human
The general is all out of sorts this morning,
gpt
And so is Mrs. Abercrombie, said another.
human
Dissipation does not agree with them. They were at the grand party given last night by Mr. and Mrs. Birtwell. You were among the guests, Mrs. Craig?
gpt
A perfect jam, I suppose?
human
Yes.
gpt
Who were there? But I needn't ask. All the world and his wife, of course, little bugs and big bugs. How was the entertainment?
human
Splendid! I never saw such a profusion of everything.
gpt
I don't imagine that the charity fund has suffered anything in consequence of Mr. Birtwell's costly entertainment, replied Mr. Craig.
human
If the money spent for last night's feast had not gone to the wine-merchant and the caterer, it would have remained as it was.
gpt
Riches, thank God! can't be taken over to the other side, and your nabobs will be no better off after they die than the commonest beggars.
human
That will depend on something more than the money-aspect of the case, said Mr. Craig.
gpt
And as to the cost of giving a feast, what would be extravagance in one might only be a liberal hospitality in another. Cake and ice cream for my friends might be as lavish an expenditure for me as Mr. Birtwell's banquet last night was for him, and as likely to set me among the beggars when I get over to the other side.
human
Then you don't believe that God holds rich men to a strict account for the manner in which they spend the money he has placed in their hands? Are they not his almoners?
gpt
No more than poor men, and not to be held to any stricter accountability, was replied.
human
Mr. Birtwell does not sin against the poor when he lavishes his hundreds, or it may be thousands, of dollars in the preparation of a feast for his friends any more than you do when you buy a box of French candies to eat alone in your room or share with your visitors, maybe not so much.