The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-03-23
monkey DINNERS
GO into DISCARD.
Along With Them Go Diamond
Dog Collars and Per-
fumed Fidos.
SOCIAL RACING DECLINES
Professor Fisher Sees Better
Ideas Growing Among
American Rich.
rspeoial to The Tlmes-Dispatob.

lSpeo1al TO The Times-DiSpatoh.1
Now York, March 22.-No more
monkey dinners: no more $1,000. 900
diamond dog collars; no moro bejew-
eled. perfumed Fidos. taking the air
on the avenue behind gold-liverled men
tn $4,000 automobiles. all for the pur-
pose of exploiting ones wealth and
making the less 'enterprising rich jeal-.
Gus.
This sort OF extravaganza among
certain members OF fashionable So
cioty. which Irving Fisher. professor
of political economy at Yale Univer-
sty, characterizes as social racing"
among Americas wealthy. Is fast
sounding It's own death knen.
In remarkable interview which
Prof. Fisher gave to The Times Dis
patch correspondent in his home in
New Haven to-day. he advanced the
belief that the top note Of foolish So
cial rivalry" generally speaking, had
been reached.
'Of course" explained Prof. Fisher,
II do not mean to say the end OF fool
ish extravaganza has come. What ]
mean Is that the character OF social
racing. speaking broadly. has under
Sone n great change.
To-day we are realizing an aristoo-
rncy Nof work and usefulness. which is
taking the place of the old aristocracy
or leisure and vanity. To-day we are
not only setting up such an aristooraoy.
which great wealth makes possible
but our richest men have already set
tho fashion. and their example is rap
idly being followed by the rank and
file of the less rich.
Instead of engaging In a social cut
throat competition to see which one
can give tho grandest ball, or the
most gorgeous dinner. two of the
worlds rich men--John ID. Rockcfel-
Ter and Andrew Carnegie-are engaged
in a notable rivalry to see which one
can do the most good to humanity in
the endowment of colleges and scien-
l. tinc research work
I'VE, no doubt, always shall have the
desire for certain distinction which
wealth can give. But. instead of vul-
gar display and foolish vanity. there
il gradual tendency among the rich
TO distinguish themselves by their
benefactions instead of by their large
expenditures.
I'VE arc gradually. getting away
from the old idea that getting up In
the world meant To get rid of work.
| and that to be a gentleman. one must
lead all idle and useless life"
professor Fisher Described many
spectacular eXtravagancles INDUCED
in by the sons of rich American
abroad. and added:
John D. Rockefeller, IT., closely re-
sembles to my mind the ideal son OF
ton for the vast good he is accom-
! plishing for humanity"
"EXtravagant dress is a relic OF tho
old ideal of social racing" continued
Professor Fisher. Ideas of leisure
were so dominant in the old days that
men went in for expensive clothes AS
much as women. Court dress is the
survival of that. To-day extravaganza
dressing is left to the vanity of wo-
man.
The woman's movement to-day Is
the centre of gravity of woman's inter
| est.
There is the notable tendency among
rich women to-day to follow the OK
ample OF mllionaires Rockefeller, Car
negie. Phipps and Fricl<. and distin-
guish themselves in benehting human
! ity.
we hear more to-day OF the bene-
| factions Of Mrs. w. * Vanderbilt.
Mrs. Helen Gould Shepard Mrs. T. II.
Hartman and Mrs. Russell Sage than
we do of great rivalry i'll social en-
tcrtainment among these women of
vast wealth, their jewels and other
! possessions which q fortune can grant
| ITO use great wealth to set stand
ards Of luxury and cXtravagance is
/ doing infinite injury to society.
IF we study the history of Newport
or similar fashionable resorts, we find
that social racing has gradually re-
suited in setting a pace which only
the most wealthy can keep up and
even for them expenditure represents
cost rather than satisfaction.
Much has been said of late about
the Importance of living the simple
life, hut SO far as / am aware. there
has been no anlysis TO show why it il
not lived.
Social racing extends from tho tor
TO the bottom of the social ladder.
That social racing is rapidly turn
ing into channels for social benefit is
a most encouraging sign Of the times
Perhaps some day great wealth. witt
its foolish eXtravagances, like othe,
great wastes. may be caught and har'
messed and made to do some OF the
worlds work
However" concluded Professo
Fisher. like the armies Of the world
one nation, by disarmament. cannon
bring about universal peace"
HURT IN MINE EXPLOSION.