The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-02-14

New York, Feb. 14.-Those who
maintain that the extravaganza of the
American people threatens the national
prosperity are finding support for
their claim in some statistics just COM
piled of expenditures on account OF
various luxuries imported during the
past year. These figures show that
approximately $50,000,000 was paid out
for diamonds, precious stones and
iewelry imported, or a larger outlay
than was ever before made on this
score. Even this amount seems small
compared to the sum of $120,O0O,0
devoted to various forms of women's
wearing apparel, including furs, laces,
hats. gowns and toilet requisites. On
art objects Americans expended trifie
over SOS. 900. 900, while furnishings for
wealthy homes, including china, glass,
and porcelains, rugs, hangings, and
ANTIQUES of various sorts accounted for
sac. 900 900 more of the sum spent
abroad. For foreign wines and liquors
another $254 1000 900 was expended about
one-uuarter of this representing the
cost of imported champgnes. The
tobacco bill paid by Uncle Sam to
other nations amounted to S33,000,0 600
and there are many minor items in
the list such as $7,O00.000 for foreign
made toys and like sum for horses
and automobiles. Altogether these
eight items in the list of luxuries pur-
chased abroad-chiefly from Europe
in the past year amount to over $780,
900 900. Two thirds Of this sum, say
the critics might better be kept at
home. It's expenditure, they hold, is
not an index of prosperity but Of a
growing habit OF extravaganza which
ultimately will injure the progress of
the country If it is continued.
The death this week in a public in
stitution of Robert Caldwell revives in
terest in a story that was one of the
greatest sensations of the country a
generation ago. He claimed to be
possessed of all the details regarding
the robbery of the grave of A. 7. Stew
art, the merchant prince" Of New
Yerk in his day That the body of
Stewart was stolen and held for ran
som was pretty thoroughly established.
AS to whether 1t was returned and the
ransom paid or where it is now inter-
red is a mystery that has never been
cleared UP. That Caldwell knew any
thing about the matter, however was
generally discredited. A few years ago
he gained renewed notoriety by APP
pearing as the principle witness in the
suit of a London claimant to the estate
and title Of the Duke Of Portland. In
this suit he swore that the Duke of
Portland did not die as he was sup
posed to have died, but lived on for
many years in the guise Of London
shop keeper The statements put forth
by Caldwell in connection with these
and other famous mysteries caused
him to be dubbed the great American
AFFIDAVIT maker although in reality
he was an Englishman. AIienists de-
clared that he was suffering from a pc
cuIiar brain disease that was re-
sponsible for his mania for mixing in
cases of mystery. Apparently he be-
lieved in his decisions, If such they
were, to the very end OF his life which
remains as great a mystery as any OF
these which he was fond of associat-
ing himself.
How vast q business the antomo-
bile industry has come to be was Illus.
trated during the past week by the