Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1898-08-03
WORLDS | e MEN.
Those CT European Nations and
Their Large Fortunes.
Many of the Nobilities Have Large
w~ealth-There Are More Small
In England
Than An America

Germany is not generally regarded as
a lard of rich men and e; the golden
book should have IA very large section
devoted to Germany and Austria-Hun-
gary. 1t is true nat E.Cst Cf the names
would have prince before them, but
being of royal bleed does rot alter the
fact of wealth. Without counting the
private properties of the sovereigns.
who ought not TO be included, there are
a dozen or so Teutonic h:Ghnesses
whose wealth, not merely in ants, but
in money, is enormous. For example,
that of the father of the present prince
of Bulgaria was counted by many mill
lions sterling. Many of the dethroned
monarchs, again, are very rich, Tor roi
en- exil has ceased to be "a synonym for
poverty. No one, of course. knows tEl
exact wealth of The Orleans family, but
il is very great. and even the Bourbons
are we'll off. Don Carlos, in spite of the
money he has spent on Spanish and
other adventures, is a millionaire.
The Russian empire would also make
a good show, for although the great
landed proprietors have suffered of late
years, many of the merchants and finan-
NA'As "a NoAN
rumor is to be trusted, some of the Off
Gals are also very rich. Fabulous sums
are attributed to one in particular.
The millionaires of Africa would, we
ID be confined to Kimberley and
the Rand; but possibly there are some
large fortunes in Cairo among the
Levantine colony. Asia will probably
make a very respectable show in the
golden book. 1t is true that in the
Turkish and Persian empires million
aires are never long lived, and this fact
tends TO their non-eXistence; but for all
that some of the Smyrna Greeks and
Damascus Jews ought to be able to
gain admission. India, on the other
hand, if the native princes who do not
possess sovereign rights are counted. as
they must be, contains a great number
of extremely rich men. Not only are
there merchants in the great cities who
are worth several millions in personal
property. but there are also four or five
great Zemindars who have incomes
which represent the interest on two or
three millions sterling. The reaction
against thinking of India as a place of
wealth has, in fact, been carried too far;
and we are apt to forget that princely
fortunes are still made n kept there.
The truth about the Chinese fortunes
would ne most curious if it could be
discovered. Unfortunately, it is the
land of the crypto-millionaires, of the
men who live in little low houses and
hoard gold ingots inthe shape of Naples
biscuit. 1t is known, however, that the
empress dowager is among the richest.
if not the richest, person, alive; while
Ii Hung Chang unless he has lately
been plundered, which is unlikely, must
also have vast wealth. Outside China
the Chinese are often very rich, and
dare to show their wealth. For exam
pie, il is always said. and as far as we
know with truth, that several of the
Chinese merchants of Singapore are
men of enormous riches. With the
American millionaire it is hardly nec-
essary to deal. What place is not full
of the report of his dollars? 1t should.
however, be noted that, though one or
two of the American fortunes are be-
yond the dreams of avarice, the number
of warm men" is, in proportion TO pep
uIation, not so great as il is here. There
are, that is, not so many great, hut far
Ilore small m~illionaires ! England.
The man who reaches the S5,OCo.GCO
mark is apt either to lose il again. or
else to Inrn it into $50. O00. 900 or $780,
o 100000.
Spanish South America is not, as a
rule, regarded as a place for rich men,
yet. as a matter of fact, Chill. Mexico.
Brazil and tie ArgeEtinc have all with
in the last 90 years reduced fortunes
on the great scale, ard not very long
ago the greatest heiress in the world
was said to be the daughter of a South
American NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Spec
tator.