Notebook A Spectator's
THE mere existence of vast personal wealth or hereditary titles is, of course, an affront to the dignity 'of man. I decided this when I was fourteen, and nothing has been able to change my mind entirely since. Nowadays, I have to admit, it's my own wealth that affronts me. There is an obscure ' lingering guilt in being able to earn more on some days than my old man made in a week. (He did all right when he was running Highland Cream into New York during Pro-, hibition, but I've always considered that a boyish lark rather than sound business.) Other men's wealth, and other men's titles, seem okay as long as they provide entertainment. I quite go for the Grand Duke Vladimir, for instance, whose loyal subjects are celebrating the 350th anniversary of the Romanoff dynasty this week. I expect I would be obliged to hate the Romanoffs if they were still lording it in St. Petersburg, but when they hold rallies in the Caxton Hall, you can't be angry with them. Then there's Mr. Boyden, who keeps throv,ing five-figure fortunes into Robert- son's boatyard at Sandbank. I don't know how much more money Mr. Boyden has, but I'm in favour of anybody who commissions Sceptre and Sovereign, because a beautiful boat, is a joy to all men, and without rich men, I wouldn't be able to contemplate such boats. I hope Mr: Boyden is getting a lot of fun out of Sovereign, but I bet he isn't getting as much as I am from simply look- ing at the boat. In fact, I am enjoying his money.
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