The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-02-04
Millions for Pleasure.
MoMAr,l, in Roston Glohe.

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 An evening paper, in announcing sundry social events expected in the near future, tells pretty story which in those days of the rich growing richer and the poor growing poorer, and discontent ramifying in the diff ferent classes from one end of the country to the other, Is peculiarly pertinent, Mir. Abbey, having billed Josef Hofmann, the child pianist, tor a matinee on Saturday in the Metro politan opera house, declined to allow him to play in Mrs. Vanderbilt's par Tor at musicale to be given there Saturday afternoon.
 "But why not?" asked the lady.
 "Because 1t would involve serious pecuniary loss to me if did," replied the impresario.
 "How much?" rejoincd she.
 "Well, in the first place the rent of the house is Sl ,ooo and my prospeo- tive profits arc Si 800, making total of S2 ,5o0."
 "Oh," said the fair madame, with a coquettish toss of her pretty head, "that's nothing. will pay that with pleasure"
 The consequence Is there will be no matinee on Saturday, and the great public will be disappointed, but Mrs, Vanderbilt and her friends will be de- lighted, and all for the modest ex- penditure of 2,5oo.
 Easy come, easy go.
 The Globe will be read to more than loo, ,ooo families, and of that vast number at least eight -tenths would feel that the certainty of an annual income of g., 2,500 was bliss, com fort, consolation, towards which they dare not turn their eyes, even in the most bewildering ecstacies of un- based hope. l won't be mlsunder- stood as extensively criticising the right of Mrs. Vanderbilt to spend e., ,5oo or $25,ooo on plate of soup If she wishes to do so. simply call at tention to the fact as indicative of a class of expenditure to which certain | lines of New York social life are be- coming accustomed. Men who in other years estimated an income of $lo,0oo year as something to be de- sired, now wonder how they manage to scrape through life on $l0,0o0 or $50 ,0oo year.
 A glance around the tiers in the Metropolitan opera house reveals men worth one, five, ten, twenty, eighty, A hundred million dollars. Sitting In my chosen seat In the orchestra stalls l studied the ingenuous face of Cor nelus Vanderbilt on Monday night as he delighted the occupants of box near the stage. He was dressed id mode, going to the extent which Is adapted by the ultra fashionables here of pearl gloves with black bind ing. He has small face and head. His hair curls tightly and in thick masses, and from either car depends a suggestion of whisker. He bears himself modestly, Is always good natured, and in public is invariably jolly, with contentcd smile, not the least suggestive of smirk, upon his really intelligent and thoughtful face.
 One hundred and twenty millions of dollars at the very lowest Is the cs- timate of his wealth.
 On either side of him and In the tier above him sat men with their vast accumulations of wealth, to whom the expenditure of few thousands every year for an opera box, which is occupied but few weeks, is nothing {; to whom s2j ,0O0, and from that hum- ble figure up to s500,000, needed for the running of a yacht seems but trifling. Their wives clad In silks and laces, when clad at all, and covered with diamonds and precious stones. Within earshot, were it not for the vast overshadowing harmonies of that magnificent orchestra, rise the cries of bcggars for bread and shiverers for clothes.