Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-23
A Sad Picture of New York First
Families.

Among our first families, the family
relation is very peculiar Here is hus-
band who loves his wife so tenderly that
he keeps away from her as much as pos
sible. He is business man, and gets
home at midnight or later, being detained
down town ON official duties. What a
blessed excuse that word business is,
and how, like charity, it does cover
multitude Of sinsl Where are those
business men from 10 pm. until the lit
,stle hours Of the morning set in2 What.
strange stories might be told of that
business they are so often pleading as an
excuse for absence.
These men have children, but how
much do they know of them? When do
they see them? A glimpse, perhaps, on
Sunday. The wife, on the other hand,
has her house with its fine furniture,
its pictures its $1,000 piano, its equip
page, c.-eyerything but domestic fe-
licity. The children grow up. They
have no home That splendid dwelling
has no domestic attachments. They
wander off to the club house, to Del
monico's, and similar resorts, to find that
cheer denied them under their parents
roof What relation do these children
bear to their parents2 They are simply
nuisances. If daughters, they are early
instructed in the mysteries of fashion,
and create an endless drain on the purse;
while if boys, they are packed away to
boarding schools, where the lessons in
mischief find apt scholars 30
It is wonderful to see how full of the
devil these fellows get before they are
fourteen. What is the idea that they |
entertain of mother2 A woman that
dresses in fine clothes and sits chatting
in the parlor, while they are playing
with the servant, What is their idea Of I
a fatherY 1t is that of strange man
of whom they stand in fear, who ap-
pears once week or so in the family.
He is the governor, or the old man. He
has money, and that gives him impor-
tance, and the great question is how to
tap his purse-money must be had. 1t
may be coaxed out of the mother, but
the governor is not SO easily managed.
From him it must be obtained another
way, and in that way it is obtained.
What a parental condition is this!
A man of the world has brace or
more wild sons who are going to ruin as
ast as possible They are his masters
now, and money they will have. knew
lne Of these fellows to write to his father
hus: II want you to send me 500, and
never ask me any questions. What
llissfnl relation did these hold toward
zach other The son ran through all
manner of dissipation, was gambler,
axe, and drunkau, and by enlisting
While in a state of intoxication, died in
he service. | lately asked one of these
-outh concerning his brother Don't \
NOW where Dick is, was the reply.
He had blow up with the governor, b
nd cleared out. He had not, however, /,
.one off empty-handed, as the govern
RS dimished stock Of governments
an testify.
One Of these governors recently at j
empted to stop his sons late houEs by
nrning the key upon him. He never
id this but once. The ingenious youth
id not need key. He pitched a paw R
lg stone through the plate glass window :,
{ the second story, and this needed no y
spitition. The next night he was not Al
,iksd 0ut, lla
Most of these youth bring the governor
Ito treaty of neutrality with regular
lbsidy MY son, quOth one Of these
Dvernors to another, will have two
lousand dollars year. It's too much,
know, but what can you do about it2
be boy is ruined, and you can't make
m any more 50. When the boy has
j his allowance it Is all right. d
The governor sees him but seldom, and
ever interferes with his schemes Of
easnre. The boy is on the go all the
me-races, theaters and gaming prove
ore fascinating than dali receptions
j evening parties. Several grand balls y
ere given the past winter among the