The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
TRIALS OF THE PARVENU.
THE BRITISH MILLIONAIRE MEETS
WITH MANY REBUFFS.
Harvey BarnntO Finds 1t Hard 10
Pose as An International PhiInn-
thrOpist-Thc "HOoIey Communion

Pose as An international Phtlnn-
thropist-Thc "HooIey Communion
Service"
Ex-Attache In New York Tribune.
There is no actual disgrace in being a
millionaire. II is strange that things
should have come 10 such a pass that this
assertion should be necessary. But that
is one of the peculiarities of the nine
teenth century, and there is no doubt that
If at the present moment there is any one
particular class of people who more than
any others are exposed to the ill-will, the
autagonism and the most unkindly crit-
cism of their fellow-citizens it is the I'M
fortunate millionaire. The public, not
content with finding fault with every one
of the shortcomings that may constitute
the shade to an otherwise excellent char
acter of the plutocrat, actually goes so
far as to place an evil Interpretation upon
everything good and generous that he may
attempt to effect by means of his wealth.
His kindhest projects are overwhelmed
with ridicule, not only by the masses. but
also by the classes, until i'm the end his
riches must seem to him so much Dead
Sea fruit, in that their possession entails,
not popularity and consideration, but a
hatred, a scorn and contempt that cause
him to feel himself something in the ma
ture of a Parah.
1t is doubtful whether at the present
moment there is any man more untVer-
sally disliked in Great Britain than II. T.
Iiooley, who, M compliance with the
Prince W ales' suggestion that the
siXtieth anniversary of Queen Nictoria's
accession to the throne would best be eel
ebrated through the devotion of sums of
money by the rich toward the relief of
those of the subjects of her majesty who
are in misery and IN want, has Just vest
ed in the hands of trustees sum of no
less than $20O0,OOO the income of which
is to be utilized in lettering the condition
of the aged poor, the widows and the In
firm of that particular portion of Derby
shire with which he Is most closely assoc
ciated. A system has been organized at
his suggestion whereby each town and vii
lage VIII receive an annual sum proper
tomato to it's population. Thus town of
10000 inhabitants Will receive from the fund
a grant of 5000 year, whereas a village
with 5000 inhabitants will be benefited to
the extent of $500 The bounty Is not to
take the shape of actual money payments
to those whom 1t Is destined to relieve.
Instead of that accounts are to be opened
with the various storekeepers, upon whom
orders will be given by the local commit
tees of the fund, which Will in the ma
jorty of cases consist of twelve members
of all creeds, classes and politics.
1t would be ditficult to conceive more
philanthropic conception or a more prac-
teal and useful method of distributing
that this instance of splendid munihcence,
far from exciting the admiration OF the
fellow citizens of Mr.. Hooley Is, on the
contrary, earning for him abuse OF the
most virulent character, and from every
Conceivable quarter He is told that he
is setting a bad example" that he is
'discouraging habits of thrift" that he Is
bidding for popularity" that he is Ash
ing for royal recognition in the form of a
title" and, worst of all, that he is seek
ing TO dub public memory with regard to
the means by which he acquired his enor-
nous fortune" Nor Is this all. For
when a few weeks ago Mr.. Hooley, find
ing that ST. Pauls Cathedral possessed
no sacramento plate worthy of what Is
in every sense of the word the metropoli-
tan church of the United Kingdom, pre-
scented TO its chapter u magnificent SER
vice of pure gold at a great cost, AN out
cry was raised throughout the length and
breadth of England against the cathedral
full of the dignity of St PauPs, as to ac-
cept such gift from a man OF the class
and standing of Mr.. Hooley. Some of the
great London daily newspapers, ordinarily
the very quintessence of responsibility,
actually went so far as TO ridicule the
plate by describing 1t as the 'Hooley
communion service"
Little more than year has elapsed
since the Lord Mayor Of London was Sc
Verely taken to task for having so far
forgotten what was due TO his time-honor-
ed and lllustrious office and to the ancient
municipality Of the metropolis as to invite
Barney BarRato, the South African multi
millionaire, TO a banquet at the Mansion
House. Yet Mr.. Barnato, beyond the or
binary and universally accepted manipu-
laton of stocks and the promotion Of
mining companies-none of which have as
vet come TO grief-has committed no
crime against society or done anything to
merit public antagonism, unless II be his
acquisition of a great fortune. Indeed,
he has managed to do a great deal OF
of Mr. Hooley, every kindness that he
has done has been converted into an arm
either of ridicule or OF blame against him.
Even when, after the failure OF the En-
gllsh government to secure the liberation
of the English prisoners implicated In the
Jameson raid and detained In captivity
by the Beers he proceeded himself TO Pre-
toria. induced old President Kruger to let
the men go, and actually went so far as
to pay out Of his own pocket the fines of
those who we're unable to defray their
obligations 10 the Boer state. he received
no credit whatsoever for what he had
done. on the contrary he was told that
IL was merely one of his selfish schemes
for his personal benefit, since the liberia
ton of the prisoners and the consequent
diminuton OF the severe strain which had
up to that moment existed between the
governments Of England and of the Trans
Vaal naturally had the effect of causing a
rise i'm those South African stocks and Sc
curities In which he was especially inter-
ested.
While Il Is impossible to deny that treat
ment such as that described above as hav-
ing been melted out TO Mr.. Hooley and Mr..
Barnato Is both unjust and impoiitic. since
II Is calculated 10 discourage those who ac-
quire wealth from endeavoring TO do good
with their money, II must be admitted that
the milionaires Of the present day have
themselves TO thank IT, as "A class, they
have incurred the ill-will of their fellow
citizens. OF course, there are exceptions
to the rule. But with the majority, alas
there Is a tendency 10 assert the possess
ion of newly won riches In a manner cal
culated to offend their neighbors. They
are apparently ohlivious of the fact that
q Is good form among the most refined
and dellca te-minded people TO conceal
rather than 10 display wealth. that 1t Is
possible 10 live well and even splendidly
without vulgar ostentation, and that they
are more likely to make enemies than
either friends or admirers among those
| around them by endeavoring to overwhelm
people with a sense Of their vast riches.
! Unaccustomed TO the possession Of a great
fortune, they cannot enjoy what they re-
| gard as the fun measure of It's benefits
unless they can make show OF Il and
convey the impression that their riches are
even greater than Is really the ease And
in their efforts In this direction they are
as a rule encouraged by gang or un-
scruDulOus and In every sense OF the word
| contemplate parasites. who seem to con-
stitute the invariable encourage OF almost
every new-hedgcd millionaire endeavor-
ing by means of adulatiOn to secure adj