The Irish standard., 1905-07-29
A STUDY IN CONTRASTS.

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We are informed by the press re.
ports that the family of millionaire
named Thomas F. Walsh is now carry.
ing on compaign in Newport with
the end of securing social recognition.
We are told that this newcomer pos.
sesses great wealth and wife and a
daughter who are determined to spend
his money in return for the pleasures
and distinctions which Newport is
able to supply. This newcomer,
Thomas F. Walsh, has already built a
magnificent mansion in the City of
Washington. In 1900 he was appointed
by President Mckinley as COM
missioner to the Paris Exposition.
This appointment was given him, no
doubt, because he was anxious to Sc
cure an opportunity to spend money
like lord. At that time he moved
to Paris with his wife and daughter
and took half of the Elysee Palace
Hotel. He received there throughout
the summer not only every American
who would be received, but also kings
of Europe, among them the King of
Belgium. At this time Mrs. Walsh,
whoever she is, astonished the world
by her grand musicales at which she
paid prima donnas fabulous prices.
At the end of the summer, which also
happened to be the end of his official
duties, Mr.. Walsh returned to the
United States and told the reporters
that he had enjoyed his summer i'm
mensely. The present summer finds
Mr.. Walsh renting a house owned by
Cornelius Vanderbilt for which Mi.
Walsh pays $4,000 for two months.
Before renting this humble abode Mr..
Walsh had rented another cottage or
something of the sort, but it is said he
did this on his own authority without
first having it inspected by Mrs.
Walsh. Upon inspection the house
was found too small so that Mr.
Thomas F. Walsh now finds himself in
possession of two houses at Newport
with an experienced social secretary
who has had large experience in pilot.
ing several other families of wealth to
society in Newport. That in brief is
the story of the present doing of Mr..
Thomas F. Walsh and his important
family.
In this connection and as a lesson
in the study of contrasts it is interest
ing to know that one Tom Walsh was
born in Tipperary, Ireland, 1851, and
that he learned the trade in his early
youth of a mill-wright and that he
came to the United States and to the
great west before he was 21, and
started in to work as miner. He
was Industrious and had few original
thoughts in his head which enabled
him to Introduce new methods in the
treatment of ore. These few thoughts
which were in no way connected, by
the way, with his present social cam
paign in Newport, soon made him a
millionaire, which latter fact possibly
had something to do with finding for
him Mrs. Walsh. Up to that time he
was "Tom Walsh, the miner" 1t is
an interesting sociological study to
compare "Tom Walsh, the miner" and
"Mr. Thomas F. Walsh of Newport" ("
Tom Walsh the miner was an interest
ing and original character. The his
tory of his life Is one that will inspire
hope and ambition In every poor boys
heart who happens to know of that
history. 1t is history that calls for
the commentator of every man with
red blood in his veins and right
thoughts in his head. But, what shall
we say of Mr.. Thomas F. Walsh of
Newport? The man who hires expert.
enced social secretaries to pilot his
wife and daughter to social distinc'
tion in Newport, Fifth avenue and in
the capitals of Europe? Does Mr..
Thomas F. Walsh inspire the same
sort of thoughts in the minds of the
youth of the country as did Tom
Walsh the miner?
Is it not rather pitiable that man
who has been able in few short
years to change his condition from
that of poverty to that of great wealth
should in the later years of his life
make himself ridiculous in an effort
to appear that which he is not? Mr.
Thomas F. Walsh would command
more respect and be more thoroughly
appreciated If he remained resident
of Denver, although he might there
continue to be known as "Tom Walsh
the MINER" than he does in his at
tempt to buy social recognition among
a class of people who are fast earnm,
for themselves the disrepute which
they deserve. The story Of the you'll
who came from Tipperary to- tn
mines of Colorado is interesting read
ing, but the reports of that youth
follies in his older days excites moth
ing but derision. Mr.. Thomas F
Walsh has right to spend his money
but why could he not exercise some O
the originality of thought In the spend
ing of that money which he showed Il
the earning of it? Instead Of doin
that he Is just poor imitator of hur