The Leech Club; Or, the Mysteries of the Catskills (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1874. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... unfledged noblemen of the pilfered treasury spoke of those who made any pretensions to honesty, with contempt, and exalted any man who, by shrewd rascality, managed to amass a fortune. Honesty was with them a by-word, and they spoke of "stealings" as the great desideratum of any position, public or private, with as great nonchalance as if such were a part of the recognized perquisites of any shrewd man who should have the handling of funds. And it was rather discouraging for those who rely greatly on human nature, to observe how fast this faction were infusing their turpitude into the community. People actually began to view with indifference the shameless lives of this clique. Had they endeavored to rob the public treasury secretly, they would soon have been detected and brought to grief. But the long, open and successful pursuit of their nefarious calling, caused people gradually to regard them as being engaged in legitimate practices. Their great wealth enabled them to daze the less thoughtful, and corrupt the weak'and venal. It may seem strange, but it is true, that what before had been looked upon .as criminal, was getting to be regarded as right, and a matter of course; simply because this clique had openly practiced infamy, and thrown around it the glamour of wealth. It is therefore evident that no monstrosity is too absurd or infamous to pass for a time unchallenged, provided it is attended with success. The more thoughtful portion of the community looked upon the doings of this clique in powerless horror. The clique had made politics and office-holding so disreputable that men of reputation shrunk from taking any part in them. There was such shrewdness mingled with their rascality that they seemed to be constantly gaining strength. They scattered their ...