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THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE
fflLflC T^ADE
VOL. LV1I. N o . 12 Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman BUI at 373 Fourth Ave., New York, Sept. 20,1913
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SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
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RE we Americans really money mad?
At times it seems as if we were approaching that position, and the money craze does
L not extend to any special branch of the human race—it includes them all.
Here is a degenerate who has made a sensational escape from an asylum, and the
papers have been featuring him, together with pictures of his relatives, including village constables
who arrested him in Canada. As a front-pager he is several laps ahead of anyone on the public
stage at the present time, and yet all of this publicity is not by reason of any special accomplish-
ments of his family, for they are not people of intellectual distinction.
Why, then, this publicity?
Simply on account of the money possessed by him and his relatives. Sweep the money away
and the interest in the lunatic ceases.
A tale becomes interesting when it relates of an individual possessing a huge amount of
money—the money attracts.
New York has recently had a couple of brothel plays, which, it is to be hoped, will be sup-
pressed, but which were put on the stage for no other purpose than to draw in big receipts at the
expense of the morals of our people. With such plays the stage ceases to be entertaining—
it becomes revolting.
When money enters in everything else goes out!
The grand opera singer is the one who draws money to the opera house.
A high official but twice removed from the presidency of the United States is so hungry for
money that even though his income is ample, he finds it necessary to sacrifice his dignity to appear as
a star lecturer and is featured in large and flaming billboard announcements together with Swiss
yodlers and other similar attractions.
Any newspaper story is interesting when it tells of the accomplishments of money.
The popularity of the novelistic creation the Count of Monte Cristo was made on account of the
power of millions dramatically portrayed.
The woman who wears a fortune in jewels on her neck is interesting, not on account of her in-
tellectual charm or physical beauty, but simply the value in coin of the realm which is displayed
on her person.
Even the sex motif and the crime motif pale before the money motif!
We do not care about the individuals, but when the money enters into any story or scandal, then
the interest becomes intensified.
I repeat, this peculiar condition is not confined to any particular class of people.
We seem to be money worshippers, and when a man dies who has accomplished much good in
the world—who has been a true man—a good husband—a man who has exerted a healthful and help-
ful influence, passes away no one outside of a little circle of friends notices the event.
When a great scholar or writer passes away, brief notices appear in the papers and that is all; but,
let a rich promoter—a man who has scrupled at nothing to become the possessor of a gigantic fortune,
reach the ill-health stage, the columns of the daily papers are filled with apprehension, and bulletins
recording his condition appear as regularly as the rising of the sun. Let him pass away and illustra-
tions appear in the press showing his progress from the cradle to the grave, and, yet, remove the
money element and these same papers would hardly have given him a stickful.
So it goes!
Yes, we have fairly earned the title of being a nation that is
money mad, and I am rather inclined to think we deserve it.
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