Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 46, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 August 1876 — The Story of An Adventurer. [ARTICLE]

The Story of An Adventurer.

Adventurers are plentiful here; aad, apropos of adventurers, the best story I ever heard was told me the other day about one of this class. Originally he by no means belonged to this class. Of good family and a small fortune, he was set well in the race of life, but of exceeding beauty, an - Adonis in face and figure, and a vanity and social ambition which kept pace with each other, his small fortune soon went, and Adonis is launched upon a life of debt and stratagem. He has an eye for beauty and a susceptible fancy—not heart, mind—that is entirely absorbed with the image he sees in the looking-glass. He would like beauty, therefore, as well as money, iu the wife he is diligently in search of. After many attempts and failures, he comes at last upon the paragon of women. She has good looks and money, or her father has, and' this father is notoriously indulgent. My gentleman pays his devoirs. Most young women are attracted to Adonis. He is not a fool, except in the way of vanity, but he has a skid in keeping this out of sight for a while. This shows his wit. Ana so he makes a decided impression upon Miss Croesus, and gossips begin to say that a match is imminent. Papa Croesus, who is the wisest man I ever heard of, watches and does not by any means fan the flame in his daughter’s heart by opposition. Instead, after taking the accurate measure of Adonis, he invites him to stay beneath his roof while he is in the city, and Adonis falls into the trap with great alacrity. Bag and baggage he descends upon the Croesus mansion, and' installs himself at his ease, feeling that his troubles are over. Day after day Miss Croesus rides and drives with Adonis. Day after day she sees him in every light. And by ana by she begins to avoid him, and to wonder what upon earth possessed papa to invite such a vain egotist to be his guest. Then papa comes to the rescue, and Adonis is as skillfully invited away to fresh fields and pastures new, without opportunity to declare his sentiments even. “He comes too near who comes to be denied.” Adonis came too near. The recipe of curs was perfect, and Mjss Croesus Jo this day does not know what a wise father she has. Two summers ago a very handpome fellow used to drive up and down the avenues and on the Beach road. He looked like a Duke’s son, or as we foolish Yankee folk think a Duke’s son ought to look. He was Adonis, and I have no doubt that somewhere now he is riding and driving with the same look of distinction and top same designs upon some Miss Croesus. And every flay I am expecting to hear that some foolish girl, whose papa was not the Solomon of ms time, and did not know that a near view wa9 sure disenchantment of the young gentleman, has thrown ] herself away upon scarcely more than a tailor’s model. And of such is the kingdom of Newport to a great extent. But of the older generation there are vastly different kinds and classes. Men of science, and literature, and art find their v#iy here, and what they want ia the ©I«V town rather than theme w. They do not care f or fasti.

’ 1 * ■ I Sill lon, but for the Redwood Li Drary and the cosmopolitan tone of the older and quieter society. The moral then would seem to read from this, “ Beware of Newport, young men and maiden*, lest the roaring lion* of show, and greed, and gala del itroy you,” But he who run* may read, and it would hit the nail cm the head better to say to mother* and fathers, don’t bring your pretty daughters here Into the world of fashion unless you want to put them up, a* Ethel Newcome declared she was put up, for sale to Ihe highest Bidder. Or atill worse is it if the girl I* a fortune, and may or must become a mark for Adonia, who worships only hi* image in