Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1894-11-13

and she has taken up her permanent
residence in Europe.
The existing Vanderbilt scandal is
caused by improprieties ON the part Of q.
male member Of the family. He is said
20 have been nagged into revolt against
his home by tho imporious potulance
and offensive social airs Of his wife, q
poor bus proud beauty and belle Of aris-
tooratio southern birth, who said at the
time Of her nuptials that, as between
blood and money, II was condescensiou
on her part to marry tho richest man In
the United States
The peculiar filth which made th0
Astor and Vanderbilt scandals uncom-
monty nauseous has not adhered, 80 far
o. the public knows, TO any Of the do
mestio relations Of the Gould family.
But the stories about them have not
been such as to excite envy Of their gild-
cd lot, II it's harassments and humilia-
tions must be taken as an inseparable
part Of the possession. Unbounded
wealth is not a specific for mental dis
tress and heartache, and It does not
bring honor, obedience and troops Of
friends to the undeserving.
These greater and minor scandals are
more noticeable because they are blots
ON a mere upstart aristocracy. Two gen
erations back these families had the
most obscure beginnings The original
AstoF laid the foundations Of his wealth
In the sale Of minkB<ins, catching and
skinning the minks himself IN their
habitat along the Mohawk. Tho original
Vanderbilt acquired his first capital IN
boating garden vegetables from New
Jersey across the channel 10 the New
York markets.
This is not 10 the disoredit Of the
original nor Of the present Astors and
Vanderbilts Only men Of great minds,
great industry and great daring could
have created tho immense fortunes
which the present Astors and Wander
bilts inherited and which have increased
In their hands. But IL is ridiculous that
the first and second only in descent from
these founders Of wealth should imagine
that its possession makes them O class
separated and distant from the people, o
peculiar and elevated social rank, the
cream Of the social mass. Ancient ariso
tocracy, IL not degraded by vice, has q
traditional title to respect. Mushroom
aristooracy is the proper object Of intel
hgent contempt
That these newly rich people apply
their riches to unfructifying uses and
that some Of them live scandalous lives
is no justification Of the theories Of COM
munism and anarchy. A dissolute rich
man, no more than virtuous rich man,
Is the Just object Of spoliation. To rob
the wealthy and distribute their prop.
erty or to render its possession insecure
Is not o proper punishment and is not q
cure for the vices, abuses and evils oi
wealth
There Is another lesson. Not much
that is the best in life depends ON the
ownership Of wealth. Tho sturdy Vir'
tues In which the best human society Il
founded are buttressed in the homes o.
tho people--th0 common people, moi
raised by wealth TO intidiOus elevation
, above others, and not depressed by pov
erty below the comfortable level Of ev
eryday life
The wholesome and reputable CLASSES
, who live by trade, industry and thu
professions have no leisure nor disposi
, tion for illicit pleasures that are enjoyed
IN an atmosphere Of scandal and beT
{ ultimate fruit in misery. Honest Amer
} lean homes--the homes Of the American
millions, not Of miflionaires-are thI
. fortresses Of popular virtue, and Their
! the principles Of liberty regulated b.
! law are impregnably intrenched. Chi
q oaRo Herald.