Woodruff County news., 1902-12-04
A MILLIoNAIRE'S MAIL.
Extract from the Journal of Very
 Wealthy Man.

In '"The Journal of a Millionaire" by George Hubbard, in the Century, IS the following:
 August F. The work of going through the morning mail is always trying enough. Even with my sec retary to sift it, there is much l must read. Not day passes without prop ositions, entreaties, threats, to say nothing of constant abuse.
 l have always held the belief that each American city should have its park, the nearer to the center of the city the better. It is place of rest for working people, playground for the children. Nothing, l am con- vinced, can do more good than such breathing-places. Whenever l have found any considerable community parkless, have given one at once. Generally I have discovered that they wanted something else and had no hesitation in saying so. Last week l gave the money for park to the city of C.. To-day l received 8 letter from the mayor saying that the place does not wish one, but that a union railway station is much desired. He writes that there is good deal of feeling about parks. A number of the more conservative maintain that the creation of one will lead to idle ness and lessening of restraint. A quantity of newspapers also arrived in which 1 was vigorously censured for trying to pauperize self-respect- ing and industrious community. The mayor adds, however, that he will take the park if l do not see my way to giv- ing them something else
 Another trouble that l have is with heirlooms. Hardly day passes but some one wants to sell me his oldest and most cherished posses sions, the sentiment connected with which being always one of the things counted in the price. They take the form of family portraits, lace, jewelry, silver, books. Many seem to think that 1 am a bric-a-brac shop. Of course 1t is always suggested that I should naturally wish to possess the object because of its rarity or beauty, but the need and poverty of the seller are always plainly and painfully stated. Such reading is far from pleasant, and 1 often go about all day feeling like brute for having disre- garded some more than usually touch ing appeal.
 Some of the things are undoubted- ly genuine. Still, with the stables full of flakes" that 1 have accumu- lated, what am 1 to do? In buying such things, am not as often encour- aging fraud as helping the worthy? And to-day's mail brings me notice from lawyer saying that he is about to sue me to obtain the true value of portrait sold to me by minor-a picture which l did not want, of course, and which 1 gave to the His torical society," The claim was that the picture was painted by Gilbert Stuart-the portrait of which histor- ical character of the revolution 1 for get. 1 have since found out that it is nothing of the kind. l shall have to compromise for large sum, 1 sup pose. No jury would give me fair hearing.
 This did not make me feel very amiable, and l opened the rest of the letters impatiently. One was from the man who used to tutor me in col lege He is in debt, he says, and wishes to get married. The college will give him a position if he pays all that he owes. He wants me to, lend him that sum so that he can take the place. It is a typical request. :. But there was one letter that caused me real alarm, and has rendered me uneasy ever since. It was from some scoundrel or other who pretends that he knows of plot to kidnap Miss Landon. The wsrld generally SUD- poses that we are engaged, and the scheme, he says, is to strike" me for a great sum. l cannot believe that this can be true, but as to such thing I dare not take any chances. Any way am perfectly wretched.
 Hand-Shaking Fol bidden.