequent rise aa long
as life lasted. but when your card
was sent TO me to-day / realized that
perhaps my story would serve as a
1esson to younger men than myself
and so I have decided to tell Won
now my life WAS lost and won again.
must ask you to imagine your
self In the beautiful cotton countrv
OF Louisiana as it appeared in 1858.
L was happy man in those days, a
PROSPEROUS nlo
acres, and possessing as fine a BODY
OF slaves as ever worked for one
master.
But all this had become mine
through Inheritance, and / was not
so happy on their account as I was
Hover something which / knew had
gained by my own individual efforts
Inns was my wife-so young and
glorious.
When she first came into the old
plantation house j gave up all the
bad habits which, as youth. had
acquired, thought, never to he re-
Snstated In my nature, for how could
"a man cause such wife as she to
he sad?
But my happiness was of short
nufatlon. One morning, less than a
year from the time she had first trimmed
np the long stairway, she was carried
down in her coffin.
The days went by very SLOWLY then
4 had lost my interest in the plantation.
and when the time came for the annual
"trip to New Orleans to dispose of nv
cotton crop I plunged with friehtful
energy into the life OF dissiration
Swhich had left on being married.
As soon az / returned to the fields 7
grew restless. There is no need 70 re-
count all my visits to the METROPOLIS as
NO new features developed except a
fondness for the gaming table. which
grew stronger and stronger, until I dis
covered that all my available funds
nad gone and that heavy mortgages had
accumulated on my once prosperous.
but now sadly neglected, plantation.
AT last I decided to have last trv
at the gaming board, and If that were
not successful, to end my unhappy and
unfortunate life and seek rest in TIE
great unknown. Accordingly, I raised
as much as possible on all the property
which was not encumbered. When
reached New Orleans / had lust ten
dollars in the form Of a ten-dollar gold
piece, besides $1,000 in bills of large de-
nominations.