A FUNNY OLD MAN.

Westport Times, Volume VII, Issue 1049, 25 February 1873, Page 4

A FUNNY OLD MAN.

An advertisement in the Boston uewspapers, announcing the sale at auction of the Dexter property in Newfa uryport, brings to mind numerous stories current in that section, respecting the eccentric individual. who flourished there in the latter part of the last century, under the self-assumed title of Lord Timothy Dexter. This was the fortunate merchant who with brains either scant or so disordered that he was continually making himself an object of derision, still blundered into what in those days was considered a stupendous fortune. It was Lord Dexter who, on consulting a waggish acquaintance as to a profitable way of investing certain moneys, was advised to ship a cargo of warin-ing-paus to the West Indies' and availed himself of the advice, to the great mirth of all who heard of the transaction. The cream of the joke, however, was that the warming-pans found sale to the sugar manufacturers for ladles, and Dexter realised a great profit on the venture. A shipment of red woollen night-caps to the coast of Guinea, suggested as a joke turned out a most fortunate speculation. Somebody, wishing to humbug the old fellow, told him one day that news had come that all the whales were dying off. Dexter went to work and bought up all the whalebone he could get hold of, fairly cornering the market, after which he unloaded at an immense profit. Having at last blundered into great wealth, he assumed the title" of Lord Dexter, and spent a great deal of money in laying out attractive grounds about bis house, but ruined the effects produced by skilful gardeners by setting up in every direction carved wooden figures of the most hideous description. Twenty-five years ago some of these figures were still to be seen on the grounds. Lord Dexter, becoming ambitious of literary distinction, published a book with . the title of " A Pickle for the Knowing Ones:" but being conscious of weakness in the matter of punctuation, put all the periods, commas, semicolons and the like at the end of the book, telling his readers that they might pepper and salt his production to suit themselves. A few years before his death ho had a mock funeral, and afterward beat his wife because she did not exhibit sufficient grief over his fictitious demise. Some time ago tho house and grounds once occupied by this strange character came into possession of a wealthy citizen of Newburyport, who has made the place one of the most beautiful residences in New England.