DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0195
[ 169 ]
Particulars of the Life of that extraordinary Miser,
Daniel Dancer, Esq.
{With a Portrait.)
JOaniel Dancer, one of the most remarkable instances
of the insatiable thirst of gold recorded in the history of
human nature, was born in the year 1716, on Harrow-
weald Common, near Harrow, in Middlesex. His father
had four children, three sons and one daughter, of whom
Daniel was the eldest. His youth was not distinguished
for any particular passion or propensity, and it was not
till he succeeded to the property, which devolved to him
by the death of his father, that he manifested the inordi-
nate love of money, which rendered him miserable during
the remainder of his life. His sister, whose disposition
exactly corresponded with his own, continued to reside
with him till her death.
The fare of this saving couple was invariably the same.
They used constantly on a Sunday to boil a sticking of
beef, with fourteen hard dumplings, and this was to last
during the whole week. No consideration could induce
them to alter this arrangement, excepting it were a cir-
cumstance like the following. Mr. Dancer walking out
one morning, found on the common a sheep, which had
apparently died of disease. He instantly seized the pre-
cious present which fortune had thrown in his way, car-
ried home the carcase, skinned it and cut it up; on which
his sister made it into pies. Whether Mr. Dancer was
delighted at thus living at a small expence, or at the
change of diet they afforded, he expressed a great par-
tiality for these pies, and was extremely frugal of them
while they lasted.
Had not Miss Dancer lived in an enlightened age, she
would most certainly have run the risk of incurring the
penalties inflicted on those accused of witchcraft, her
Eccentric, No. IV. z appearance
Particulars of the Life of that extraordinary Miser,
Daniel Dancer, Esq.
{With a Portrait.)
JOaniel Dancer, one of the most remarkable instances
of the insatiable thirst of gold recorded in the history of
human nature, was born in the year 1716, on Harrow-
weald Common, near Harrow, in Middlesex. His father
had four children, three sons and one daughter, of whom
Daniel was the eldest. His youth was not distinguished
for any particular passion or propensity, and it was not
till he succeeded to the property, which devolved to him
by the death of his father, that he manifested the inordi-
nate love of money, which rendered him miserable during
the remainder of his life. His sister, whose disposition
exactly corresponded with his own, continued to reside
with him till her death.
The fare of this saving couple was invariably the same.
They used constantly on a Sunday to boil a sticking of
beef, with fourteen hard dumplings, and this was to last
during the whole week. No consideration could induce
them to alter this arrangement, excepting it were a cir-
cumstance like the following. Mr. Dancer walking out
one morning, found on the common a sheep, which had
apparently died of disease. He instantly seized the pre-
cious present which fortune had thrown in his way, car-
ried home the carcase, skinned it and cut it up; on which
his sister made it into pies. Whether Mr. Dancer was
delighted at thus living at a small expence, or at the
change of diet they afforded, he expressed a great par-
tiality for these pies, and was extremely frugal of them
while they lasted.
Had not Miss Dancer lived in an enlightened age, she
would most certainly have run the risk of incurring the
penalties inflicted on those accused of witchcraft, her
Eccentric, No. IV. z appearance