Year: 1864

The Petroleum Artstocracy st Home
and Abroad.


We publish this morning a very carefully
compiled and oapitally written account OF the
travels and observations OF one Of our special
correspondent In the petroleum. oil district Of
Western Pennsylvania If the wonders Of that
region throw the Arabian Nights into the shade
and quite eclipse California 1t is no more than
We expected. For weeks and months we have
been amazed and amused at the gorgeous tales
of the petroleum agents, the petroleum specu-
lators and the petroleum prospectusos, aud we
are not surprised to discover that at least
portion Of their magnificent romanoes Is founded
on fact This is the first full and impartial ac-
count Of the petroleum district ever given to
the public, and We recommend 1t to very gen.
eral perusal.


In this age Of modern miracles an intelligent
man, who keeps up with the spirit of the times,
really hight not to be astonished at anything.
A sensible farmer has no more right to become
excited because oil suddenly bubbles up 10 his
barn yard and makes him a millionaire than
he would have to be surprised II 1t rained
diamonds. There is nothing like getting used
to these little occurrences which may seem
somewhat singular at first, but are, after all,
only the result Of we'll known natural laws.


With some such philosophy tho majority of the
petroleum aristoorats appear to quiet them
selves. According to our correspondent,
the natives of the petroleum region
stay at home, show no disposition to
travel about, and, In short conduct them
selves as though they cannot realize that they
have been transferred, 10 the twinkling Of an
eye, from decent poverty to immense wealth.
No doubt the first shock of such good fortune
is stunning; but then the residents of Petrolis
have had time enough to recover from the
shock. Some of them, it is true, do indulge In
little display. There is one petroleum arls-
tocrat. for example, who has an income Of
three thousand dollars day-and goes TO a
country town in New York to waste it. There
is another petroleum aristocrat who has the
same income-and remains In the oil region,
where he cannot find house large enough to
hold his money, and has to refuse greenbacks
because they are bulky. Another arstocrat is
not twenty years old and his income is two
thousand dollars day. He was a poor,
adopted boy few years ago, and now he
rules the rural roast like provincial prince


He bets seventy-fye thousand dollars on a
card; he buys splendid span Of horses and
new carriage, talss a drive and presents the
whole equipage to his coachman; he INDUCES
in all the foolish and riotous extravagances Of
man who has more money than he wants and
can find no place to spend 1t. Let him come
on to New York and he can spend his two
thousand per diem like q gentleman and run
in debt besides, unless he practices economy
and avoids fashionable tailors, hotels and res
taurants.


In fact, If We were asked to offer advice to
the petroleum sristocrats we should urge them
all to come to New York. Here are plenty Of
people ready and willing to relieve them Of
their superhuous cash and give them rational
enjoyments In exchange. What can q rich
man or woman do In q region which is rural
without even being Arcadianf II we compre-
bend our correspondent correctly, Petrolia
is all mud where there are no noun
tains and all mountains where there
is no mud. Dives might as we'll be
poor il he is not to have his purple and fine
linen, and fare sumptuously every day. Crnsus
is no better than an Indian If he takes up his
permanent residence in the Rocky Mountains
Here in New York we have all sorts of estab.
lishments to fit out the aristocrats, at high
prices. We have any number Of theatres and
good plays. We have the only grand opera in
the country. We have the only Park this side


the Atlantic, and it is certainly more beautiful
than any upon the other side the Atlantic. Be-
fore long we shall have a superb Drive all
| around the island; for We expect the next Leg


slature to arrange this great Boulevard. In


word we have the metropolis Of the nation,


aud in spite Of the financial storm which i'm
pends over the country, the metropolis is gayer


than ever. The petroleum arlstocrats eau live


WELL sleep we'll, eat WELL drink we'll and enjoy
life here, instead Of vegetating in the wilds of
Pennsylvania, and varying the terrible monoto-


ny Of existence by an occasional trip to the
village Of Philadelphia. Here they can buy


the largest diamonds, the richest silks, the best
cloths. Here they can hear the finest singers
aud see the best actors Here they can join


business with pleasure, by speculating IN their
own stocks on Change. Three hundred petro-
leum stock compauies-some genuine aud
some bogus-are already formed and ready for
oil and customers Here is the focus of political
excitements and financial excitements, and
social excitements. We cannot believe that
the petroleum aristocrats can resist these temp
tations. Maretzek ought to copy Of their
names, some Of which We publish, and call the
roll every opera night A wren transformed
into peacock would begin to strut, and 1t is
strange IL farmers and farmers wives can be
transformed into aristocrats without wishing to
air their new and fine feathers.


Besides oil this, II must not be forgotten that