The Portland daily press., 1892-03-21
cltx cast,es for nril1ionalres.

City Castles for Mfllionaires.
There are signs that New York may
be entering upon a sensational era in
house building. Mr.. Cornelius Wander
bits determination to erect on Fifth
avenue residence to cost 100000 ac-
cording to present estimates, and,
therefore, perhaps twice that much be-
fore it is completed, is pretty sure to
lead other multi-millionaires to do the
same. It seems to be Mr.. Vanderbilt's
present plan to buy large part OF a
Fifth avenue block not already owned
by him, and erect thereon a residence
that will eclipse some of the imperial
residences of Europe. The rich and
liberal gentlemen of New York are
keeping pretty close watch on each
other Of late, with view to taking no
tice that one of their number does not
secure any great advantage over the
other one in the religious. financial or
social world.
This was observed when Mr.. Rookie
fellers recent gift Of $1,000, 900 to an
educational institution was quickly fol-
lowed by one from Jay Gould for $780,
900 for church extension, which has
since been supplemented by $4,000 to
the university of the city Of New York.
While Mr.. Gould did not exactly cover
Mr.. Rocl1efeller's ante, his action never
theless illustrates what have said.
These rich gentlemen do not like to see
any particular gentleman get too far in
advance Of the procession. So, If Mr..
Vanderbilt erects an expensive habita-
ton in New York, where ground is
scarce and exceedingly high-priced,
other rich men are more than likely to
follow his example. Perhaps it is be-
cause they intend to put up these i'm
perial palaces that these gentlemen
have been endeavoring to make ar
engagements through the legislature
to exclude the vulgar public from the
use Of Fifth avenue.
Another Odd Way Of Living.
New York has become famous for the
odd ways in which some of its citizens
make living. The man who gets up
at two a. m, and as soon as the morn
ing papers are out begins to search
pavements and cutters for valuables
lost and advertised has been described.
| The other day politician OF national
prominence sat in 'sthe amen corner"
as it is called, of the Fifth avenue hotel,
where republican big guns Ego in bat
teries. Across the corridor sat keen
eyed, swarthy life insurance agent.
| Presently newspaper man, who makes
his headquarters at the uptown hotels,
entered and nodded Familiarity to both
| politician and life insurance agent.
! They were both under obligations to
| him.
| In the most natural way In the world,
| from talking to both at the same time,
he introduced them. Soon afterward he
strolled on. Now, this particular life
insurance agent had been watching for
| months for an opportunity for making
the acquaintance Of this particular pol
itician. He was not slow to improve
the opportunity, now that he had it, and
he wrote life policy Of $25, 1000 as the
result The next day the journalist who
so innocently introduced the hunter and
his prey received a check by mail for
$500. Now this shows great many
things; among others the enormous
profits life insurance agents must make
when they can give such commissions.
| Two Missing Social Centers.
The metropolis has passed through a
winter full of the usual vicissitudes and
sensations without once missing, ap-
parently, two very well-known Ameri-
cans, whose names are constantly in
the newspapers when they are in town.
That their friends have missed Steele
Mackaye and Tom Ochiltree it is need
less to say. Nor are these two the
creatures of newspaper sensation" as
has been said. They were actual
centers of great deal of social inter
est, rallying points for many good
fellow and good story. They have both
been in London most of the time Of
late, and Colonel Tom is commonly re.
puted to contemplate bringing British
bride, with q rich dowry, back to the
states with him.
And this reminds me of an amusing
story j. M. Hill, the theater manager,
tells of Mackaye. It was a dusty Sat
urday afternoon and Steele, SO Hill
says, met him in front of the Hoffman
house with a detected look on his
classic features. ''Jim," said Steele
"I've got to go down to Seabright this
afternoon to join my family over Sun
day, and I've just been cleaned com
pletely out at poker. must go, OLD
| fellow, and I haven't got a red to &C
on" Hill, as the story goes. produced
twenty-dollar bill and Mackaye
started for the ferry rejoicing. That
evening at eight o'clock Hill saunteree
into Delmonico's. There, with quart
OF champagne in cooler beside him
and industriously carving canvasbaclz
sat Steele Mackaye. A cordial smile
Illuminated his countenance as he
caught his old friends eye. "Come
right over here, dear boy" he called in
his most winning accents, land sit down
at my table. So glad to see YOU My
people are all out of town and if there's
anything do hate, it is to dine alone. >
| Many great men have short memories
JOHN A. CocKEFTr--
| We are all subject TO pain occasionally and il
| is well to have good liniment i'll the house
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