The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1906-10-03
MORALS OF THE NEWLY RICH.
The Test Of Character Which Sud.
den Wealth Affords,

zen Wealth AHoros.
It was Doctor Johnson's opinion
that ladies of quality" make better
wives and mothers than of a
lower class. Perhaps he did not in.
tend this opinion to be taken too Sc.
riously; he was talking to Boswell
and Mrs. Trale, both of whom, it may
be suspected, he was fond of draw
ing out" OF course, human nature
ought to rise with its opportunities,
and so it does up to a certain point.
Its finest attributes are not usually
possibly never-brought out in the
burden and stress of the struggle for
life. On the other hand, sudden
wealth and the leisure that accom-
panies 1t are tests Of character few
persons endure. A long line of we'll
bred ancestors must mean something,
despite the occasional baseness Of
some descendant, and in every COM
r,unity there are families whose his
tory is a just source Of pride. Sucn
families, composing the real aristcc-
ltcy, whether titled or untitled,
whether in a monarchy or a democ-
racy, are at least incapable of bla-
tant vulgarity. This vice is peculiarly
that of the newly rich, who see in the
ability to spend money freely the hall
mark Of their superiority, and who,
puffed up by the suddenly of their
elevation, despise the criticisms Of
their fellowmen. Such a class con-
stitute truly a dangerous class.
there has been more than ont ex-
ample, of late, to show the low social
and moral ideals they cherish. Not
the least conspicuous is the divorce
case of a Pittsburg millionaire. Ordi-
narily the private affairs wen of mil
lionaires are not proper matters for
public comment. But this has beer
so fragrant an illustration of the utter
disregard of decency which men of
his stamp show, so cynical a defiance
of morality and good feeling, that
there is no invasion of the right to
privacy in calling attention to 1t.
The man in question having risen
from poverty to riches, practically de-
serted the wife of his youth and COM
PEELED her to sue for a divorce. There
was no charge he could bring against
her; he was simply tired of her; he
wanted more freedom" domestic re-
straint of any kind had become irk-
some to him. Doubtless there are
many husbands in whom all the glow
of sentiment has faded, who are
weary of the res angustae domi; but
for them this easy reputation of re-
sponsibility is not possible; they
cannot buy their wives off by settling
large sums upon them and go their
way rejoicing. 1t is fortunate for the
stability of society that impulse is
thus limited by opportunity.
The sister of this man said in court
that he was not fit to have charge of
his own son, and added that nc
wealthy New York man is fit to have
such charge. This, of course, is a
rank exaggeration. There are plenty
of men of wealth in New York who
are good fathers and husbands and
whose conduct is dictated by a high
sense of duty. Nothing is more fu-
tile than to indict any one class. But
the blatant vulgarity or worse which
so often characteriZes what Is called
our best society"-though not infre-
quently it is only a shoddy imitation
of the best-certainly suggests pessi-
mistic conclusions as to the stand
ard of virtue and honor which pre-
walls in the class conspicuous for
lavish display and reckless expendi-
ture. In every age and nation the
newly rich have been accused of more
than their share Of immortality, and
so persistent a charge can hardly be
baseless. But what is perhaps worse,
in a way, than any specific vice is
the callous and brutal disregard of
ordinary decent feeling these persons
manifest. The P%ittsburg millionaire
celebrated his freedom" by giving
an ostentatious dinner to his ac.
quaintances; it is well to call them
that, for such men seldom have real
friends. There may be hope for the
worst sinner while the sense of
shame abides in him. II that be
dead, what is there to redeem him?-
Providence Journal.