Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-16
Countries Where Milionaires Are
Most Numerous.
TEE POWER OF GREAT POSSESSIONS
ew Ever Avail Themselves Of Their
Opportunities
THEY LACK IMAGINATION

Or some such ngure. q work II to be issued
.rby subscription. we presume-which will
contain full and particular account of all
the millionaires of the world. beginning
with the Rothschilds and going down, We
suppose. to the petite noblesse Of trade and
finance PROFESSIONALLY. book of the
kind We have indicated should prove very
curious and interesting reading. 1t would
probably show the world that its rich men
are not. as is often supposed, confined to
Q few areas. but are scattered about in all
che five continents. and appear also in
places which are generally supposed not
TO contain examples of the species. For ex-
ample, Germany Is not generally regarded
as a land Of rich men, and yet the golden
book should have a very large section de-
voted to Germany and Austria Hungary.
It Is true that most of the names would
nave prince before them, but being OF royal
blood does not alter the fact Of wealth.
Without counting the private properties
OF the sovereignS, who ought not to be in
Guided. there ere dozen or so Teutonic
nighnesSes whose wealth. not merely in
lands, but In money, Is enormous. For ex-
ample, that of the father Of the present
Prince OF Bulgaria Was counted by many
millions sterling. Iany Of the dethroned
monarchs. again. are very rich, for ''roi
en- exif' has ceased to be a synonym for
poverty. No one, of course, knows the ex-
act wealth of the Orleans family, but it is
very great. and even the Bourbons are well
off. Don Carlos. in spite of the money he
has spent on Spanish and other adventures,
u millionaire.
Wealth In Russia.
The Russian emrire would also make
good show. for. although the great landed
proprietors have suffered of late years,
many Of the merchants and financiers have
done exceedingly we'll If rumor is to be
trusted. some of the officials are also very
rich. Fabulous sums are attributed to one
In particular. The millionaires of Africa
woulG. we suppose. be confined to Kim
Deriey and the Rand. but possibly there
are come large fortunes in Cairo among
the Levantine colony. Asia will probably
make very respectable show In the Amer
team golden book 1t is true that In the
Turkish and Persian empires millionaires
ere never long lived. and this fact tends
TO their non-existence: but for all that,
some of the Smyrna Greeks and Damas-
Gus Jews ought to be able to gain admis-
sion
India. the other hand. If the native
princes VINO 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 VINO are worth several millions in
personal property. but there are also four
or hve 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
end we are apt j. forget that prtncely
fortunes are still made and kept there.
Chinese MiIIionaires.
The truth about the Chinese fortunes
Nould be most curious II 1t could be dis
covered. Unfortunately, II il the land of
the rypto-millionaires, of the men who
I'VE in little low houses and hoard gold
4ngots in the shape of Naples biscuits. 1t
Is known. however. that the empress dow
eyer is among the richest. If not the rich
est person alive: while Ii Hung Chang
Unless he has lately been plundered, which
unlikely, must have vast wealth. Out
Side China the Chinese are often very rich,
and dare 10 show their wealth. For ex-
fmple 1t Is always said. and as Tar as
he know with truth. that several of the
chinese merchants of Singapore are men
OF enormous riches.
With the American millionaire 1t is hard
~ necessary to deal What place Is not
full OF the report of his dollars? 1t should,
However. be noted that though one or two
the American fortunes are beyond the
dreams of avarice. the number Of warm
Men Is, in proportion to population not
70 great as it 10 here. There are, that is
not so many great. but far more small
mdnio1aires In England. The man who
xeaches the five million dollars IS apt either
- lose II all again. or else to turn it into
Hfty or a hundred million dollars. Spanish
youth America IL Dot, as a rule, regarded
a place for rich men, yet, as a matter
fentine have all within the last thirty
Years produced fortunes on the great scale
end not very long ago the greatest heiress
"a the world was eaid to be the only daugh-
Tor OF South American millionaire.
The Power of Money.
We have written thus of the millionaire
Without apology, acting on the assumption
that he and his millions are of universal
3pterest to the world. The fact, indeed, is
nj To aaI
What does require comment is the explana-
Sicn for this universal interest in the mill
4enaire- Why should people be so keenIy
Npterested In the existence of exceptional
Aohesf We believe that the interest ex-
@ted by rich men Is derived from the fact
command OF millions. disguise it as we will,
gas immense potential authority and in
4uence over his fellows-and an authority
pd influence which can be exercised with
fne minimum of friction. Physical power
9pd legal power may be obeyed. but they
efe obeyed always without pleasure or
SnthusiasE. and generally with ihdigna-
2 rule produces a Cheerful and ready ~
obedience II q man is made to do a thing.
" does 1t srudsingly and without enthu-
am IL he u paid to do 1t. and thinks
~ may get another order and another
Rayment he Is happy and full of alacrity
70 doubt this fact must not be pressed too
gar. but It undoubtedly does affect the ques-
q
i1Fders the townspeople to make him q lake
Which is to supply the town with water
taey only obey out Of fear. II q million
1rs orders the reservoir to be made and
only pays for the labor at market rates. he
regarded as great benefactor, and II
pore favors are expected he can exercise
4s complete q control over all the proceed
s&nGs of the town as II he had q legal right
Vt veto. A millionaire's power Increases
nth each million in a rapidly increasing
$atio. A man with two or three great
Qouses and establishments and q yacht
Ind pack Of hounds, may possibly spend
She interest Of three millions without any
. y7eat. difficulty. At present rates Of inter
vt 1t Is only some 10000 a year. It Is
Ehen he has couple Of millions beyond
Or say. $4,000 OF extra money every year
that his power becomes obvious and real
Nhe fact that he can at any moment throw
Hway 10000 without pinching himself In
the least, diminishing his capital by a six
pence or altering a single item in his es-
Enlistment, Is the fact that makes the man
powerful However rich a man may be. he
not really powerful II his money Is all
Hbooked, all ear-marked for servants
fachts and racers. 1t is the free margin