The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-20
THE FOOL AND HIS MONEY.
Detroit Echo.

The mental and moral shr1Dkage or chara ter in rich mems sons and heirs, always notable, has had striking it. lustration in recent events. Indeed, if the private history of the freaks, pranks and sins of not few of our New York millionaires' legatees could be published, the plain, unembellished record of facts would bring shame if not disgust to their relatives, and rouse the righteous indignation of every respectable person. The text that would appropriately head such narration, "The love of money is the root of evil," might have appendixed, "A glut of wealth is protective of to- tai depravity."
 Degradation in every case may not be alleged, but the folly of recklessness is exemplified in this way continually. The most recent instances have been in the insanity of Robert Garrett, the melancholia of "Fred" Gebhard and the squandering delirium of George Law, with his "gang" of gambling, swell mob, crooked cronies.
 MT. Garrett has always borne an untarnished reputation, and in all his business and domestic relations has stood above reproach. Queer hints have been made and startling rumors are afloat as to the cause of his mental malady. Physicians ascribe it to an overtaxed brain. Others, including friends and servants, attribute it to morbid disappointment in his railroad management and to intense, absorbing superstition. It Is a we'll known fact that the elder Garrett never recovered from the terrible nervous shock re- ceivcd at the tragic death scene in the Vanderbilt palace. It will be remem- bered that those two great railway magnates had met to discuss some vast operation, the details of which will probably never be known. Their in- terview had been protracted, and their plans were nearly settled upon, when MT. Vanderbilt leaned forward as if to speak, but choked, turned red and then purple, became convulsed, and plunged headloDg and insensible upon the floor. The two had been entirely alone and away from every person in the house, and MT. Garrett, himself al- most paralyzed with horror, was hardly able to totter to the bell and alarm the house. MT. Vanderbilt ex- pired shortly afterward, sort of pri- vate coroner's inquest was held at the palace, MT. Garrett's statement was made and published, and not shadow of fault was attributed to him.
 But the scene seemed to pursue him as continual nightmare, to the very grave. And here comes the most sim gular part of the story. The son, al- though free from any superstition oth- erwise was afflicted with the same nightmare, his sleep was tormented with horrible visions, he believed ir ill-omens, little circumstances were magnifed into dreadful predictions oi disaster, and this strain of constant morbid breeding shattered his reason In the Brevoort house, New York, a, we'll as in the great mansion, at Ring. wood, N. J., where Robert Garrett ii now, the servants say that his shrieki are blood. curdling as he piteously begs those around him to "take away the dead body-take it away-it has ruined mew This remarkable hallu. cination of the Garretts, father and son, is unaccountable. as both were no, only friendly with the late MT. Van- derbilt, but in the proposed deal their interests were mutal and almost iden- tical, says New York writer to the Minneapolis Tribune.
 In the case of MT. Gebhard, gossip has been rife as to his recent and pres ent movements, purposes, and mental condition. That 6 wonderful trans- formation has taken place in his per- sonal appearance and conduct is un- questionable, and those who are best qualified to speak of tho matter, hint that he Is in the first stages of soften- ing of the brain, resulting from pro- tracted, incessant and unrestrained in- dulgence in pleasure. His notoriety a the inseperate attendant, admirer and devotee of . notorious actress ie in . fair way to be increased in . de- nouement of insanity. If he succeeds in buying oil MT. Langtry, there will bc no surprise at the sequence. It is reported and generally believed that heavy inroads, by severe loases and ex- trsysgant expenditure, have been made in his fortune since the com mencement of. his acquaintance with the prince of Wales' former prote9e. His income is reported to have dsin- dled down to . figure far below his living eSpenses and compelled him to eat into tho principal.
 George Lew, who used to bs known q @Young Gsoree1 1AM ? and who re cently made blaEing mark of noto- riety at 6aratoga and belt tho record of . "rich man's folly" by distributing . fortune in jswelry among ocvsy of diseolnte, vulgsr repr0bates and crooks, is anothsr prominsnt sxxmple