Year: 1872

The Root of All Evil.


To the mining settlement of White
Pine, In Nevada, there came lately a
most miserable looking old man. hag-
gard, footsore, and in rags, who, en-
tering restaurant, demanded food
for humanity's sake. Arrived on foot
from distant Eureka, he was too worn
and weak to 60 onward to Pioche
fasting as at first inclined. He had
not one penny to pay for meal, and
could not ask for it ON credit, as he
had no heart to seek money; but if
| they chose to give him somewhat to.
eat in simple charity, it would save
him from starvation. The kind keeper
of the restaurant had scarcely respon-
ded in humane terms to the piteous
appeal, when one of the patrons of
the place stepped forward with the
remark that he recognized an old
friend i'll the forlorn petitioner, and
would be responsible gladly for all
that he might choose to call for. At
this sudden interposition the old man
looked up at the speaker, nodded
gravely and, without a word, took his
seat at table upon which waiter
had already served some food for him.
As silently he ate, paying no heed to
any one; and, at the conclusion of the
repast, left the place and resumed his
weary journey. " Poor old boy" com
nented the restaurant keeper, draw
ing a long breath. " Yes, complete
wreck no heart left for anything" !"
said the man who paid for the silent
meal /" used to know him in Wall
street, New York, years ago." This
very naturally was the beginning of q
sketch of the departed wayfarer's per-
sonal history by his former friend, as
reported to the following effect by the
White Pine Ners;


In those years ago the present hag
gard, silent and penniless tramp u
from Eureka was u speculative char
acter i'll Wall street, IL boarder at the
Astor House, and one of those social
puzzles of which exact pecuniary So
lutions seem impossible. Whether he
was worth hundreds of thousands or
only cleared his daily livelihood not
even his closest intimates "On the
street" could tell. 1t was known that
he paid as he went, lived well,. and
associated with rich men. A bachelor
until middle age, he finally made the
acquaintance IN society of an English
widow with two daughters, about
whose financial condition there was
little more definitely known than of
his own. At any rate, after a brief
and formal eeurtship, and very quiet
marriage, it was whispered about that
the brides ultimate discovery of the
comparative poverty of her new lord
had left him prospect of but little
harmony i'll his matrimonial career.
The truth was, that, while perceiving
the Widows mercenary motives from
the first of their acquaintance, he had
been too much in love himself to dare
a revelation of his real circumstances
in life, and had allowed the lady to
marry him under the delusion that
she was securing a fortune for herself
and children. When obliged to con-
fess the truth at last, he met the en-
suing storm of reproach by declaring
that, if forgiven his temporary decep-
ton, he. would pledge his honor to
become q rich man within so many
years, provided his wife would con-
sent to accompany him to California.
The condition was accepted, and the
family iourneyed to San Francisco.
That was in 1862 or '63, when the ex-
citement over the Washoe mines was
at its height, and the ex-speculator
of Wall street was among the firstgtO
invest in the new fields. Taking with
him what money he had been able to
bring from the East, he went to Wa
| shoe, and was one of the earliest OPP
orators in the famous Comstock and
other rich selodes.o Fortune favored
him munificently: in nine months
time he was the possessor of SlOO ,OOt
in golden cash. With this sum he re-
/ turned triumphantly to San Francisco;
i but only to hasten back again for q
] further harvest after having placed
three-fourths Of the sum uneondition-
| ally in his wife's hands. Tarrying in
/ Virginia City where he could now
transact his mining business witt
more. leisure than at first, he was al


ready contemplating a permanent res,
toration to the woman whom he hat
endowed with rich husband ut last
when brief letter from that matroi
changed all the colors of his unhappy
life. The epistle had been written OIL