NO LONGER IDLE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12753, 28 March 1910, Page 1

NO LONGER IDLE.

"The Passing of the Idle Rich," is ther 1 title of a new book, published by a New York linn, from the pen of Mr Frederick Townsend Martin, who is devoting his career to promoting a higher-s tandard of culture and humanity among the upper 10,000 of America — misnamed the "Four Hundred." Mr. Martin — to quote Ins newspaper admirers — "tears aside the veil of tho inner sanctum of Fifth Avenue society and reveals, to an astonished world the amazing moral reformation which has- ovej-takeu. his plutocratic compatriots." He describes tho idle lives they used to Jive when, idleness was deemed honourable. Now a new spirit has come over American society which considers idleness a disgrace. Even the richest consciences, it eeenis, have awakened, and their owners have joined the great army of workers attending offices in Wall street, arriving punctually, however tired tho previous night's dancing has . made them. Mr Martin adds that tfie great ladies of Now York society, while they do not score delights; now livo laborious days. They may be day in and day out soothing the pillows of the sick and poor in tho hospitals, and none Suspects when they appear, brilliantly gowned, gay and witty, at evening parties, how arduously they have been devoting themselves to charitablo' works. Tho moral of the book is that rich Americans deserve their magnificent homes nnd expensive motor cars.