Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1905-01-04
Fifty Years Change
IOriginal.l


There was at the time a student in the
university, an American. Madison Cur
tice, who assisted the professor in these
experiments. Curtice never returned
to America; indeed he disappeared COM
pletely from the world
After Professor Gottlieb's death his
descendants continued to occupy his
chair and the paternal mansion as we'll
In the cellar of the mansion was a
door marked. "Open in $685." When
that date came round Professor Her
man Gottlieb, grandson of Carl Gott-
lieb, was in possession of both the chair
and the house. He opened the door,
found an oblong box, took out a num-
my and proceeded, under written in
structions long kept in the family, to
resuscitate it. This is all that ever
leaked out about the matter, and the
Gottliebs never would acknowledge
any truth in it at all.
One summer evening in 1898 a young
man arrived at an American city and
made his way to his former home. He
found it a beer saloon. With a sigh
he sank into chair at one of the
| tables and called for mug of ale
When the proprietor handed it to him
the young man begged him to bring one
| for himself. This he did and the
stranger questioned him.
did you ever hear of the Curtice
family, once leaders in this placer"
"Nein.' /
"Who are leaders now?"
''De pig men!
Eyes, the leaders," r, j.
'Mike Finegan is de piggest?"
mike Finegan? Our family butcher
was Mike Finegan."
yah De grandfather vas a butcher.
He vent to Kansas and killed hogs, a
pig lot of hogs. Dat made him a ferry
pig man. Won vat kills twenty hogs
is not much. Won vat kills 100000
hogs is pig man."
| The stranger, wondering, slipped in
silence.
DE Finegans are pig people now"
continued the proprietor. "Udder peo-
pie can't touch 'em. Got blenty coun-
try places, yachts und such dings."
An hour later the stranger appeared
before the palatial residence Of the
Finegans in the center Of a great pri-
vate park. Dinner had just been fin
ished and several men in evening dress
were smoking on the piazza. A group
of women were sitting near. The
stranger mounted the steps, hat in
hand, and addressed the men.
"Sirs," he said, latter many years
absence l have returned to my native
| land When / left here my father,
Munroe Curtice, occupied the position
which is now occupied by your family
the Finegans. would fain take my
position in society and humbly crave
| the boon of an introduction. l can as
sure you Of my responsibility by stat
| ing that I am related to two presi-
dents. my father having been named
for one, for another
The ladies held fans before their
faces to conceal their smiles. One Of
the gentlemen invited the stranger to
take a seat on the veranda.
"You must excuse me-" he said, "for
not remembering your family since
they have not been known here since
I came into the world. You must have
been born abroad or you would know
that marked changes have come over
this country. 1t now requires wealth
to keep up position"
all hoo nF ryOn6
family requires. Though my pater-
nal estates have been lost to me, half
century ago a small sum was in
vested for me in Germany and it now
produces $500 a year."
There was an audible litter from the
ladies. The gentlemen turned their
heads away.
''The incomes of the bachelors of our
acquaintance" said the host. wary
from $4,000 to $1O,00O,0OO year."
The stranger looked disconnected.
"NIay / ask" he said presently, III
any of the old families are now leaders
in society,""
eve are as old as any. You must
know that the leaders of the time you
speakkwere not so influential as those
who lead today. At that time few il
any noble foreign alliances had been
made Now there are MANY. my SIS
ter is Duchess Of. Donemonegal"
aAgainaMr. Gufface was thrown 1'flat-
a:back" + He waftoO'well b! bred to show
his ESTABLISHMENT and pushed on Ito
avoid doing 80. 81
perhaps II misunderstood the Gus
toms of these times" he said "Half
century ago a Curtice had but to men
ton his name and all doors swere
opened to him. or where he needed In
PRODUCTION it was given to him. De-
string to see something Of those who
have taken the places Of the leaders Of
that day. I would' humbly beg you to
present me. First would pay my re-
spects to your lady"
At this the women arose and went
into the house. screening their faces aS