The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-11-06
RICH, BUT wRETCHED.
The Path etic Tale That "a Miserable
MiIlionaire'' Pours Forth
in a Lester.

Money does not make men happy,
dear Lady Betty, though the want of
it may make them unhappy. The
following letter, which has been ad-
dressed to me by "A Miserable Mil
lionaire," is curious document, says
Detroit Free Press writer:
"Sir-Poverty is to happiness what
hunger is to food; it is appetite. The
simple pleasures delight the poor, and
those are innumerable. Eight-and-
fifty years ago was born in cottage,
with no hope or prospect of rising
above the position in which circum-
stances had placed me. AS laborer
passed my youth; would that my
millions could reproduce that happy
time! 1t is sufficient for the present
purpose to add that | emigrated, pros
pered, and eventually amassed colos-
sal fortune. l now live in palaces, and
am wretched!
Care is my master. L have
multitude of interests, and in many
directions, and my mind is never free
from anxiety. l am in continual
dread of losing some of the money
which 1 have so painfully acquired,
and thousand and one unexpected
occurrences could materially affect
my fortune. The raid into the
Transvaal cost me quarter of a
million, though l was not concerned
in that despicable attempt.
"That is but one source of my mis-
cry. Money is made to be spent,
and | do not know how to spend it
intelligently. 1t requires special in
stincts, education and training to
enjoy the artificial pleasures which
money can provide. / have collected
many art treasures--which l do not
understand. / only know what they
cost, and the cost represents to me
their value. In my library are stored
the best editions of celebrated books,
but / have neither the inclination nor
the time to read them. My butler,
gamekeeper, coachman, cook and the
captain of my yacht are masters In
their respective departments, for
know little or nothing of the manage
ment of big establishment, the rear
ing of game and the beating Of GOV
ers, the art of cooking and the gov
eminent of a ship. The sense of in
feriority is always active-though
am the nominal superior. The finest
wines require the finest taste to ap'
preciate them, and my taste is, like my
nature, rough. My friends have been
| chosen for their social value; they are
the best which money can command
We have nothing in common; they are
companions not friends. My wife, who
formerly took so great an interest II
whatever concerned me, now devotes
herself to society. My imagination
breeds disturbing thoughts every in
slant of the day; my wife is ashamed
of me, my son Is eager to succeed &c
my estates and fortune, my friends are
designing, my servants are swinders
/ am alone and in the way. l was i'm
measurably happier when from day to
day l lodged starvation.
"But this misery is mostly caused by
my being an upstart! / find those who
were born rich are only apparently
happier. The wealthy are always pre-
pairing to be happy. When our new
house is built When my picture gal
lery is complete When my viscount icy
has been changed into an earldom,
When my daughters are married.
so it goes on, and death calls befor,
the last element for happiness Il
secured!"