Arizona silver belt., 1896-07-09
IN ENGLISH SOCIETY.
The Key That Opens the Doors of
 the Very Elect
Men Who Have Nothing Hut Money to Boast Of Gain Access to the Charmed Circle of the Highest In
 the Land.

The charge made against American society that it is based upon the wor- ship of money has been so often re- peated and insisted on that we our selves have almost come to believe it.. The fact that it is not true, either as a general proposition or in detail, has not sufliced to offset the weight of au- thority. which is on the side of our ac. cusers. The charge has gone so far that we should probably have entered a plea of guilty and thrown ourselves on the mercy of the court if recent ex' periences had not led us to pause and consider.
 These experiences, briefly stated, arc. first, that the nation which is most urgent in representing us as money wor- shippers has recently made itself most conspicuous in the devoutuess of it's worship of the American dollar, and. second, that the condition of society in which distinction is based on money. bags and which does not prevail in this country does most undoubtedly prevail among our censorious and superior cousins in England.
 It is not true that mere millions, with out breeding and refinement, can make their way into the leading social circles of New York or of any other great city in this country. It is quite true that mere millions, ,unaccompaniedb by breed- ing or refinement, have given their pos sessors the entree of society in Eng land. Two conspicuous recent in stances are those of Col. North, the nitrate king" and Barney" Barnato. the 'Kafllr king"
 tis doing no injustice to Col. North to say that he has absolutely no other claim to notice than his millions. As n recent candidate for parliament he made himself the laughing stock of tho nation by his exposure of his ignorance, bad grammar and general vulgarity. Yet he has reached the highest level of social distinction in England. In com mon with celebrities from this coun- try, he is "a friend of the prince of Wales."
 The case of Mfr. Barnato, the Kafsil king, is even more striking. It is . proof that money, and nothing but money, is the sole condition of passing the portals of high life in England. Mir. Barnato's early history is enyclopcd in mystery. When he first appeared in opulent eminencc it was said that his start in life was made as clown iil an exceedingly modest circus tent. The myth has since been explained by his admirers as arising from his fondness for private theatricals, this form Of amusement having been much in vogu,. in the diamond drifts and gold diggings of South Africa. What is known abou, him is that he has made sudden for tune. yariously estimated at from S50,- C00,000 to S500,000,000. Among his quoted sayings are his boast that he will stand any man drink, but will lend no man a fiver." and his advice to always have the first hit" These uaXims sufficiently indicate the social rank in which MT. Barnato ought 10 be found, and which he would probably continue to flourish if he were an Amer ican. Here his place would be with others as illiterate, as ignorant ard as vulgar as himself. But in England he is financial and social lion. Society ac cepts not only his tips and his pre- miums, but his presence. Personagcs of the highest distinction are not above paying him obsequious homage, and he ic perhaps a more notable social light than the young duke who has recently illustrated in another way the sin cerity of British criticisms upon Ameri. can money-worship.-II IIarper's Weekly.