Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1894-10-13
SCANDALS or THE pLurooaAov
Mushroom Aristocracy T. the Proper Oh.
ieot Of Intelligent Contempt


About u year ago u scandal In tho A..
tor family kept tho tongue Of gossip
busy Tor tho season. Tho conduct Of
Mrs Coleman Drayton. daughter Of
tho house % Aston. caused her scpara.
ton from her husband Attempts 20 70.
hahilitato hor In society hayo failed.
and sho has taken mp her permanent
residence in Europa
The existing Vanderbilt scandal "a
caused by impropriotios on the part Of
male member Of tho family. Iio Is said
20 have boon naggod into revolt against
his home by tho imporious petulancc
and offensive social airs VI his wife
poor but proud beauty and belle Of arts.
tocratio southern birth. who said ~ tho
time Of her nupuala that as between
blood and money, Il was confederation
ON her part 10 marry tho richest man In
tho United statoL
Tho peculiar ilih which mado tho
Aston and Vanderbilt scandals unoom.
monty nnuscous has not adhered. 20 far
as the public knows to any OF tho do
mestio relations Of the Gould fnmily
But tho stories about them hnvo not
been such a. 10 excite envy OF their gid
ed lot, N ils harassmouts and hnmilia.
tons must he taken ~ an insoparablo
part ~ tho possession. Unboundod
wealth IL not specific for mental dis.
tross and heArtacho, aud u does not
bring honor. obedience and troops OF
friends TO tho undosorying
| FVl.a. sra.at.. ..s.l ...t...,.
moro noticeable because thoy are blots
on moro upstart aristocrncy Two gen.
erationa back those families had tho
most obscure beginnings Tho original
AstH laid tho foundations OF his wealth
In tho sale Of minialins, catching and
skinuing tho minis himself la their
habitat along the Mohawk Tho original
Vanderbilt acquired his hrst capital In
boating garden vegetables FROM Now
Jersey across tho channel 10 tho New
York markets
This "a not 20 the discrodit Of tho
original nor 81 tho present Ast1rs and
Nuudorbllta Only mon OF great minds,
great industry and great daring could
have created tho Immense fortunes
which tho present Asturs and Wander.
bits inherited aud which have increased
In thoir hands But IL Is ridiculous that
the first and second only In descent from
those founders Of wealth should imagine
that ~ possession makos Thorn o class
separated and distant from tho people, u
peculiar and elevated social rank tho
cream Of tho social mass Ancient nris.
tooracy, " not degraded by vice. has a
traditional tito 90 respect Mushroom
aristocracy h tho proper object Of intel.
ligont contempt
That these newly rich people apply
thoir riches 10 unfrucufying uses aud
that some OF Thorn 1.-Two scandnluus lives
isno justification Of tho theories NJ com.
muusm and anarchy A diss1lutu rich
man, no moro than ayirtuous rich man,
Is tho just object NJ fpolauon To rob
the wealthy and distribute their prop.
orty or 90 r'ndcr is possession insecure
Is not % proper punishment and is not %
euro Tor tho Vices, abuses and evils Of
wealth
There IS another lesson. Not much
that Is tho best Ia life depends on tho
ownership OF wealth. Tho sturdy vir.
] N"'H ~ MHl'A llN uiHt human huululY ~
founded are but,ryssod in tho homes of
tho pooplc-tho common people, not
raised by wealth 10 invidious elevation
above others, and not depressed By pow
orty below tho comfortable Lowell OF cy.
oryday lfo.
Tho wholesome and reputable classes
who live by trade, industry and tho
| professions have no loisuro nor DISPOSE.
tion for Illicit pleasures that arc enjoyed
IN an atmosphere Of scandal and bear
ultimate fruit M miiery. Honest Amer.
lean homo'-tho homes of the American
millions, not OF millionairos--aro tho
ioruofos ~ popular virtue, and thoro
the principles OF liberty regulated by
law aro impgosnably inrenohod-Chi.
cago ii raid