The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-12-05
English Youth After /
Spendthriifftt Records

+ OPc'1AtIHLL 4\cNO/N +
London special: "Carnegie' quoth
young Mr.. Robinson, the man who has
fallen heir to a million and a half, and
who declares he will spend it in a year
and a half, lis a - fool. He is allow
Ing other people to get enjoyment out Of
his money. III take - good care that I
get as much pleasure as l can out of
mine"
But posterity will bless the name Of
Carnegie said the writer.
'Posterity, indeed! Who cares about
him. Who's the toff that said once that
Posterlty never did anything for him?
mat was a sensible man-one after my
own heart. What effect can anybody's
talk have on me when l leave this fine
world behind me?"
Now these words Of worldly wisdom are
memorable, for they came from a sort OF
rival of Mr.. Ca~rnegie-not a rival In phil
anthropy exactly, but a sha-er of the Car
negle idea that however rich a man is he
has no business to die rich. The two dis
tributors of wealth differ only in the
means OF distribution.
When Edward Arthur Robinson gave
forth the dicta quoted above he was seated
at one of those little round tables in the
anteroom of the Cafe Monico, known to
every irresponsible American youth who
does London. He was accompanied by
three fascinating young women, and was
engaged in paying for a round OF beer
when he was asked to unfold his ideas as
to the best way Of getting rid of money.
What he had to say was we'll worth
hearing for its own sake, but becomes
even more interesting when it Is consld-
cred that with the exception of Mr.. Car
negie he IS the best possible authority on
fIn cJ,Hioct-ar nd no 10 nn1V 81 whereas the
Skibo millionaire will be Is on the 10Th Oh
this month.
Mr.. Robinson burst upon an astonished
London on the day he came of age, a few
weeks ago. On that day he entered into
possession Of a million and a half, lett to
him by his father, Peter Robinson, whose
name is a household word to every shop
per in London and to every American
woman who has ever bought dry goods
here.
Young Mr.. Robinson celebrated his &C
cession by giving a dinner at the fash1on-
able Trocadero restaurant to sixty guests,
at q cost Of $1,000. Pugilists, men about
town. minor actresses, and, more espe-
cially, tradespeople h had supplied the
youth with goods on the strength OF his
l.. O.. us, made up most OF the merry
party who made things hum at the Troca-
dero along toward 4 in the morning. Inc
cigars were $3.50 apiece and the liqueur
cOgnacS were 81 apiece, WILL LAX A.
ries to match.
Since then he has been much in the pub
lie eye. The day after the banquet ne
was attacked Ia the street by a man who
hadn't been invited to the feast and VINO
had also failed to sell to him for $1,000 a
yacht bought three years before 1or sl'ooo'
An ~ex-pugilist named Stevens, who serves
as Robinson's bodyguard and chancellor
Of the excheuuer, took such vigorous care
of the assailant that the police were called
in. and the row had to be Strengthened OUT
In court.
Robinson left the Hotel Victoria a few
DAYS ago and is now living in the Metro
pole in a suite of rooms for which he pays
$500 a week. He has two Wallets ana a
prodigious train Of volunteer attendants.
He has teen credited with the statement
that he intends to go through MS 1nllllon
and a. half in a year and a half, thus peat
ing the record Of the famous Jubilee Ben
son who got rid of a million in two years,
and then wrote a book telling how ne
did it.
It was with the idea Of asking the young
man concerning his plans for this under-
taking that an interview was sought Win
him on a day when his health warranted
such an attack on his energy.
His disapproval Of Mr.. Carnegie's meth
cd served to open the conversation, the
remainder Of which is recorded here as
nearly verbatim as possible:
"You have no set rule, I judge, for get
ting through with q ~fortune?'
"Only to enjoy myself anu 10 entertain
those I like
$ Lots of friends?'
"Oh yes. a mixed breed. I have no
difficulty in making friends. Ihey all
f. like me-" -.
"Have you definitely set out to die
poor?"
"Hov do l know?'
III <sv,,,a ,,o,, onv fayOrite way OF enjoy
ing yourself?'
Kinds. and I take on everything as 1t
i comes. L can't understand men who have
one fad and nothing else. They are only
q miserable crowd, and do not know how
: , anioy themselves. How can a man en-
ioy himself with one set entertainment
J.r after says Such a like would Kill
- IN a week, and T nave 40 wish to die
-et.", -
"IYhat has been the most fun SO fart"
envy first visit to Monte Carlo. 1t Is a
,,orious place. 1 had no luck, but after
all In such surroundings it is real fun to
lose. Maybe I lost a couple of thousand
francs In an hour or SO, but l would ave
gone on if I had had the money. the
place is so ~fascinating!" =
..And now you have more money to
play with?' -
1T am going across soon with some
friends who mean to break the bank. 1t
can be done, and 7 am going to have a
. hand IN the deal"
Have you ever won any money at gam
bling?' ;
ayes, a little. but there is no fun in
always winning: it becomes too monoton-
oUs,"i
"Haye you Travelled mitch
mo. I had no opportunity n9g - now.
II mean To- go to America this summer to
see what American sport is like.
..With an eye on the American girl?"