Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1899-06-08
A. B. Nichols.
ENTREE TO ENGLAND's 400.
How AIillionaires Achieve the Pleasure
of Aristocratic Company.

How AIiliionaires Achieve the Pleasures
of AristOcratic Company.
How do they do it," l asked a
lady last week whom l thought like
ly 10 know how money is got out of
an African millionaire bitten with
a desire to become a man of fashion.
She said: "Well, of course, when
they take fine house, guests have
to be found. Then there is a COM
petition to run them. " Yes, 1
said, but supposing that l were a
fine lady, poor, but greedy, and did
not aspire to more than a few hun
dredsi" You would have to be
one of the right set, you know"
she explained. Yes, continued,
Il will suppose myself a bright par
ticular star of the right set and
both nice looking and influential
You need not be the first; the sec
ond would be enough. You first
have to make the acquaintance of
your intended victim, but this is
easy. Then you find yourself talk
ing to him at a party or somewhere.
You say to him, with a simple, in
nOcent look, that you have little
money that you would like to in
vest, and you ask him to invest it
for you. He probably will agree to
do this Then he invests it and soon
returns you f2OO or $500" But
supposing that the 600 is losti" l
asked. "Oh, but you don't really
give him the 800; you only say
that you want to invest it. He un-
derstands what is meant, and just
buys whatever society influence he
thinks that you may have" And
do many ladies try this game oni"
I asked. Plenty" she answered,
land l do not blame them. They
have to live, and if they have some
thing to sell and a millionaire
thinks it will do him good to buy
it, why not After all, you don't
suppose that people of this sort are
received and made much of for any
other reason than for getting what
they can out of theml All the talk
about investing is only a delicate
way of letting the man know that if
he wants social currency he must
pay his footing" "Oh," said.
And yet what possible pleasure
can these millionaires find in being
admitted into the outer courts of a
society that laughs at them and
that only tolerates them IN order 10
plunder them-a society TO whose
ways they are strange and in which
they are as much fish out of water
as would be a fine lady in Johan
nesburg baIroomi Some of these
millionaires have the good sense TO
perceive this. They enjoy life with
their own friends and in their own
way. These l respect. But for those
who are buying their way into po-
sition that is contemplate l feel
the utmost contempt. l never knew
the late Barney Barnato-indeed TO
my knowledge l never saw him
but l once heard that a number of !
fine ladies and gentlemen had been |
invited to meet him. Each went to
the dinner in the hope of getting |
something out of him, and their |
hopes rose when, after the dinner |
was over, he thanked them for the |
pleasure of finding himself among
them, and said that he was anxious |
10 do something to show his appre
citation of their kindness. Then he |
recited to them the soliloPuy of /
Hamlet and wished them good ,
evening. l always had i sneaking /
admiration for the departed Barney /
after heard this story. I
Truth.