Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1896-01-16
A BRITISH SOCIAL CELEBRITY.
Money IL the "Open Sesame" In English
- HiHh Circlas ~ .E.E..t Il.

The charge made against American
society that it is based upon the wol.
ship of money has been so often IL.
peated and insisted on that we our,
selves have almost come to believe il
The fact that it is not true, either as /,
general proposition OF in detail, has
not suiticed to offset the weight of al
thority, which Is on the side OF oul, &c.
cusers. The charge has gone so tal
that we should probably have entered
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 reproducing us as money wor-
shippers has recently made itself most
! conspicuous in the devoutness 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.
1t 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. 1t is quite true that
mere millions, unaccompanied by breed
ing or refinement, have given their pos.
SCISSORS the entree of society in Eng.
land. Two conspicuous recent in
stances are those of Col. North, the
nitrate king" and Barney" Barnato,
the "Kaf1ir king" st
It is doing no injustice to Col. North to
say that he has absolutely no other
claim to notice than his millions. AS
a recent candidate for parliament he
made himself the laughing stock of the
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" zig
The case of Mr.. Barnato, the Kaftir
king, is even more striking. It is a
proof that money, and nothing but
money, is the sole condition of passing
the portals of high life in England.
Mr.. Rarnato's early history is envelopcd
in mystery. When he first appeared in
opulent en1inence it was said that his
start in life was made as clown III
an exceedingly modest circus tent. srhe
myth has since been explained by his
admirers as arising from his fondness
for private theatrica]s, this form Of
amusement having been much in vogue
in the diamond drifts and gold diggings
of South Africa. What is known about
him is that he has made sudden for
tune, variously estimated at from $780,.
100000 to $5O0,OOO,00O. Among his
quoted sayings are his boast that he
twill stand any man drink, but will
lend no mana fiver," and his advice to
Railways have the first hit" These
maxims sufficiently indicate the social
rank in which Mr.. Barnato ought to be
found, and which he would probably
continue to flourish if he were an Amer
lean. Here his place would be with
others as illiterate, as ignorant and as
vulgar as himself. But in England he
is financial and social lion. Society &C
cepts not only his tips and his pre-
miums, but his presence. Personagea
of the highest distinction are not above
paying him obsequious homage, and he
is perhaps a more notable social light
than the young duke who has recently
illustrated in another way the sim
certify of British criticisms upon Ameri-
can money-worship.- Weekly.