The papers are telling a story of a multi-millionaire, one
Pedro Alvarado, who has just died in Mexico. Four years ago he was a working miner, but he discovered the Palmillo silver mine, and became suddenly immensely rich. His wealth seems to have turned his head, for he carried about large sums, pro- tected himself by armed guards, dressed in an extravagantly rich style, and bought anything offered him at preposterous prices. He was, however, as generous as Mr. Carnegie, gave great sums to the poor, built a great cathedral, and founded and endowed a large hospital. He is said to have offered to pity off the National Debt of Mexico, but his offer was refused, an almost impossible bit of romance. He had no children, and his widow, who inherits everything, must be the richest woman in the world. The story reads to us like an absurd exaggeration of some actual miner's actual good fortune, but it is curious in one respect. These giant fortunes which were expected to turn their owners' heads usually leave them quite sane. No multi-millionaire has done anything very original, but no one of the species, except M. Lebandy, the "Emperor of the Sahara," and this possibly mythical Selior Alvarado, has betrayed any symptom of lack of self-control.
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