Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1902-01-25
AN ODD MILLIONAIRE.
Only Trouble He Had Was Fear
He Couldn't Spend His Income.

America is dead.
With an income of 81, 200 a month,
the chief concern of John Tedimau. the
eccentric foreigner who SETTLED in LA
mo, Texas, was that he should not be
able to spend every cent of it. And the
only occasion on which his friends ever
saw this interesting spendthrift angry
was when he discovered that his income
had been suddenly multiplied by six.
He did not see how he could dispose of it.
During the first year of his career Ted
imam spent $4,000 a month, besides
more than $500. 900 that he invested in
lands, buildings and cattle. He ordered
beer by the carload and had it freighted
to his ranch in ice wagons especially
constructed for the purpose. A faithful
servant followed him from place to place
never Offering the slightest protest
against his most extravaganza capers.
When in town he changed his cloth
ing three or four times a day. and he
would often go in the same barber shop
four or five times in succession in the
course of few hours and take a bath
and shave. never failing to leave a
handful of silver or gold pieces with the
tonsorial artist
Frequently he would arouse barber
at midnight for the purpose of taking a
bath and perhaps a nocturnal shave.
| 10 hn1 Sc
when he threw down piece of money
or bill he meant for that to pay for
whatever he had purchased, and under
no circumstances would he take change.
Though making no pretentious to EN-
ployment of any kind he was always in
a hurry and never without cigarette
between his teeth. Owing to singu-
lar habit he had of never smoking more
than one cigarette from the same box
crowd of little boys followed him from
place to place TO gather the fragrant lit
tie packages that he strewed upon the
floor and the pavement about his feet.
When he wanted to smoke he would
hand silver dollar TO the first little boy
whose face pleased his fancy and send
him after box of cigarettes The for.
tunate youth always got 95 cents for
his trouble.
Upon one occasion, while at Austin,
he cabled to some member of his family
in Europe for lone or two dogs" Soon
afterward he was notified that IS dogs
had been shipped to him and that the
remainder would be forwarded as soon
as they collected. Through some error
of his own or the cable operator the
message read lone or two hundred
when it reached Europe.
OF course, such IA man soon becomes
well known, and he was often grievous-
ly imposed upon by worthless characters
who took advantage of his liberality
He would bow to a drayman with as
much politeness as he would to a cat
tie king. He was fond of children and
pretty girls. They all knew him and
they were not afraid of him. He fire.
quently threw a handful of silver among
crowd of school children as they ran
through the street
Whenever anything pleased him, no
matter what it was, horse or a steam
boat, he would certainly buy il if the
owner could be induced to part with
it at any price. After passing about a
year in Llamo something happened over
in Europe which greatly increased his
wealth. aud it made him very angry.
II can't spend what l am getting
now. he said what on earth am l to
do with five or six times as much?"
II is said that he spent at least 81 900,
600 during the last year of his life. He
acquired the habit of secreting sacks
of gold and rolls or bills in secluded
hooks about his big house and barn
before he died. 4 great deal of this
hidden treasure has been found, but
there is no telling how much has dis.
appeared forever. a gardener found a
sack of gold in flower pot, and labor
er discovered large sum scattered over
| tut Duitoiii vi IL we'll. a SlUU Dill was
taken from an old fiddle, and a Govern.
ment bond had been folded and used
under "A clock to make it sit even. The
mantlepiece in his library was covered
with golden gods There were many
golden idols of Hindu workmanship on
an altar of ivory in small apartment
which he frequently visited
From relative who came over from
Europe To adjust the dead mans affairs
the people of Texas only learned that
they had been associating with a man
who had been reared i'll Il palace with
kings and princes. Over the door of
his library was written i'll Greek
Everything is nothing
Tediman had many warm friends in
Texas. but the great secret of his life
was never revealed to the most init
mate of his associates. When perfectly
cool, which was not often, he carried
himself with lofty, princely dignity.
HIS thirst for beer was ceaseless, be-
wildering craze, which he never made
the least effort To control
In his happier moods he was wax in
the hands of his friends, and nothing