The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-07-03

the public gets fooled. believe it is not an
exaggeration 10 say that the wealth of
nine out of ten of our very rich men is
very much underestimated- There is no
way that the public man may find out
how much these men are worth, and they
are not giving it away themselves. Their
policy is and always has been 10 get and
hide. They have more plumber holed
away than anybody has any idea of II
the tax man himself was put on the stand
he could not tell how much they are
worth. for the very sufficient reason that
they have never told him. They are
dabsters at the business of converting
that IS To say, in changing taxable property
Just before they expect an interview with
the assessor
The millions that escape taxation in this
way every year is an enormous saving to
our rich people, and is helping them Won
derfully in pi!ing up more riches. 1t is
also clear steal from she people. but 1 do
not see how it can be prevented. Nearly
oil the able capitalists who resort to this
expedient are good members of the church.
but regarding this conversion of property
as purely business transaction their con-
sciences are not disturbed. But the mill
lions saved in the matter of taxes is
mere incident Our rich men are piiing
up money so fast that they are at q loss to
know where TO invest it.
passed delightful afternoon recentlg
at Norris park, the magnificent racing
course near Fordham, in Westchester
county. There was some fine racing that
day, but do not remember much about
1t. Sitting on the broad piazza of the club
house with charming company and de-
hghtful luncheon [ found enough pleasure
III the contemplation of the scenery and
the expansion OF my lungs with fresh air
without the additional exhilaration of
Nsnl frE ~ on on, oct
is no race course in this or any other land
that will compare with Morris park IN ex-
tent or completeness. Ascot, Newmarket,
Goodwood, Longchamps are all paltry
affairs compared with 1t. Mr.. John A.
Morris has invested in this track and
ITS appurtenances over million OF
dollars. Every modern convenience has
been supplied, and the buildings are as
substantial as those of a city. The park
itself embraces something like 325 acres.
The clubhouse IS simply 4 spacious, WELL
equipped New York hotel. 1t is supplied
with a magnificent orchestrion, which is
equal to full orchestra, and 1t can be de-
pended upon 10 provide music for as many
dancers as can find room IN the great
dancing hall. And yet. with all this
splendid outlay and equipment, the law of
the state allows Mr.. Morris only thirty
days of racing in each year. In other
words, Morris park would he absolutely
idle $50 days in each year were it not that
many people find it comfortable to live
in the clubhouse during the summer, and
were it not that it takes the place of a
country club In winter. | had very
pleasant chat with Mr.. Morris, whom [
found TO be man of most genial man.
ners, wide knowledge and general OBJ
servation.
His theory in regard to Morris park is
that, having always admired and loved
hrae nd n IA
of breeding and racing after retiring from
active business, and he wished to give his
sons attractive outdoor employment. THIS
they find in looking after and caring for
the great property. Mr.. Morris realizes
that IN the next twenty-five years New
York city will rapidly extend into West
chester county. and his great estate will
then be available either Tor building pur-
poses or will be greatly enhanced as
general racing or other resort. During my
chat with Mr.. Morris the subject of the
Mississippi river came up. Having large
planting interests in Louisiana he has
naturally made study of the Mississippi
and its tendencies to overflow, and
he has some views as to the best govern
mental treatment for that needless and
uncertain stream. He has profound faith
in the levee system. He said that Gem
eral Sherman remarked to him one time
that the Eads jetties at the mouth OF the
Mississippi had solved the question, and
that all that was necessary was to jetty
the Mississippi from Belize to Cairo.
Mr.. Morris scouts the idea that the rails
ing of the banks of the Mississippi has a
tendency to fill in and raise the bottom of
the river. He has DO faith in the outlet
system so ably advocated by some of the
engineers. He believes that the govern
ment can afford to spend any amount of
money within reason to protect the lower
ria these
which must now become more severe AZ
the country opens up and the evaporation
consequently intensities.
Among the notable changes in New
York city is the removal of the ''Rialto"
from Fourteenth street to the neighbor-
hood of Twenty-eighth street, between
Broadway and Sixth avenue. For years
the Morton house and adjacent cafes con-
stituted the resort of all unemployed
actors and theatrical people around town.
1t was here that they gathered to gossip
and guzZle, and one could find at different
stages OF the season assembled here every
phase of Thespian, from the track-walker
up to the heavy ''swell'' who had played
the whole season with Booth. But with
the actors, as with all things else. the
movement in New York is northward,
and the new ''Rialto" is to be found III
Twenty-eighth street now. Passing
through there, the other morning.
l saw upon the lofty steps of
a new and pretentious dramatic agency
at least twenty-five artists of var
ious degrees and classes. Grouped
about were other professional gentlemen,
while up and down the street and i'll and
out the agency passed all shades and
phases of the professional feminine; most
of them bleached as to hair, tawdry and
loud as To attire. | was particularly
struck with the appearance OF these male
actors as compared with the school of
quarter OF a century ago. These fellows
of today have the appearance of gamblers
and men of sporting proclivities. They
run to checked trousers, striped shirts.
variegated belts and stomach bands, rus
set shoes and every conceivable shade of
hat band. The clericai-looking, high
class actor of a quarter OF century ago,
with his turned-down collar. dark gar
ments and long hair, is missing.
This change of appearance in the actors
of today | attribute TO the change of
character of the profession. For the most
part homeless wanderers for the greater
part of the season, they have none of the
advantages which come from fixed local
ity and the intercourse between the men,
beers of the old stock companies. The
farce-comedy and the horseplay of today
have brought into the field class of men
of special talent, but no particular cultiva-
ton and little study. In habit and con-
versation they suggest the school of the
faro bank and the racing stable. But they
are the same happy-go-lucky, improvident
chaps that the stage has always attracted
to its good-hearted, helpful and
self-reliant Perhaps, when there comes
that demand for the intellectual drama
which critics are sometimes fond of pre-
dieting these nomads Of the profession
will deveinp in To high class and dipuified