Year: 1869




soon disappeared. The average life of a
man about town is about five years,
though some who have strong constitu-
tions may resist the ravages of dissipa-
tion twice that length Of time.


WHAT BECOMES OF THIS CLASS.


Some, when their money is all gone,
fall back on their friends, while others
go to the gulf of misery in the way we
have referred to. Some find base en-
ployment in the service Of the gaming
hells where once their money flowed like
water. They are of service to "ropein"
victims but, as young men are prefer


red for this business, as soon as one gets
lup to fifty heis past business. The "rop-
ers-in" must dress well, and possess at


tractive manners. They lounge around


our first class hotels, and make the ac-
quaintance of the new comers. They


pretend to be business men and talk


about trade, or else they are dealers in


real estate, or stock brokers, or agent for
some great corporation. They invite


their newly made friends to drink and
smoke, simply out of good feeling, and


in the evening they invite them to enjoy


a walk to some place of public interest.


To be brief, the result is an introduction


to splendid gaming house where the


pigeon is generally we'll plucked before


they let him go. To show the success of


these" " ropers in" we may refer to an


instance found among our own circle of


acquaintance. A country merchant had


a son of sufficient years and experience


to be permitted to visit the city for the


purpose Of buying goods. He put up at


first class hotel, and was approached


by one Of these men, who led him to a


gambling house where he lost every dol


lar. He was ashamed to return home,


and therefore, having obtained sufficient


money to pay his passage, he sailed for


the West Indies and within three days


after his arrival died of yellow fever


The "roper-in" gets well paid for his in.
famous service and were it not for his
assistance the faro tables would be less in


number and profit. This is one of the
ways in which our men about town wind
up their career of pleasure.


RICH MEMS SONS.
Our rich young men are not numer
Gus, relatively speaking; because rich
people do not have as large families as
: the poor but we have enough to show
the great misfortunes of this class. The
, The writer once was sitting in an Office
when an effete looking young man came
. in. After he had left, the owner of the
Office remarked There goes a fellow
e whose worst luck is that he was borr
S rich" Sure enough, he lived and dieo
e miserably 1t is an old and well know
$ fact that as a general thing a young maj
t can not stand the temptations opened b.
e wealth There was young B. Hi
t father was famous oil manufacturer an,
i made half million and then died, leav
}, ing it 10 widow and two sons. w
= knew the elder we'll. He was kim
: hearted fellow, but learned what none
l. can do in the way of pleasure, and h
s died, old and worn out, at the age G
= twenty-four. We may also refer to Wal
n ter H. He was the son of ric
: pork dealer, but early fell into tempts
e tion and became dissipated. While a
d tempting to enter street car he fell bc
d meath the front wheel, being intoxicated
r and thus came to his death. His father
y estate was subsequently wasted and
d surviving son now desires to enter the il
,f ebriate asylum, but there is no one t
II pay his board, which is SIS a week.


Such are facts in the history Of our ric


men. But there are few exceptions [
It this general rule. James Lenox, tt
If philanthropist, was a rich mans sol
,r and so was William B. Astor. Speakir
d of the latter, we may remark that Il
= Astors are a remarkably steady famil
n No training, dissipation, no gamblir
,t can be laid to their charge. On the OF
,r er hand, they are sedate and careful an
m show the close habits which marked Il
a. founder of the name. Moses H. Gri
RS nell has a son who is now past twent
at five and is model of excellence, and
- few others can be added to the list.
at Poor young men sometimes envy Il
IN rich man about town = but if th,
ne could see the end, they would percei'
ne that in a city like this, poverty is oft,
g the greatest safe guard.


of A burly looking female of unmistak
er able Celtic origin was recently arraign
th before a New Orleans magistrate {