Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-09-12
INKLINGS OF NEW YORK.
Who Value Themselves on Their
Idleness.


NEW YORK, Sept. 6.-The assertion is con
tinuelly made that We have no leisure class
in this country But We certainly have in
this city, though the class may not be as larj,e
rs in the leading capitals of the old world
Its members are constantly and rapidly grow
ing, and part Of the growth is not healthful
sign in a democracy, the true prosperity Of
which rests on labor, and where every worthy
citizen ought to DO some kind of work. TherG
are thousands here who delight to speak of
themselves gentlemen Of leisure, the idea
of gentlemen being associated in their minds
with sufficient money to preserve them from
the need of any sort Of occupation. 1t is this
financial idea which prevents them from I'M
,lerstanding the true character of the order to
which they imagine they belong.
At some OF the clubs, notably at the Union,
the Knickerbocker, the Calumet and the St
Nicholas, you will always find during the sea
son any number of fashionably dressed min
nies who value themselves on their idlenesS
They are, for the most part. the inheritOrs of
wealth, which they never could have earned,
or the sons Of rich men who have given them
an allowance. 1t is repulsive to hear them
word is always on their lips-tO earn money
by any kind of work, although they consider
it quite the thing to win money by betting at
cards or billiards, or on horse or yacht races
Their conversation, if one may call it such, Is
as empty and frivolous as possible 1t is all
about games and sports, eating and drinking,
London and Paris, Newport and Monaco,
with an endless deal of twaddle, interspersed
4. 1.
cites Their morals are manifestly as loose
as their manners are stiff They regard the
cut and style OF their clothes, the ability to
distinguish between Chateau Lafitte and
Chateau MargauX, the mode of entering u
drawing room, the proper way to dine, as the
most important things in the world. Their
life is "A mOnotonOuS round Of self-indulssence
and dissipation. They usually spend little
more than two or three months out Of the
twelve here; they go south in winter, to the
mountains, the seashOre or Europe in sum
mer; they are always coming or going, telling
what they have done or will do. How can
they Subsist on such thin dieti Hox can they
preserve even a semblance of sanity by fol-
lowing the tread-mill round of fashion.
All men of leisure are not so empty headed
and empty hearted as these. A good many
business men now retire after they have made
a fortune and reached - or CO. They NAV
continue to do something All capitalists
find employment in looking after capital, but
they study pictures, read number of books,
travel much, and enjoy various intellectual
pleasures. This is shown by the fact that al
most half of the /, 100 members of the stock
exchange are temporarily or permanently
abroad \ Goodly number Of professional
men abate thea' zeal nova -days when they
have acquired q handsome Independence
Indeed, the withdrawal Of men in various
grades of life TO privacy or senIi-privacy is at
present quite common, and is hencfi, ial to
them as well as To the community This cla.s
is totally different from the brs..IeSS dandies
and mOdish prOhigateS Of the clubs There Is
u marked difference between mere idlIng and
resting after years Of hard labor In twenty
years more our leisure class will probably la
three-fold what it is to-day. Americans work
too hard and too long; those who live ~
have found it out and are trying to correct
the habit. Tn healthful custom will spread.
and | am veTy glad of it. L. cal no lore b..
said, here ut least, that we have not time 10
examine public questions and political hear
inGS. The metropolis has begun TO stop fo
breath, und the sooner other cities follow tn
better it will be.
JUNIUS HENRI BROWNE