The St. Mary banner., 1901-06-22
PROBLEMS OF THE RICH.
THE DIFFICULTIES WHICH BESET THE
AMERICAN MILLIONAIRE.
Keeping Up u Big Honsrhold-A Modern
Philanthropic Movement Which Has
Placed Burden on the Wealthy Man
of Today-Yaukee Millionaire tho Best.

PhilanthrOpic Movement Nh1ch haS
Placed a Burden on the Wealthy Man
of Today-Yaukee Millionaire tho Best.
There is nothing-not even books
and constituUOns-that gives us
clearer and quicker insight into the
political and social conditions Of a
time or country than do the manners
and habits of rich men. Throughout
Europe some hundreds of years ago,
when a man had accumulated great
wealth he at once built himself a
strong castle, with a moat around IT,
in order to protect himself from the
attacks of his neighbors. The develop
ment of lawful government has no
more striking illustration than that to
be found in the gradual change from
this style of architecture to that
which marks the palatial abodes OF
wealth today.
1t still occurs that a mans house is
the surest indication of the extent OF
his wealth. From the earliest times
men of great riches have had to eXer-
else considerable ingenuity in expend-
ing their incomes. Few men are con-
tent to be secretly and unobstrusively
rich. The pleasure of possession
breeds the desire for display. SO the
wealthy man of today puts his money
into tangible visible property, that
people may see and envy. And his
buildings, open to the world in all
their beauty and magnificence. form.
probably, the best illustrations OF the
good of civilization and the omnipo-
tency of law and government.
But. relieved from the bane OF
power that formerly went with wealth.
and with his greater freedom and
liberties. it can hardly be said that
the rich man of today has reasons to
be happier than he was in the Middle
Ages. He owes vast duties to the
public The modern philanthropic
movement has laid heavy burdens
upon him. The ethical writer's and
the clergy watch his expenditures
closely, and for his errors he is CEN
sured publicly and without mercy.
American fortunes are now the
greatest in the world. and the Ameri-
can millionaire is far more interesting
than any other millionaire. because
he faces so many new problems. Our
rich men may be divided into many
classes. The men who have by their
own efforts mastered millions. and
who go on working with unconquer-
able energy, are apt to be looked upon
first as great men of business. Those
who retire after a life of hard work
to do deeds of philanthropy form an
other class.
The most interesting from an ethi-
cal standpoint are those who find leis-
ure and luxury in their wealth. 1t is
the member of this latter body-we
know it ordinarily as society-who
faces the unique problem of how, when
and where to spend his money.
In Europe when man comes OF age
and to an inheritance Of wealth he
finds settled for him the kind of house
he shall live in. the number Of ser
wants and carriages he shall keep. and
the extent to which he shall entertain.
He inherits his duties. His caste is
settled for him and he knows exactly
what is expected of him.
The American has few established
precedents. He must be his own
model He may have one servant or
so. He may build mansions at New
port or on the Hudson or live quietly
| at a hotel He is at the task of model
ing his own sphere. When the desire
| for display seizes him he builds houses.
The direct personal expenses of the
| working American millionaire are Of
ten astonishingly small. His greatest
expense is the maintenance of his
great household. This he meets by
| handing a blank check book to the
| housekeeper. The wives of million
| aires are usually free from the worries
| of the great establishment. which are
| shouldered by capable and expert
| enced woman who receives big sal
| ary. She has charge of the house
and the army of servants and is re-
| sponsibe for every detail in the man
| agement Of the establishment.
| The expenses entailed in running
| the home of a modern millionaire are
vast. In many private American man
| sions the kitchen. storage rooms and
| systems of service are as complete and
! extensive as similar departments of a
great hotel. Fortunes are expended in
| furnishings, and the annual cost OF
| table linen alone aggregates thous
| ands of dollars. The feminine portion
of a millionaire's family are almost
| invariably ''in society,"" and the ex
| penses of entertaining form a vast
| amount annually. Money Is spent
| lavishly on every side and excellent
prices are paid for everything.
The modern Social trust is one OF
| the most beneficial to mankind and to
| trade generally. The love of luxury
| grows with wealth, and the fast yachts
| and special trains of the millionaire
of today outdo in point OF pure enjoy
ment the great equipages OF the time
of the Roman Empire.
| notwithstanding all that has been
! said against him the American million
| oirn is the best type to be found in the