Rensselaer Union, Volume 3, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 March 1871 — Diamond Cut Diamond. [ARTICLE]

Diamond Cut Diamond.

Some time since, a gentleman, whom we will call Mr. A., purchased a piece of ground in Murray street, on which was an old building, which lie proceeded to tear down, intending to erect in its place a building more suitable for the transaction of his business. About the same time another gentleman, whom we shall call Mr. B, purchased tho adjoining lot, and proceeded, in the same manner, to take down the old building standing upon it, so that the work of demolition proceeded upon both at the same time. After this had been concluded, Mr. A. being ready to build himself, and supposing, quite naturally, that his neighbor would prefer building at the same time, paid him a visit in relation to the matter, when he was boorishly informed by Mr. B. that ho should “build when he pleased.” Of course, ns Mr. A. could not gainsay his right in this respect, the only method left for him was to go on by himself. This he accordingly did, and had progressed so far as to have his building “ covered in,” when he was surprised, one day, by a visit from his irate neighbor. “ Sir,” says Mr. 8., “ you arc an inch ou my ground.” Mr. A. rejoined that he thought it must be a mistake. “ No, sir, it is no mistake; you are an inch on my ground." “ Well,” returned Mr. A., “ all I can say is, if it is so, I am very sorry, and it is altogether unintentional; hut lam willing to" pay whatever you say the land is worth;” “ I want no pay, sir,” answered Mr. 8., “ I want my land.” “Sir,’;SaVs ‘Mr. A., “I see it is hopeless to compromise this matter with you, and I w ill give you double whatever you say the . land is worth, rather than take down my wall.” “ I want no money—l want my land," persisted the stubborn Mr. B. Argument and entreaty were alike unavailing, and Mr. A. accordingly proceeded to take down and rebuild his wall. lie was permitted to finish his building, now, without further interruption. Shortly afterward, Sir. B. concluded to build on his lot, and masons and carpenters were set at work to accomplish the object. The work progressed finely—story after story went up as if by magic; and our friend B. watched tho operation day by day with increasing interest, with confident anticipation of being able to occupy the premises by a certain period. At length the building was entirely finished from the foundation to capstone —the workmen had departed with their tools —the rubbish had been cleared away—and Mr. B. was complacently congratulating himself on its successful accomplishment, when he was astonished by a visit from his neighbor, Mr. A. “ Sir,” said he, “ I am sorry to inform you that you arc au inch on. my ground.” “ Pooh, nonsenso 1” returned Mr. B. “ It’s no nonsense at all,” said Mr. A.; “ I tell you you are an inch on my ground.” “ Why, how can that be?” blustered Mr. 8., “ when I have only built up to your wall “ Ah, that’s it!” in the dryest manner possible answered Mr. A. Our friend, Mr. 8., was somewhat dumfounded. “ bend for a surveyor, sir,” at length he exploded, “ and we’ll see about this.” The surveyor was accordingly sent for, who, after a careful measurement of the respective premises, reported to the crestfallen Mr. B. that it was indeed too true — he was occupying au inch more land than he was entitled to. A proposition to buv that inch—coming, it must be confessed, with bad grace from him—was now advanced by Mr. B. “ No, sir,” returned Mr. A., “ I shall not sell; you cannot offer mo money enough to buy that inch of land. Take down your w all, sir; down with it to the foundations ; I want my land.” Mr. B. came to the conclusion that the game was deeidedly against him, and yielded with tho best grace he could. The wall was taken down and re-erected, and so very ctirefhl was our particular friend this time uot-to trespass that he built an inch short of where ho had a right to go. It is, perhaps, unnecessary to explain to the reader that' Mr. A. had done the same , thing in the first instance. —New York Pas l* r - , '-\ A Uric * mail, whose wife having undertaken to hang herself was cut down by the neighbors, is very much incensed thereat, and “thinks that folks had better stay nt home and not meddle with other ...'inds'ii Ihmllv affairs.”