Aristocracy Of Wealth Not Probable

Aristocracy of Wealthy Not Probable.

Whatever the tendencies of wealthy Americans of the present day, it is extremely improbable that an aristocracy of wealth should ever come into being.

It has been seen that an aristocracy depends chiefly upon two conditions - the continued possession and exercise of power and the consequent unity of aims and ideals.

The aristocratic body in England, for instance, is self conscious; its members are united by mutual understanding. They acknowledge certian well recognized laws of life and manners. They depend upon each other to uphold these laws. Individually, wealthy Americans may be both self conscious and self assertive, but collectively they are antagonistic to one another. The accumulation of wealth implies struggle, and struggle does not bring forth the kind of qualities which make of the gentle and stately men and women of Vandyke's cnvases one great family.

- Anna McClure Sholl in Gunton's Magazine.