THE UPS AND DOWN'S OF LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6996, 19 April 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE UPS AND DOWN'S OF LIFE.

A straxge story of wandering, hardship, and final return to his native land as heir 'to a fortune, came to light in Philadelphia a short; time ago concerning a youncj Scotchman' of high family named William Anderson. About two veara ago he had a disagreement with his father, a wealthjr, conservative gentleman of the old school. His parent's stern Presbyterian code prevented him from winkxog at some of his son's escapades, and the latter in hot-headed taste, left his home in Inverness, and took a sailing vessel for Liverpool. He had a gaodly purse, which his sister, the only other child in the family, had given him. He was desirous of seeing life, and proposed making a fortune in this country. He took an outward bound steamer for New York, and upon' his arrival there looked about for work. Meantime his funds ran low.. Finally he obtained employment with a truckman named Bedloe, near the Bible House. A prolonged debauch lost him his situation, and the little money he had was taken from him iu the Bowery one night. He was too proud to write to his father. Ae porter in East Eighteenth Street he served a short time, and then struck out for Colorado, after writing to his sister for money. In. "Denver he led for some weeks a course' similar to that he had followed in New York. He went to a small town in the southern part of the State, and one day in a saloon he got into an altercation with some herdsmen and cowboys. They whipped out iheir pistols and were about to riddle him when he began to dance the sword dance in real Scotch fashion. This sadden ruse so amused the men and won their admiration for hiß pluck that they asked him to join them. . For nearly a year he remained ou a ranch, and then soughs Chicago. He got employment as janitor for Charles N. Hale, a real estate agent at No. 153 Randolph street. The proclivity for social pleasures kept him from his duties, and he was soon on the street;. Then he worked for a frenchman named JLoeffel in a restaurant on Washington-street, near Fifth avenue. His loyalty to Scotch whisky, however, soon brought him to the condition, of a vagrant. From station house lodgings he was taken to the hospital stricken with typhoid fever. Here he suffered terribly and was very ill. Several weeks saw. him hanging in the balance, but his vigorous constitution finally prevailed, For a week be acted as one in the army in a melodrama at McVicker's Theatre. Finally be became reduced so that he applied for moans to get back East;. At length the Scotch Benevolent Society aided him and fctartea him for.New York. Reaching Philadelphia, ha stopped at the invitation of a countryman, intemliog to visit with him. After losing his friend he spout iiis money, threw away his ticket, and was once more a tramp. Lodging was given him at the Broad-street station, January 22:1, and at the Sixth District the Saturday folv lowing. At the rooms of the local Scotch society he claims little attention was paid to liira. In a deplorable fctate of need he wandered from door to door. In Chestnut street he was given a cold Junoh with a pieoe of Ledger wrapped about it. Chancing so look, at the letter list he saw his name. Without much faith in the result he called at the Post office, and received a letter which had been Bent to him at "North" Eighteenth street, New York, and forwarded to Philadelphia.Attorneys announced to him in this coinmunithe death of his sister a ye3r previous, the recent demise of his father, and the fact that £30,000 awaited his claim: He said that if lie had not happened to look at his name in tue letter iist he probably v*oold not have learned the state of affaire at al 1 , as be had determined to die rather than to write, or return to his home. When he made knuwn the facts he had learned to G. W. Childs, that gentleman immediately purchased him an outfit and a ticket for Liverpool. He sailed on the steamer British Prince. He says he thinks he will go back to Colorado and buy a ranch.