The morning times., 1896-01-05
ONE PENALTY or RICHES
Millionaires Are Expected to Buy
Tons of Toys.
GIFTS TO THB SERVANTS
Wealthy Women Who Are Good
to Those to Whom For
tune Is Not Kind.

All last week a great many kindly
hearted men and women, whose fortunes
are written in seven figures. gave good
deal of time thought and money to the con-
sideration Of their holiday obligations.
When tue last china doll, rubber ball, muffler
and pair of shoes had been Cancelled off the
shopping list of W. X. Vanderbilt. his pur-
chases nearly filled an entire freight car
and would easily have stocked a country
store.
This is no eccentric freak OF gentleman
whose income happens to exceed his ex-
penses every year, but t1me-honored Gus
tom in his family every member OF which sets
aside so much money each year with which
to celebrate Christmas among domestic
servants and outside employers.
GENEROUS sIsTERs-IN-LAw.
Mrs. Seward webb herself makes out the
complete register OF names, including
every man, woman and child resident
on her husbands big estate of SheIbun
farms, and ten days before the twenty
fifth she spends a good many hours In
some OF the biggest wholesale toy and
clothing firms. selecting by the dozen OF
great gross what she thinks requisite to
please every individual she would remem.
ber.
Her companion usually on such business
exclusions is her pretty sister-in-law, Mrs.
Christmas obligations to meet in the town
of Newport where Is her country house,
and she has established a number of big
charity organizations. Not q chick or a
child from farmers last baby TO the
oldest resident of the farm cottages is over.
looked. The plan is to buy not only some
thing eminenty serviceable for every
Individual. but something decorative and
amusing as well. and when all the en-
ployes have been remembered. a barrel
of sawdust is packed with all those thou
sand and one gay. fairy-like uinkets that
go to make up the glory of a Christmas tree.
This. under Mrs. Frederick's direction, is
sent up in carload TO her hospital 10 New
York. with additional donations to needy
church or charity organizations that share
her sympathy if not her aid
WILLIE ks LIBERALITY.
This year the sisters-in-law not only
shopped for their own interests. but select
ed and bought a great dray full OF things to
be shipped to William K. vanderbilt's home
on Long Island His rule is TO give every
child toy and some article OF dress, to
give the women something for personal
ornament as well as for solid wear, while
every man receives warm garment and
box of genuinely good cigars. Beside these
substantial gifts. directed in separate par
GELS with the masters good wishes to every
recipient. lHtfE u tlt 'ttt
,lcr and a box of fireworks in which tO work
off the general exuberance OF spirits.
Miss Rhinelander. who is undoubtedly the
richest maiden lady in this country and
deeply interested in orphan children, gives
in the great asylum largely supported by
her generosity as full a celebration on Christ.
mas eve as the most fastidious child could
ask, and the SAME car that carries Mrs
John Astor to her country house on ths
Hudson, where she and her husband keep
their holidays, carries up the most COM
plete outfit for merry making in the big
stables. A few years ago to tip the house
servants and remember the office boy with
a dollar was all that was required OF our
men and women OF wealth. who of late
have come to recognize in Christina sa chance
to dispense pleasure to the least blessed.
Anyone who had watched last week the
long line of carril ges up and down the streets
where wholesale toy firms are located, or
who had noticed the heavy boxes Of goods
shipped out TO country houses in the en-
virons OF our big cities. would recognize
that the Christmas duties OF the million
aires are more generously recognized by
those fortunate people than we are often
inclined to give them credit for.
MILLICENT ARROWPOINT.