The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-30
sons Or xILl,osaiars.
Yet These Ysrnx Mea Besis at the Bsttsm
Of the Ladder.

From the Phlisaslphis PrssG
''The first generation millions: the third
/ Observation-Disclosures
| Thus people are won't to epitomize the
| fate of the rich mans son.
| But to-day a new epidemic has broken
/ out among the sons OF milliOnaires-an
| epidemic of hard work in positions al the
| foot OF the ladder.
| They have made up their minds 10 earn
| fortunes for themselves. So they have
| begun. not In high administrative posi-
| tons, but In places where they receive
| low wages and do hard. tiTesome, uncon-
genial work.
One or two years ago the feeling began
| 10 spread in some OF the great stalwari
millionaire families that IL was a better
thing 10 let the younger members work
out their own salvationt
In the case OF the AstOrs, the youngest
son. Mr.. John Jacob. turned his attention
| to the upbuiIding OF the country through
| channels where wealth would help. Ia
war and in peace he was first with ideas.
money, and personal supervision Of the
work he had laid down for others.
The two Gould boys. George and Edwin.
were left the care of their fathers great
estate, and this gave them sufficient work
for lifetime, but Howard, the younger
son. became a typical millionaire's child,
leading a life that was harmless, IL was
true. but useless and not in the better
element OF society. The elder brother,
George, is said by financiers to have de-
Veioped as great sagacity as his father,
| and has filled the elder Gould's place with
| exceptional brilliancy. But he simply man
aged an immense Inheritance after he had
grown 10 full manhood.
The very youngest brother, Frank. made
up his mind that he was going to work
from the bottom rung of the ladder, so he
went into an office, took his stool, eats
Lis lunch al a counter and tolls away Ike
any healthy boy whose father presented
him with a new suit of clothes and $40
check TO start life on.
The aext rich mans son to break from
the tradition of half century was young
Cornelius Vanderbilt
He did not accept an honorary official
position in the great Central system. but
began work on his own hook His talent
was for mechanics, and he determined,
unlike mis- neighbor, John Jacob Aston,
who had the same gift. to make his bent
OF financial benefit True. his father cut
his inheritance down very severely for
private and matrimonial reasons. but
when all was said and done ne remained a
multi-millionaire, and his wife was the
daughter of a millionaire. They
couldn't spend as much money as his
brother Alfred, but as far as life went
there would be no difference 10 the on
locker between the luxuries that the two
incomes would buy
80 II was not poverty that drove young
vanderbilt to work; It was the splendid
oiI Dutch thrift and pure love for work
Inc boy was much happier sitting in the
CAB OF an engine than he was dancing a
cotilliOn on Fifth avenue; maybe he was
angry at the snub given him by his ia
ther 5 VIII, and all that was in him for
good came to the surface and cried ont
LOT LOT showing; whatever it was, Corne-
nus pIuhgeo INTO the hardest work; he
maze up his mind that coal could he saw
go on the tremendous system in which he
was part owner, and he has successfulIv
proved his theory
lie dld not leave his work to hirel,res
put put on oVeralls, went down among the
DiaZlng furnaces, and worked at his own
inventions. He drove the engines over
the ROAD IN trying his experiment and sat
sooty and grimed with his hand on the
ever millionaire in an engine drivers
Whether his older brothers action work
ca on the younger son, Alfred. VINO nv his
iathers will was left the head of the
vanderbilt family, no one knows. bur he
mas announced his intention of going to
n f N. anu now the heir and head of one
Oh me greatest millionaire families in the
world works from 9 to {, receives his sal
airy. and is learning the business. begin-
ming as small clerk, willing and anxious
to learn. ~
>, The The fascinating machinery of the great
TaIiroau system also called out to Young
robert kelso Cassatt-''Bobby." as Eis
friends In Philadelphia call him.
he is the son of multimillionaire IF
iPhiIadelphia. His father, A ], Cassatt
Is the president of the Pennsylva nis Pajf,
road. The great estate on the main Inc
ana the beautiful home on Rit.enhouse
square, with all the luxuries thereof ore
MS to make use of; his costliest hills
would have been paid; the coach, tie
but he shook his head, put on blue over,
aus up IN Altoona at the great machine
shops, and became Bobby Cassat amone
mat great crowd of workers.
ne dskeu no quarter, cried not for
mercy when he made mistakes. but lived
MS days and worked his way as if his
Iatner was only kindly friend who had
helped TINS poor boy get position. He
Was cordial, sincere, manly with his com.
fades, al gentleman should be
Then he married Miss Minnie Fell tbA
nelress OF the city, the daughter of
DreAel' with dowry OF millions. MANY
idle rich mems sons had danced atien3
ahce on her, but she loved the bow WHO
could do what her thrifty forefathers la
considered the right thing 10 doc 1o 1,,,a
TO work and work hard
1oung rockefeller created a sensatjon
the other day when he gave nm M ,.-orIa
OF OF newport ana Fifth avenue and went
INTO one OF his fathers offices ana a"ICaI
Tor place; not an exalted desk whera he
can cut wages or sign his name 10 cnl cl-g
put STOOL among clerks at a ledger witb
lntermlnal rows of figures to add up bV
Percy Avery Rockefeller means to mako
a success. ~ mo nc
lie has the determined mouth Of b;s
father; the hold-on-forey err Look ~ t ti,o
family: And he has won the hand of =
bea S sirl VINO Will receive millions
on her wedding day. for Miss StiIIrnan -
the daughter OF James Stillman, The SELF
made man who has heaped up sIcb .
massive fortune for his family. ="
Inc very oay ne Became engaged yoI1ug
Rockefeller went TO work, and II Is x1bia,
pered that nothing ne ever aid made III
nancee so proud as that moment when ~
added his name 10 the payroll In a down.
town Office. III
The heir TO this great wealth doesr,,
parade his act of going 10 work: he ash
Tor no praise, doesn't even talk about it
He believes that it is the right thing o.
an American to do II, and the only wsv
20 WIN respect for himself and his ma
These decisions Of rich young men have
come very Rapidly on the heels of one
sn0ther, and society is wondering what
W'll really become Of il If all the eligible
men are going to work giving as their !
answer non-appearance at social affairs
tnat they were too tired 10 dance after
long days work.
But, cried the young girl in society. |
the successful professional men also saw |
that, they claim society tires them ont |
and they have something else 10 do i'm
What are we going 20 do?"
ana the young men ansEer-prObabIy |
with uinse Of Contemplating. 20 with |
the ideal men. They are the only ONES
who have time for society
Through the cloud Of despair envelon-
ing the gay. idle girls, came more an
In the last few days.
Young Arson Phelps Stokes went into /
the ministry and left society entirely
lie took charge that meant great york. 4
VIII Use his millions where the poor and /
the needy cry out; will work hard oCer
his parish. his Sunday-schOcl. the ds.d