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go wild about a vein of silver ore; next day they forget their silver in the details of a robbery on the Pacific train.
Now they expand their hearts on a trotting match between two famous colts; anon they give up their emotion to a murder in the street.
Excitement they must have.
A special man, like Ralston, our host at Belmont, tries to guard himself by a denial of such pleasures as his fortune brings within his reach.
He dares not drink a glass of wine.
At dinner, a servant puts a pint of milk before him with his fish, and pours some drops of lime-water into his mug. A glass of wine may leave a headache, and a headache means some loss of time.
Time is a talent that he dares not waste.
His billiard-hall is spacious, but he must not venture on a game.
He brings tobacco from Havana, but he fears to soothe his brain with a cigar.
His house and park are but an hour's ride from his office, yet he only comes to see them once a week.
Dining quickly, and tossing off three pints of milk, he rises early, leaves his guests, and goes to bed. Next morning he is up at four, consulting grooms, trotting through woods, and visiting farms and water-works.
At ten we see him for a moment,
1875.
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