The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-18
UNDER SHABBY ExTERIoRS.
UNsUsPECTED WEALTH IN THE OLD
WORLD.
Difficulties Encountered In Rounding
Up Men and Women Who Are Very
Rich

1t is doubtful whether the American
author who has recently made the an
nouncement that he was about to pub
lish a sort of Golden Book of the
aristoeracy of wealth. which is to
contain full and particular nc
count of all the millionaires of the
world beginning with the Roths-
childs, and going down to the relatively
small fry of trade and finance. such as,
for instance, the late Mr.. Lea, the creator
of Worcestershire sauce whose will just
probated shows him TO have left a fortune
of $S,000Q00 has any idea of the almost
insuperable, difficulties OF his task All
mulu-millionaires are not osteniatious, and
as general rule it will be found that
the latest ducks of the Rocks are also
the Quietest of all the birds on the pond
This is especially the case in Oriental
countries, where any undue display of
wealth would be calculated to excite the
cupidity of the rulers for the time being,
and in consequence thereof. expose the
owners of the riches not merely to perse-
cuuon, but also TO the danger of death,
coupled vita conhscauon of property, on
some preteXt of conspiracy or treason. In
fact, nowhere in the Orient. save in GER
tain of the English colonies, does not ever
find any Oriental making great display
of wealth. And even in India, lin places
where English rule affords proper judi
cial protection to both life and property,
the people have been so thoroughly ac-
customed throughout period of innumer-
able centuries to conceal their riches that
the habit clings to them STILL and to this
day 1t is precisely those Hindoos who pos
sess the most enormous fortunes who
make the greatest professions OF pentury
and poverty.
In England and in most other Western
countries endowed with a regular system
of laws according to the terms OF which
every citizen is obliged to pay taxes in pro-
portion TO his possessions to secure the
sanction of the Court Of Probate to the in
heritance of property from and dead rel
atives or friends, II is possible In a great
measure to keep track of mans posses
sions, and to form an idea of the amount
of his wealth. The only people who are
an exception to this rule are the crowned
heads and the royal families of Europe,
whose Wills are never under any circum-
stances made public Thus, no one to this
day, save Queen Victories most intimate
coniidants, knows the exact amount OF
property left at the death of her hus-
band, the Prince Consort. But 1t Is be-
lieved that II was very large.
In the same way the wealth OF the Or
leans branch of the House of Bourbon In
known to be very great, their mere landed
property in England Spain, France, Bel
gum, and even In Germany, being of enor-
nous extent. No one has the faintest
idea, however. what they possess in per-
sonal property, although ii is believed TO
constitute one Of the biggest family for
tunes In all Europe. IL was founded by
King Louis Philippe, who VIGOROUSLY ran
the government of France to suit his in
vestments and speculaticns and inasmuch
as the Orleans Bourbonssare thrifty lot,
noted for their avarice rather than for
their generosity, are all gifted with a keen
scent for any good thing on the money
market, and have managed to make rich
marriages the pile amassed by the willy
old King has gone on Increasing ever
since.
Similar mystery prevails with regard 10
the fortune OF the Duke Of Cumberland,
son and heir of the late King of Hanover;
and do jure, though not de facto, sover-
eign Duke of Brunswick A fair idea OF
his riches may be gathered from the
fact that the gold and silver plate FOR
table use which he owns weighs trlfie
over forty tons. And on the last occa-
sion when he paid visit TO England be
brought some five tons Of 1t with him, al
though his stay was not to exceed a few
weeks.
Yet another royal parsonage whose
wealth - beyond calculation Is the Aus
TRAN Archduke Frederick, who Is a couple
OF years ago inherited the major portion
of the possessions of his uncle, Archduke
Albert It Is believed that Archduke Fred
erick Is to-day with the possible excep-
ton of the Car, the richest imperial
Prince in. Europe. II is not alone the fact
that he owns valuable estates, hundreds
and even thousands of square miles In ex-
tent, in every country of the old world,
besides stocks and bonds galore, but he IL
likewise the proprietor of a quantity OF
coal, silver, copper and quicksilver mines
which are not only inexhausiible, but as
yet are not partly developed with an
this, Archduke Frederick and his wife
are perhaps the most quiet, simple Iived
and unaffected of all the members Of the
imperial house of Hapsburg.
Still another imperial parsonage in Fu-
rope whom many people are accustomed
to regard as bankrupt, and as something
very much akin TO a pauper, and yet
whose treasures are absolutely fabulous.
Is the present Sultan of Turkey. In fact
the contents of the imperial treasure house
which is at the same time the mausoleum
OF all the dead Sultans. have passed into
the domain of legend, so incalcuIable are
they; and they are believed TO constitute
one OF the principal attractions of the
Russians al Constantinople. AT any rate
it Is known that the securing of the Ca
suba, as this entombed treasure Is STYLED
was one OF the pet dreams of Peter the
Great, and there Is no doubt that ne be-
queathed this project to his successors.
It must be remembered that when in 1452
Sultan Mahomet II took Constantinople by
storm, ne obtained possession Of all the
treasures of the Greek, or Byzantine. en-
pire, which was then celebrated through
out the world for It's luxury, it's magnifi-
cence and It's wealth. Selm ]. who con-
quored and looted the Danubian prov
inces, was wont to use shovels and wheel
barrows for the conveyance of its pre-
cious stones from one treasure chamber
10 another. 50 great was their quantity
Solomon the Magnificent and. IN fact, ev-
cry Sultan who has reigned since then.
has made a practice OF using his power
to amass treasure, mainly In the form Of