WHAT MONEY CAN DO
I wrote to Jennie, telling her that arrangements had been made for her
to live with my mother for awhile, telling her also to let me know when
she would be ready to leave England, as the money would then be sent to
pay her expenses. In a month's time I received a very formal letter from
her sister stating that, through mediation of relatives, Jennie and her
first husband had become reconciled, and were again living together. I
showed the letter to my mother and explained everything. She was pleased
at the termination of the affair, but, somehow, she took no stock in my
wife's morality. I had about concluded that my valuable services would
not be needed in the war, so I went to Duncan & Sherman's banking house
in Wall Street, intending to ship in one of their vessels, if possible.
There I met Captain Otis, who was in command of the C. C. Duncan when I
made the voyage to Algiers. He had quit going to sea, and was married to
Mr. Duncan's only daughter. Through his influence, I obtained a good
situation as outdoor clerk for the banking house. My work was
principally about the shipping at the docks. I was delighted at the
prospect of remaining at home and living on dry land. The excitement
over the war had quieted down considerably in New York. Regiments
passing through the city for Washington were loudly cheered and soon
forgotten. In the meantime the rebels were strongly fortifying the
Southern coast, and loudly proclaiming that "Cotton was King." The
battle of Bull Run made it quite plain to both parties that they had a
big contract on their hands. The celebrated New York Fire Zouaves did
not go to Richmond as they intended. A number of them became
demoralized, and never stopped running until they got back to Fulton
Market, in New York.
The few ships in the navy captured Port Royal, in South Carolina. Some
of the Confederates from there never stopped until they reached Canada.
Then came Hatteras Inlet and Roanoke Island, N. C. The Government
secured all the steamers available for the use of the navy, even taking
the old Staten Island ferry-boats. Gold became very scarce and at a
premium. Legal-tender notes were then issued, and Government bonds sold
at a discount. For small change, postage-stamps were used. All the
silver coin was being hoarded up and withdrawn from circulation. A
revenue tax was placed on everything. On whisky it was two dollars a
gallon. Even the poor people had to pay for the revenue-stamps on the
pawn-tickets when they pledged articles. Before the war ended, good tea
was two dollars and a half a pound; coffee, from forty cents to a
dollar; sugar, twenty-two cents; a common round of beefsteak,
twenty-five; turkey, thirty-five cents a pound, and eggs sixty cents a
dozen. There was plenty of work, with high wages.
I still kept my situation and was gradually working my way up. My
associates were very different from those I came in contact with while
a sailor. Knowing as much as I did about the Havana Lottery, I had great
faith in it. By very little persuasion, I got six young men to go in
with me to co-operate in the purchase of tickets, each one paying a
certain sum weekly. Every month tickets would be bought for the full
amount. The bankers, Taylor & Company, in Wall Street, were the agents.
For several months it was the same thing---no prizes. In the month of
April, 1862, there was rejoicing in the club. We had drawn a fifty
thousand-dollar prize! Taylor & Company cashed it for us at a small
discount. The seven sharers received the money---a little over seven
thousand dollars each. Then we all went to the devil. No use working
with all that wealth, so we left our situations.
At first a silver watch costing thirty-five dollars was good enough for
me, then I changed it for a gold one worth one hundred and forty. A
diamond ring came next, for one hundred and twenty-five dollars. And of
course I must have a diamond breastpin, one hundred and twenty-five
more. I got to be very particular about the style of my clothing. A
bottle of wine with my suppers was just the thing. How I did lie back
and contrast the present with the past while on board a ship!
Not feeling very well, I concluded to spend a few weeks at a summer
resort. My friends recommended me to Teller's Pavilion, at the
Highlands, Navesink, N. J. My expenses there were quite heavy:
twenty-five dollars a week for a nice room, one bottle of wine for
dinner, two dollars and a half extra. To be well waited on called for
liberal tips to the waiters. As my money had come easy it went easy. I
made a lot of friends, and usually paid all the bills for boating
parties and other amusements. I became acquainted with Miss Tillie
Teller, and with us it was a case of "love at first sight." Finally, we
became engaged. I presented her with a fine diamond engagement ring. The
season ended and I returned to New York.
Having spent a large share of my money, I concluded to start in some
business with the remainder, make a good living and marry Tillie. A
saloon on Broadway seemed a good investment. Well, as a saloon
proprietor I was a dismal failure. It was nothing but woe and misery.
Every one robbed me right and left. I got into debt, lost all my
respectable friends, broke my engagement with Tillie, and married
another girl; and that wife put the finishing touch on the whole
business. Annie was her name. She was very pretty, with blue eyes, light
hair, and petite figure. How innocent and childish in her ways! She
could make me believe almost anything. I had more rows on her account
than a prize-fighter could conveniently attend to. If we went on the
street-cars, to the theatre, or into a restaurant, there would be
trouble with some one in short order. It made no difference where we
lived, it would be the same old program; the first two days all would be
lovely, until she got acquainted with the neighbours, and then war would
be declared. And I, like a fool, believed her to be in the right. As
regards her education, it was much below the average standard. What she
lacked in that respect, however, was counterbalanced by her ingenuity
in inventing lies. It took a long time for me to discover her talent in
that line. Her fictions were not overdone; they were simply just good
enough to believe.
Becoming disgusted with the saloon business, I concluded to sell out at
any price. I was in debt, head over heels, and what little money was
taken in was stolen by the barkeeper. I was offered four hundred and
fifty dollars for the place and accepted it. It cost me twelve hundred.
I made a great mistake in not insisting upon having my little angel of a
wife included in the sale, but it required a few more years' time for me
to become fully acquainted with all her virtues. She certainly was a
terror. As a diversion she would have a fit of hysterics. I was not well
posted on that female peculiarity. At first, I was badly scared and did
some lively petting and nursing. Finally, the thing became rather
monotonous, so that when she felt like thumping her head against the
door or bed-post, I would go to sleep and let her amuse herself to her
heart's content. She recovered muck quicker, as I found out by
experience. Taking a dose of laudanum was also a favourite trick, but,
unfortunately, she never took an effectual one.