The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1894-01-11

These are the princes of the Land OF
the Dollar The largest English fortunes
fall short Of these figures.
In France. with their fortunes trans
lated into francs. Messrs. }. Gould and
j. w. Mackey would be bilhonaires; and
beg to suggest to the editors of French
dictionaries the EDITION of the word:
Billionaire-A person possessing at
least a thousand millions. This phenome-
non is found in America"
Needless to say that, with his millions
on millions, Mr.. Jay Gould is power.
As for contending with him, as well
try to break the bank at Monte Carlo
with ten cent piece.
| cannot guarantee that Mr.. Gould Is a
happy man. Concerning immense fort
unes. witty American friend, rich in
moderation, and a great philosopher,
said to me one day:
'No man can own more than u million
dollars. When his bank account out
grows that, he does not own it, it owns
him, and he becomes its slave.
The two kings of American plutocracy
are Messrs Vanderbilt and Aston. The
name of king applies to them less on &C
count of the size of their fortunes than
the generous use they make Of them.
They have founded hospitals, museums
and libraries, and are known for the
generosity with which they respond to
appeals for help in philanthropical causes.
The Vanderbilt mansion in Fifth ave
nue.. New York, is princely habitation.
The luxury on all sides is extreme. In
the bath room, am told, the walls are
all mirrors painted thickly with trails
of morning glories, 50 that the bather
seems to be in bower of flowers. In
plate and pictures, many millions of
dollars must have been spent. The pict-
ures hang in two spacious, we'll lighted
rooms. They number one hundred and
seventy-four orks, from tho brushes OF
| great modern masters. In the entrance
hall hangs portrait of Vanderbilt /,
! founder of the dynasty.
The Americans, having no king in our
sense of the word, make the most of
those they have. To read the pedigrees
published in full every time a death oc-
ours in one of these rich families, is
! highly entertaining. a Mrs. Aston died
| Willie 4 was III America. ana. aIIpT tlC
! enumeration of her charms and virtues,
came the list of John Jacobs from whom
her husband had sprung. The Astors were
all John Jacobs apparently, and were
mentioned as John Jacob |, John Jacob
Ii and John Jacob Ill. The line does
not go back very far, John Jacob hav-
ing gone to America as poor emigrant
early in this century | believe, and laid
the foundation of the present grandeur
| of his house by trading in furs.
1t will not do to inquire too closely
into the way in which some of Amer
! ica's millionaires have amassed wealth.
AS for the colossal fortunes of railway
kings it is well known how thousands
Of small ones go to make them, how the
rich mans palace is too often built with
the stones of hundreds of ruined homes.
There is no other name than king
used in speaking of the few great finan-
ciers, who hold the bulk OF the railway
stock in America. But they are not the
only ones. There are oil kings. copper
kings, silver kings, and know not what
| other ma jesties in America. and when
! you see the power possessed by these
and the numberless trusts. combinations
and pools, you wonder how the Ameri
cans, who found one king one too many
| should submit so patiently to being gov.
erned by scores
70 BE CONTINUED.