London
A. C. Fifield, 13 Clifford’s Inn, E.C.
1910
WILLIAM BRENDON AND SON, LTD.
PRINTERS, PLYMOUTH
TO
MY WIFE
Contents
| [Preface] | |
| [Chapter I] | |
| Extreme poverty a consequence of extreme wealth—Pity or contempt for the poor—Money ideal strong among the poor—The different phases in making a fortune—The general tendency of society—Relations between rich and poor—Dis-sympathy and class hatred—The social problem | 11 |
| [Chapter II] | |
| Money as a supreme concern—Intensity of belief in money—Definition of Contention—The impulses which act as the motive power of money-making—The limitation of human capacities—Money and happiness—Money as responsibility—The national wealth and welfare | 27 |
| [Chapter III] | |
| Definition of the limit—Those whose means are above the limit—Income translated into terms of subsistence—The case of the rich man—His establishments—His servants—His luxuries—Extravagance—Vanity—Sport—Racing—Yachting—Condemnation of excess | 43 |
| [Chapter IV] | |
| The rich man’s charities—His generosity—His hospitality—His land—The Feudal System—His responsibilities—The agricultural problem | 71 |
| [Chapter V] | |
| The rich man’s children—His sons’ education at school and university—His daughters—Love and marriage—Refinement of the aristocracy—Their alliance with the plutocracy—Smart society—Its general characteristics | 85 |
| [Chapter VI] | |
| The rich man as a business man—The conduct of a successful business—Money-making the incentive—Money no measure of merit or worth in men—Or in works of art—Financiers—The power of money—Imperialism—Political power—Experiments of millionaires—Gifts—Money administered by corporations or the State | 101 |
| [Chapter VII] | |
| The deceptive process of the growth of riches—The relaxation of effort—The love of ease—The power of convention—The disadvantages of abundance—Surfeit—Difficulties in a rich man’s life—Waste of talent and capacity—England as a nation deeply infected with the belief in money | 119 |
| [Chapter VIII] | |
| The problem of riches—Necessity of a scientific investigation into the lives of the rich—Interdependence of riches and poverty—Analysis of expenditure on houses, servants, clothes, food, amusements—Impressions of a poor crowd and a rich crowd—Tragedies | 139 |
| [Chapter IX] | |
| Religion and money—Attitude of clergy—Emphatic condemnation of riches by Christ—Notable texts and sayings—Want of conviction—Importance attached to dogmatic religion—Necessity for stronger denunciation | 163 |
| [Chapter X] | |
| Results of influence of money—No motive in lives of the rich—Money as our master—If money ideal could be discarded—Possibility of change of ideal for all classes | 179 |