AMERICA'S RICHEST BABY.

Grey River Argus, 23 April 1913, Page 1

AMERICA'S RICHEST BABY.

,<^_ A NEGRO PLAYMATE. America's richest baby, Vinson M'Lean, better known as "the ,£20,000, 000 baby," is how "3 years old, and 'henceforth (says the New York correspondent of the London "Daily Telegraph") he will have as constant com pinion and playmate a little negro boy of lowly birth. Mr. Edward M' Lean and his wife have, always feard that the child's knowledge of the fabu^ lous wealth in store for him might cause him to grow up to be a snob, and they have adopted John Winbush, a/ 5-year-old negro, so, that Baby M'Xeari will have democratic ideas from "his infancy. . From birth Vinson has been surrounded by detectiv.es, nurses aiid other grown-ups, and as a result, according to his farther, he is becoming precocious. ..It was thought best, therefore, . to allow him to be in company; with. someone,' .about his own age, and ""the 'M*'L'£ans signed a formal contract with the negro boy's parents virtually/ making him their property. By contract the M c Lean s do not actually adopt the child. 'He is not to bear their. name of inherit .from them, except as specified in the contract. He is, however, to" be treated as the equal of . young Vinson ■ M'Lean, and furnished with every luxury until he is 15 years, old,, when he, is to become Vinson's valet. . The . negro commenced his -new life by- travelling from Washington to Palm Beach, Florida, in a private parlor car on a special ' train. He has been supplied, with a fine wardrobe, eats with Vinsoh in the family's privatedining'rqdm, and sleeps in an adjoining cot. To-day the white and black boys, dressed exactly alike, made their appearance on the exclusive beach hand in, uand, and played together in the sand all the morning. Winbush~"will have a colored hotel servant to- wait , upon him /exclusively. Speaking. of the transaction, Mr. M'Lean said, "I don't want my boy to grow; up; living, the life common to children "gf wealthy people. I have got this boy for my , sjofi's playmate because, he "is a healthy, normal, sim-ple-minded > child. , The companionship of this- child will keep my son., mindful of the 'fact that he is one of the people. I don't Want a son of ., mine to be a snob, "The trend of wealth; is in that direction." Baby M'Lean knew Winbush in Washington, and pined for his, companionship in Florida, „to which the ,' juvenile millionaire "was suddenly rushed in .a special train after ' 'develbpitfg a bad cold in th© head.. ;. ■ ,