Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-11-29
FAST LIFE ON FIFTH AVENUE.
UoIHow show and GiIded Misery
The Dazzling Marriages of the Ton
Diamonds and RemOrse - Some
GurfOus faets.

HoIHow show and GiIded Misery
The Dazzling Marriages OF the Ton
Diamonds and RemOrse - Some
Curious Facts.
} New York Correspondence Troy Tincs.l
1t is an old saying that all is not gold
that glitters, and the history of the Fifth
avenue will prove that the golden hue Of
luxury is generally little more than de-
ceptive show. If you live in this fash
ionable spot you must pay either S7j, 900
for house (perhaps Sl00,0O0), or you
must give an equivalent rent. Think Of
$4,000 rent to begin with. You cannot
furnish this house at less expense than
$40, 900; and, if pictures and statuayy be
introduced, you may treble that figure.
To this is to be added your carriage and
span of matched horses, worth $4,000 at
least. Then look over your payroll OF
servants. Here is the coachman, who
with his family lives in finished room
over the stable He must have $500 a
year, and will have it, even If he be
obliged to rob the oat-bin in order to
meet deficiency. Next is the footman,
who on public drives is perched on the
rear Of the carriage and wears the same
uniform as the driver. He must have
thirty dollars a month and board. Add
10 these the cook at sixteen dollars per
month, chambermaid at ten dollars per
month, and nurse (for the children must
not be neglected) at twelve dollars per
month. The housekeoper caps the list,
for fashionable lady would as soon take
care of her children or do any other un-
becoming work as attend to housekeep-
ing duties, and no housekeeper can be
got for less than thirty dollars per month
| have only put down half dozen SER
wants, which is moderate number; but,
when we consider that each of these may
be thief, it is as many as you really
need, and if you can meet the expenses
and peculation which your establishment
involves you must have an income of
$2j, 900 at least.
HOW TO KEEP UP AN INCOME.
Notwithstanding the immense finan-
cial resources of this city, it is admitted
that to keep up a regular income is q
matter of no little difficulty. Business
here is subject to incessant vicissitude,
Our social and commercial strata are
volcanic, and sudden convulsions are
constantly occurring A man must be
indeed fortunate who can hold his own
year after year. A collapse like that of
the Pacific Mail Company strikes out the
support of many princely house. Men
here often become suddenly insolvent-
but the disbursements continue. The
pressure of these Fifth avenue families
often becomes fearful. The credit sys-
tenn prevails here extensively, and as a
consequence there is an incessant dun
ming" carried on. The professional
collector is on his rounds, and knows how
to inflict his presence at the most annoy
ing hours of the day Then comes the
appeal of the money-lender, whose loans
require a chattel-mortgage. The strug
gle to maintain appearances may be pro,
longed, but at last comes the grand
finale-an explosion, amid which the
unlucky family sinks out of sight of its
former friends, and at last finds bottom
| in some lower stratum. To these eXigen
cies are to be ascribed the frequent
defalcations in banks, insurance compa
nies and similar institutions.
GRADES OF RANK.
1t will be found that, after social am
bition has been gratified by reaching the
distinction of Fifth avenue establish
ment, there is still vast unrest. Higl
life has its peculiar grades, and the Fiftl
avenue is anything but level. Th'
man who hires house there is not on I
par with one who owns his dwelling, ant
he, by the same rule, is not equal witt
one who is admitted to be of highe
wealth. There is perpetual criticism
and looking down on ones neighbors
because they are poorer, or looking VI
to them because they are richer, ant
there is also perpetual effort to reacl
the highest rank, at least in a social if no
a financial way. Hence it is not to b.
imagined that social and domestic lif,
here is like love in a cottage, or like tn,
happy valley Of Rasselas.
LOOK INSIDE.
1t may be inquired whether there bl
much of what is called domestic life il
the Fifth avenue. My reply is decidedly
unfavorahle. There are some exception
TO be found in the old-fashioned class o
such people as James Brown, Robert l.
Stuart, and few families who are no
only possessed of great wealth, but alst
of what is of more value, good princi
Piles. Domestic happiness cannot co
exist with that artificial life which pre-
walls here, aud which is productive of 81
much misery. Indeed, the splendiC
misery, as it is sometimes called of thu
| famous street, would, if written, fill a vol