The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-26
GOSPEL FOa WEALTH.
Some Pertinent Words from Bishop
Potter of New York


Some Pertinent Words from Bishop
Potter of New York.
From the North american Reutev.
1t does not need that men aud women
should be bought for some evil purpose by
money in order to be corrupted by it. A
much more subtle and more general form
of corruption is that which reaches down
from the vices and extravagances of the
rich to those who are below them in the
scale of wealth. Ibid you ever notice, :" said
some one, "the faces of domestic ser wants in
great houses-how sodden and sensual, how
furtive and disingenuous, how vicious and
unwholesome they often become. What
makes it soP And the questioner answered
his own inquiry by saying that when one
served all the while people who were stepped
in luxury busy in idleness, as an old En-
glish dramatist wrote, and careless and
prcdigal in every selfish expenditure, it was
impossible but that he should catch the
disease himself"
But the disease spreads wider than the
kitchen and the servants hall. Does any
body who lives in great city go about at
all in public places and public conveyances
without noting the enormous increase in
costliness of personal ornamentation which
obtains among all classes9 When the late
Mr.. Tweed was in the zenith of his power as
"boss" of New York he was standing one
day in the mayors Office, talking with the
person who then las since then too often)
had been elected as the occupant of that
Office to do the work of ring" when O.
large diamond stud dropped upon the floor
and rolled to the feet of gentleman from
whom heard the incident. He picked it
up-it was diamond as big nearly as a
good~sized wberry-and offered il to
the mayor. Said 'his HONOR sit is not
mine" "Nor mine," said one after another
of the circle as it was passed around.
stop a moment" said the "boss, - fum~
bling with his clothes. "Ah, yes; believe
it is one Of my suspender buttons" But if
bosses must have diamonds to do the
rougher work Of personal investiture, their
henchman must have something quite
as fiue for other and more conspicuous
service.
And as one sees women and men whose
circumstances in life, honorably interpret
ed. can, it would seem, by no possibility ex-
plain the costly raiment and costlier Jew
elry with which they are hedizened. the
mind is inevitably started upon train of
speculation which must needs have its issue
in most dreary and tragic apprehensions.
Now, do not see how anybody who has
great wealth, and whose habit is one of large
and loose expenditure, con dismiss that as
pect of this subject without profound men,
TAI concern. lt 10 most painful consider
alton, or ought to be TO any right-minded
persons, that their needless and selfish use OF
money is corrupting the very air which is
breathed by their fellows; aud the amiable
sophistry that luxury and extravagance
put money in circulation, and so promote
benehcent expenditure, becomes, In the
face OF our modern civilization, with its
complex and tremendous social problems,
simply a monstrous impertinence.
j won't the other day 10 the house of a
gentleman in great city (alas. he is not an
American-nor an Englishman, let me add
would that 10 were much the way OF
eitherD where the guests were hidden 10
celebrate the opening Of a beautiful and
stately mansion. There was the most per
feet administration ofdomestic service there
was an hour Of the most exquisite music 10
which, unhappily, most Of the guests were
apparently reluctant 20 listenD, and then
there was cup Of tea, and the simple, re-
hnsd and thoroughly refreshing occasion
sas a. an end.
IL is difficult % see why such an entertain.
msnt may pot be regarded Va a profuse aud
oNerstlmDisied age 90 . ybolesome and
charming object lsssoB, Music, painting,
sculpture, the multiplication ~ means for
plsabg the advantages ~ artistic ouiturs
aHa recreation wlfhln fhe reach ~ fhose
whose lives are bare and hafd-suray these
ers avenues fof Tue consignment q wealth
that eteiu 20 lpnqceBt sggl, snd Save 10
hsaftpreef Deaipa them