Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-02-09
COST OF HIGH SOCIETY.
One Must Have Lots of Money to he
ain the Swim" fn New
York City.

A. C. Hall, OF New York, writing
about "the cost of high society" in the
metropolis, says:
Greater New York rs very rich; it's
bankers are now loaning money in Lon
don; its commerce last year exceeded
that place, and it is an inevitable result
that the expenditure for social pur-
poses must keep pace with the con-
stantly increasing wealth. doubt If
there is any city on the globe that could
give such On exhibition OF jewels and
other evidences ofriches as shown dur
ing the opening Of the grand opera sea-
son with Tannhauser recently. Alocal
paper, fond of such statistics, carefully
estimated that the combined wealth,
seated in the tier Of boxes was over
s691, ,000, 900. Now these fortunates were,
In very small minority toward the rest
Of the large audience, who while not
multimillionaires would be considered
Croesuses elsewhere. And all the
wealthy were by no means at the Met
ropolitan opera house that night. Mr..
Russell Sage, while not a typical ex-.
ample Of the extravagant Gothamite,
contented himself with box at the
Academy with the pleasing assurance.
OF possessing $4,000. 900. Mr.. Sage In q
sort of safety valve here in the feeble
attempt to place Greater New York
back where 1t was decade ago.
ITO be in the SWIM one must have a
yacht, a stable with blooded stock, and
number Of carriages automobiles are
more proper just now, however), MEM
berships in many clubs, a summer resi-
dence, a host of servants and number
Of other things that aggregate a for,
tune yearly The amount stated in
your editorial, 100000, is very modest
ON such basis, and would be totally in
sufficient for great many.
There is, Of course, the other ex-
treme, but poverty does not lessen the
longing desire; it only seems to have
them become all the more determined.
It is simply instiHct with the native
New Workers. Those who eventually
better themselves often become the
most reckless in getting rid OF their
money. What are luxuries elsewhere
haye gradually become necessities here
with the masses, and no sacrifice Is
often too great to obtain them. Perhaps
this condition is illogical, but 1t Is SO,
the high suicide rate has no terror for
the people whose state motto In Elk
celsior.'
Then there is q new set, of the Chi
cago pork packer type and the like,
who are moving here, and endeavoring
to blind by the dazzle Of their ostenta-:
tious mode of living. But our eyesight
never becomes affected. Mere posses
sion Of money does not necessarily rule
the social system here, even IL 1t is
somewhat essential in the respect that
public opinion expects a degree OF dis
play commensurate with the dignity
OF the worlds second city. Nowhere
are the arts and sciences better appre-
ciated. and practical encouragement
given to those who need 1t. 1t is the
literary and dramatic and musical cen
ter, and, nowhere is the unknown
genius given greater welcome. and,
what's better, assisted to the realiza-
lion of his ambitions, and for the bene-
Gt OF himself and the country at large.
So the possession OF wealth here In used
for many other purposes than mere
mutual entertainment" - Baltimore
Amaricou