The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1880-03-13
THE WEALTH OF NEW YORK.

II 10 impossible not TO be struck by the great
wealth and luxury displayed both in its public and
in its private buildings IL had been . common
place 10 speak Of the growth Of luxury in the Old
World. aud Of the increasing separation between
the rich and poor. II is often said that the rich
getting richer and the poor are getting poorer
I have always doubted the fact. The increase Of
wealth in recent years in England and in Europe
generally has been mainly. believe, an increase
In the number of moderate incomes and an increase
in the wage. of labor. But IL the common saying
10 at all true anywhere I should say that the ap-
pearance. of IL most onspieuous in such city
a. New York. Costly aud ustentatious houses are
far more common than in London. shops for the
salo of Injuries an enormous scale. doubt
IL there exists anywhere in London. or in any cap
ital Of the Old World. such an establishment a.
that Of Tiffany. In New York. for the sale Of jew
elry and other articles of great cost. II 10 an es
tablishmcnt, too. IL must be added, not more re-
markabc for its enormous extent than for the ad-
mirabls taste Of its designs. Other "stores' on
similar scale. for the sale Of womsns attire. indi
cate tho scale which luxurious expenditure pre-
walls among the richer classes Of America. And
II must DO so. fhs growing wealth OF America 10
found on the secure possession Of every element
which can yield boundlsss returns, net only to in
dus,ry. but. above all. to capital shrewdly used.
In the Old World those who gain great profits arc
accustomed to look TO the future aud not 20 think
only Of the present. They seek investments which
will be n permanent record Of their success, and
be lasting influence In the society TO which they
belong. They buy an estate. they build cottages.
they drain and reclaim land. In the New World
this incentive to saving does not exist. Fortunes
are expended as rapidly as they are made. few
individuals Of great public spirit found or become
munifcent supporters of scientific research. But
such persons arc. and always must be. very small
minority. The tendency Of things 10 20 lavish
expenditure and to luxurious living. l am not
now arguing as to which q the two systems is the
better One great moralist Of the last century has
said in q celebrated passage sthat"whatever makes
the past. the distant, or the future predomnate
over the present advances Us in the dignity OF
thinking beings" Butmany political philosophers
do not accept this doctrine, and jealous Of the
wealth or OF the distinctions which may be gained
by individuals in generation surviving in an
other. Whether this jealously be good or bad, u
IL certain that laws customs which are inspired
BY Il end TO tho quicker dissipation rather than TO
the more equal distribution Of wealth. New York
has all the appearance Of being one OF the most
luxurious cities In the world, while the discomfort
Of the working classes 10 often propitiated. 10
may believe the general representations Of my
L American friends, by toicrating heavy taxation
which these Glasses impose. but TO which they do
not contribute. and by expenditure Of the funds
90 raised In u manner which 10 generally extrava-
CANT and very oftsn corrupt.-Duks # Argyll, in
Frassr's Mayasins.