The Washington herald., 1909-02-07

ture that may be submitted such
questions should be addressed 10 The
ArhiteT. care The Washington Herald
The last twenty-five years have seen
two marked changes of living in Wash
Ington- the price has Increased. the stand
ard has become more elegant. The lat
Ter is not the cause OF the former Prices
nave not increased because The standard
has been raised. for elegance does not
necessarily mean increased extravagance.
Elegance * that beauty resulting from
perfect proprety. from exact fitness. and
Is as possible 10 those OF small as well as
Df large Incomes
The increased cost Of living at a eapi-
tai which was AT Cne time known as
one Of the cheapest cites in The world
in which to abide. is due 20 the growth
Of the enormous fortunes during the past
hslf q century. and the establishment
here of muld-miilionaires whose only
pastims is seemingly an effort 20 spend
IN proaisacy that which their fathers
ar1assed bv virtue and Integrity. In the
'7gs $3.50 gear was an adequate sum
for a family. Of three OF four to keep up
an attractive establishment and do some
entertaining Vow that amount means
merely a bare existence. and three times
that is little enough for any one who
asDirss % take part IN society.
There IS no possibility OF returning 10
TIE old standard. but It lies with every
one 10 exert his Enhuence toward curbing
the exuavagJnt tendency or the age. TO
~.
things. 90 nave the courage 70 live within
his income. and 90 do without some Of
the luxuries that hts millionaire neishbor
affects. and YET not 20 live meanly. for
IF eli che vices this is the most con-
tempdhle.
Nowhere IS money spent 50 purposely
and so s5upidly as ~ America The
wealthy nohlemen q Europe are lavish
spenders 1ut they insist upon a Guild
FRO quo for their morev. II IS not thrown
about u make others envious or 20 rival
their ueighbors one does not read In
Tie society records that the Countess OF
So and So wore a gown that cost so
many thousand marks. or that the head
of the Duchess of This and That was
graced by a tiara worth LaQ0o francs
and so ON. An EugIishman or German.
Or Fre1Clmau. for that matter. can spend
fortune as quickly as an American. but
he does not take the public into his con
fdence. and it IS This osrertati0u, tie
published details or the d0ings Of the
very rich thsr IS demoraHzinc this
country. The golden calf was never wor-
SHIPPED In Egypt with such blind idoiatry
as it IS here En- America. The mere get
tins Of money. 10 matter what TIE c0st
and sacrifice. ana f0uJilE Of % when
acquired IS an American vice. and 50
debssiuE thar i- would he a wise idea TO
establish n chair Of social economies in
the public schools that children could be
early taught real values and made 20 see
that wealth Is q good servant. but poor
master. and that there IS something bet
-er than WeaItL-characte-
The arrogance of wealth is working
more harm in this beautiful country OF
ours than anything else. u should be
added 20 the seven deadly sins. and. IT.
deed none Of the others so cOarsen. 50
5-utalize. so debase as this same AFRO
Eance- Only the finest natures, the lof-
tiest souls remain unhurt by sudden ae-
uuirement Of great riches To such It Is
q sacred trust TO be dispensed for the
bettermert % the world, not FOR selfish
Indulgence. not for barbaric display. not
rs power 10 coerce those less fortunate
1Iouey-getting IS regarded as a talent a
genius almost, but this. like most popu-
lar ideas. Is an erroneous one. Anybody
ean become rich If he cares 20 make the
sacrifice, u De cares 20 i've poorly and
meauly as youta. TO subsist upon crusts
Of bread. as some 81 the miIlionaires OF
to-day brag they did, and 70 starve his
body and his soul while he boards the
fortune he dreams Of With the delials
and savings OF those early days the great
fortune is made The rest comes easy 10
one Injured 20 Eardships. with no tastes
10 Eratifv. and a. soul so small that il
VIII condescead 20 any baseness 10 pile
up the gold that VIII one day make It
master
The making Of fortune is not the
making Of character. and IN its gaining
character is too often lost. OF warped. or
dwarfed- SeI6shness. meauness. parsi-
uony too often 80 with wealth So many
instances could he cited 20 prove this
statement that It Is difficult 20 pick out
one, but here is an Illustration TO show
how the creation Of a colossal fortune
dries up generous Influences. Americas
greatest Millionaire has a country place
outside OF Cleveland. Going one evening
10 call upon a neighbOr. he found a pleas
ant company sitting outside under the
trees, enjoying their tea cakes and bon
bons- Il was gay company. and one
that would have appealed 10 anybody but
20 that visitor IL carried only one mes
sage - exravagance He invited the
hostess 10 take q stroll with him. and
when out q earshot Of her company
Eaid- Ny dear lady. this VIII never do.
You have Just come 70 our neiChbOrhOOd.
and I want 20 tel you that If you insist
upon giving tea 10 every one who calls
on you IN the afternoon you win soon
lnd that 1t viii be @ terrible drain on
your pocketbook, and they viii come just
for your tea. 7 never 60 t." concluded he
with great pride. "Au they ger al my
place is good. cold water"
She thanked her neighb0r for his good
intentions and his delicate compliment.
but she continued 20 serve tea 70 her
friends. who drove FIVE miles out OF town
70 see her. and doubtless got as much
pleasure out Of Il as did her plutocratfc
neighbor cutting of coupons.
These reflections were inspired by a
cave dweIler who writes. railing against
the influx OF wealth. The increased cost Of
living. and asking how she can live to-
day as she did formerly on the same IN
come. That can be done. she knows, be-
cause others have done IL But how and
where should her economies began, and
how can she conceal the fact that they
are economies2 Give me. for instance
she concludes, "a recipe for supporting q
family OF three on S-009 q year, modest
ly, yet elegantly You know me well
enough TO know that I cannot abide shah
biuess.'
II Is very wen 10 rail al the advance
IN the cost Of living al the Capital which
is true. as well. Of every place in the