Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-12-12
LASTING CLASS LINES.

Why It Is That Enriched Foreigner
~ Choose to Stay in This Country.
1t has often been wondered why
foreigners, and especially Germans, who
have become very wealthy in this country
so seldom return to their own cOuntr.
and their own kindred to live out then
remaining days. They are through max
ing money and all they now have to dc
is to enjoy themselves. The reason they
do not return to their native land is plain,
after it has once been explained.
The whole question is solved in the
fact that wealth will not lift butche,
boys son even to the social status of
mechanic. There are probably few places
in the United States where better infor
nation can be had on this point than il
st. Louis, and a Globe Democrat repre-
sentative was entertained for couple Of
hours the other day on it by party o.
wealthy Germans. Said one of them:
AN American who has made money,
no matter what his parents did for a liv'
ing, can 60 to Germany, or any other for
eign country, and acquire betitting
social rank. But take a German, al
Englishman, an Irishman, a Frenchman
or an Italian, and wealth made in this
country will not give him social position
above that of his father or grandfather
before him. The lines are closely drawn
and they are drawn for good and keeps.
The speaker was asked if he could cite
any certain case of this kind, and he re
piled by giving the name of lady, one
of wealth, refinement and intelligence,
who would be received in any class Of
society and who would be regarded as ar
ornament to society here. The name is
of course, withheld.
Mrs. would, 1 know, like very
much to live most of her time in the par,
of Germany where she was born and
raised, among her relatives, but she can
not do so with any degree of enjoyment.
She tried it once and had enough of it in
Il very short time. Here she is received
in the best of society and is regarded as
the equal of any. Over there she is
plain Mrs. -, the daughter of kings
forester, and all her wealth could not
raise her to the notice OF social status OF
mechanics wife. The kings foresteri is
an individual who wears uniform and
a three cornered hat and carries a long
staff, and bows and scrapes to every body.
He is not on social equality even with the
butcher, and in her native country Mrs.
- must remain his daughter socially,
and be bound by his social status, as long
as she lives. Education, refinement, in.
telligence, wealth-all go for nothing
This, of course, would not suit her. and
for aught there is in the Fatherland of
interest to her she might as we'll be
formally exiled."
The conversation here became very
general and the comments were free and
to the point, emphasizing the unbearable.
ness of this condition of affairs.
The point is just here" said one.
ave love the Fatherland. We would
enjoy living with our kindred and giving
them some of the benefit of our success
i'll this country But we have enjoyed
free America and its business and social
advantages and enco ements too long
to submit to such IT, ictions For in
stance, my father was asmall farmer and
gardener and have near relatives who
are Stlll III lne same line. Ii L COulu
give them more Importance in this voca-
ton even and lift them up to the equal
of their acquaintance regardless of bust
ness lines, | would very gladly do so, and
would enjoy living among them good
portion of the time, but l might as well
try to dry up the Mississippi River with
sponge as to make an effort in that di-
rection. You can readily see that under
such circumstances there is no pleasure
for me even in visit, and, l might say,
none for them either. have money and
can afford to enjoy life, but l can not
have social intercourse above gardener.
They are poor, work from morning to
night, and wear wooden shoes, and in
their limited sphere could not enjoy my
money if | was to heap it on them. II
is good deal like one man having money
and another none. The one who has not
can not respond to the others social ex.
penditures, and by and by they become
distasteful to him. 1t is the same way at
the theater. might take my old Ger.
man aunt to the theater, but l would
have to take seats where the social stand.
ing of the family directed, st. Louis
Globe Democrat.