New-York tribune., 1910-01-29
POOR RICH FATHERS
Separated from Children by
Business and Nurses.

One never can tell how a father is
going to turn out" was the very sage
remark of one of the smart elderly bache-
Tors at club the other day. The speech
was distinctly a thrust at some of his
feliow members for whose children he
had been godfather. Look at me-" he
continued, "and behold a model godfather
remember the name Of all the children 1
nave stood sponsor for and. by Jove,
Tom Collins forgot the name of his
youngest the last time I was there. and
made matters worse by giving as an
apology the fact that he had not seen the
Httle beggar for a mouth The trouble is"
this authority went on to say that the
strenuous social life led by the average
married man leaves no hour either after
breakfast or before dinner when q father
may become acquainted with his children.
Even to look at them after dinner might
disturb their slumbers: and so time goes
On indefinitely without more than casual
greeting in the morning or at night"
The up-to-dste father of a family. as a
matter Of fact. has but little time in which
he may cultivate home life or home rule
and beyond supplying his children with
every luxury he does little TO gain their
affection. and is more often than not held
up TO them by their tutor or governess
in the light of destroying wrath to whom
any naughtiness will be reported and from
whom g swift vengeance will be forth
coming. OF course, with the first child he
found more time for inspection. and for
while he gave UP part OF every Sunday TO
playing with this very novel toy. But the
day OF the average man al the world is
far too short TO hold all his engagements,
and in consequence they lap far over into
affairs, moreover. often combine business
with pleasure, and it seems impossible
TO cut them out. When the child ceases
20 he a novelty. therefore. it gradually
comes to occupy less and less of the
fathers time and thoughts.
The martinez WHO rules the modern nur-
sery. namely, the trained nurse. does not
encourage advances from the father either.
When he is playing with that precious
first baby she hovers ever in the back
ground ready 70 swoop down upon her
charge at the first squeak and never will
she suffer the children TO visit or he Wis
tied out of the scheduled hours At the
time when she is ready to have them Wis
tied in the morning father is usually hav-
Ing his breakfast, with the paper open at
quotations, and ne in turn doesn't want
to be disturbed. Sometimes there is a
quick patter of little feet. and small in
truders rush in for few moments; but a
Run away is soon the command, or else
nurse captures the truants, and the Incl
dent is not repeated for days
Sunday is no longer a day at home for
the wealthy. unless visitors are expected.
and then the children are kept strictly
within bounds-just exhibited. as il were
and then taken into secluded realms. If
no one IS coming there may be play for
part Of the day. after which the parents
depart for luncheon, drifting home only in
time to dress for some dinner.
1t is quite pathetic to hear the tots dis
cuss every detail of what father did.
what he said and what he wore on the
occasions when they were permitted 70 be
with him. And it is singular how vividly
for years to come these incidents live in
their minds, almost as great events, be-
cause so few and far between AS time
goes on the boys are sent 10 boarding
schools, and the teachers actually know
month than the father has learned in years.
The girls have their governesses, and lead
separate lives from the rest of the family
except for the daily meeting at luncheon
and the rare pleasure of dining with the
parents when no function claims them.
Apropos of the customary absence of
the children of the rich smart set from the
table of their parents the following story
is told. A very rich young matrou, with
several children, was engaging a new cook
at intelligence Office that only supplied
the best class of servants. The applicant
lot LDS pidCe NcS uOlli5 litI SlldIt OIL luSS-
tioning. and the mistress of the house
was giving very satisfactory answers. so
all seemed well until the hour for dinner
was reached. The would-be employer said
II wish dinner served every night at 7:45
o'clock, unless Mr.. Blank comes home early
and we have no enga agements: Then l have
a simple dinner al $50 or o'clock. so that
the children can be with us
The chidren?' said the cook; the
children? Then I'll not take the place. for
you're not rich and you're not fashione BILE
for fashionab bles never sees their children.