Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-03-22
Where the Profits Go.


From an interesting article detailing the
elaborate decoration lavishea upon the
houses of the millionaires Of New York,
we make the following extract. 1t should
be understood that /" a speculator in grain
simply means a gambler in the crops Of
farmers. To make million in this way
is Just TO take million out of the hands
of the grower or consumer, or both, with
ont rendering penny of service in return.
Read, and learn "where the money goes"
The style of the design in embroideries
must necessarily conform to the tastes and
wishes of the purchaser, and often some
queer effects are produced. As an illus
tration, a resident of this city made a
large fortune specializing in grain, and
having children who were ambitious TO
shine in society he recently built a large
and elegant house. One room therein he
reserved to his own private use, and hunt
ing up one Of the most competent of deco.
rative artists, babe him make the room
mathematical of the means by which his
fortune had been acquired He wanted
the decoration done in embroidered tapes.
tries, and cared nothing for the expense.
The artist went to work, and under the
jealous coaching of his employer soon
transformed the room into breezy and
inviting grain field. On one panel was
faithfully depicted growing corn, on an
other panel was section of wheat field
so true to nature that the beholder could
almost feel the gentle breeze that stirred
the golden.tipped stalks. Rye. oats and
barley, in Us realistic forms as artistically
woven silk could make them, were ar.
-,,l q IL, aal h. 1,,,cr
was completely covered with ears of corn
and kernels of the other grains. The
painted wood work which bordered the
tapestry panels was in imitation Of corn
stalks and grasses. The window draperes
were of ripe grain tint and were perfect
~ plain, with the exception of a delicately
wrought border of field daisies. This
unique, but charming. room the rich man
called his study" and whenever. be
revealed its beauties to his friends he had
the satisfaction of telling them that the
decoration of that one room alone cost him
twelve thousand dollars. HoStinS, in
Wdtchman.
The subject Of the relation of q ich
mans extravaganza, or expenditures 10
the people, is one often not properly con-
sidered or correctly understood.
A mans expenditures may be beyond
the safe and proper proportion to his
income. He is then extravagant, so far
as his own financial condition is concerned.
The question of how the people of the
community about him are affected is quite
another and different thing.
An extravagant rich man, as the
term is generally understood, is a blessing
to the community in which he lives, and
the benefits of his expenditures are not
limited to his own immediate neighbour
hood, but in ever dividing channels reach
the renotest ends of the earth.
Now of this speculator in grain lie
has expended twelve thousand dollars in
the decoration of his study, and what has
become of the money which 7Cas the rich
mans? The painter took a liberal sum
for his work, and for the stock. The
money for his labor supplied his family
with food, clothing, house rent or its
equivalent, wood, coal, books, schooling
for the children, or any or all of tho
thousand-and.o ways which the money
of the worker goes. His stock, oils
paints, brushes, cans. etc., draw on a
hundred other and more remote locations.
Here we have taken bat II single branch
Of his expenditure in that room; and We;
this has given employment to hundreds
of hands and fed hundreds of mouths
while the other lines of his spending have
the same variety and extent Of benefit
and hundreds of thousands of people
shared indirectly in that money expended
on that study.
Now, on the other hand consider Tho
careful, economical, penurious rich man
His money is saved and reinvested, Of
perhaps piled in useless idlcness in hi;
ccners, while his few and simple wants
poorly pay those who supply them. Yes
This man showed good taste and liberia
ieas in his expenditures.