Would you be better off as an 1800's millionaire?

[JimJimmers]

Reading about Marie Antoinette got me thinking. Her house would have been condemned in modern times, at least in America. It was drafty, rat-infested and had no indoor plumbing. Yet she was one of, if not the, richest women in France.

So I wanted to do a lighter thread, because the last few I've done have been with a purpose. I think it's time for some intellectual dessert.

First of all, no pulling out Bible verses about how woe unto the rich, and all that. I realize riches are not our ultimate goal. This is just a fun thread, with some substance behind it.

So, what with modern technology, internet, all your favorite things, would you trade places with a millionaire of days past? Say you live in New York. Do you think it would be worth it to be transported back into a fine Brownstone, with 5 million dollars in the bank? You would have all manner of things to do, but the streets would be covered in horse manure and you couldn't hope to see a movie until 1867. (And not a good movie at that!)

Maybe you live in the South. Would you give up your Honda Civic for a stable full of fine horses and carriages? Please give your thoughts.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

Lol well with the example of Marie Antoinette in particular one must remember that she told the commoners to "eat cake" lol. Let's just say the slice she got wasn't what she had in mind.

 

[JimJimmers]

Lol well with the example of Marie Antoinette in particular one must remember that she told the commoners to "eat cake" lol. Let's just say the slice she got wasn't what she had in mind.

LOL! True, I'm sure no one would trade places with her. I was more thinking, will you trade technology for money. Andrew Carnegie, for all his millions, couldn't have a cell phone.

 

[DuchessAimee]

Lol well with the example of Marie Antoinette in particular one must remember that she told the commoners to "eat cake" lol. Let's just say the slice she got wasn't what she had in mind.

Hey! That's a relative of mine. Tread lightly...

 

[DuchessAimee]

I think it would be fun to be apart of a different time period! It would be amazing to see technology develop (cars, telephones, etc). The clothing would be annoying, of course, but frilly and girly is fun.

 

[wisebeardman]

if I did it. and knew how things was going to turn out (ie knew everything that would happen) I would totally jump into the railroad business

 

[seoulsearch]

I think it would be fun to be apart of a different time period! It would be amazing to see technology develop (cars, telephones, etc). The clothing would be annoying, of course, but frilly and girly is fun.

It wasn't the 1800's, but my Grandpa was born in 1917 and my Grandma was born a few years later. Her mother died in childbirth during a severe blizzard, and the body had to be removed from the house on a horse-drawn sled. While my Grandma was called home a few years ago, Grandpa is still going strong today at 96, and hopefully God will grant him many more years.

One thing I love hearing him talk about is the very first beginnings of so many things we take for granted, such as seeing the Model T automobile--a horseless carriage that was obtainable for personal family use! for the very first time, and his family's first car (he was a teenager and took a job picking apples to earn $50 for a radio to install into the car). He can tell you about encountering the television, radio, and telephone as they were becoming available for the very first time. He can talk about living through part of The Great Depression era... and coming home from high school to see his parent's house lit up for the very first time because they had just gotten electricity.

He also talks about the days when earning $2 for a long workday on the farm was considered a good wage, and gas was 5 cents a gallon.

He has literally seen the birth of many of the things we think of today as everyday common necessities.

I've come to like some of the "big band" music and singers from the 1940's because it always reminds me of him. (Jim, I'm sorry if this post was off-topic but if you spent a day talking with my Grandpa at his house, you would definitely get the feel of what it was like to live in a different century.)

 

[GodIsSalvation]

Ah in terms of technology for money, sure why not, then I'd just have whatever useless tech of that day lol.

Maybe wouldn't pick 1800s though. I'd maybe go back a bit further, more a knights and swords guy than frilly pantaloons and funny hats person lol.

Lol I always like these random topics on the Singles Forum though, so hmm, maybe just staying in this time period be better after all.

 

[Grace-Like-Rain]

Hmmm... I think I prefer the time that I live in. Every era has it's problems, but being middle-class in this time seems preferable to being rich in a previous time. I am not sure I could live without air conditioning. Yes, sadly, this was my first concern.

If I DID get transported to a previous point in history, I'd hope to have no memory of this one. Ignorance is bliss. I don't want to remember all of the amazing conveniences that I can no longer enjoy.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

Hmmm... I think I prefer the time that I live in. Every era has it's problems, but being middle-class in this time seems preferable to being rich in a previous time. I am not sure I could live without air conditioning. Yes, sadly, this was my first concern.

If I DID get transported to a previous point in history, I'd hope to have no memory of this one. Ignorance is bliss. I don't want to remember all of the amazing conveniences that I can no longer enjoy.

Lol I would want to remember all the stuff from this time personally just to see the look of disbelief on the ancients' faces lol.

"No for real bro, we have boxes that make the air cold in summer and the air warm in winter."

Lol then again depending what time period you be in, it seems the ancients all ready figured out how to do AC and Heating, then that technology was lost, then rediscovered. So meh, who knows, technology as we know it today could very easily be wiped out back to the Dark Ages level within a relatively short span of years. Maybe no time travelling backwards be necessary to experience such times. We shall see how this century plays out.

 

[just_monicat]

actually, i would probably love such a thing. i'm a sucker for gentility, social graces/chivalry and embracing the feminine virtues of an earlier time. i'm probably the only girl i know who owns linen handkerchiefs.

of course, i have another advantage for life in that era. i know far more about horses and carriages than cars, by a long shot. : )

being a bit of a history buff, there's a book that i love called The Lady's Guide to Gentility that i adore, published in 1856. it's a pretty fun read, and the first chapter is called "Agreeableness and the Beauty of Person".

i can't tell you how many times i've laughed aloud reading this little gem. it's much funnier once you get past the first chapter. here's a few humorous excerpts.

A lady's influence in conversation
Every woman whose heart and mind have been properly regulated is capable of exerting a most salutary influence over the gentlemen with whom she associates and this fact has been acknowledged by the best and wisest of men and seldom disputed except by those whose capacities for observation have been perverted by adverse circumstances.

Gait and carriage
A lady ought to adopt a modest and measured gait too great hurry injures the grace which ought to characterize her. She should not turn her head on one side and on the other especially in large towns or cities where this bad habit seems to be an invitation to the impertinent. A lady should not present herself alone in a library or a museum unless she goes there to study or work as an artist.

Propriety of movement and general demeanor in company--all these bad habits of which we cannot speak people are in the highest degree displeasing

To look steadily at any one especially if you are a lady and are speaking to a gentleman
to turn the head frequently on one side and the other during conversation
to balance yourself upon your chair
to bend forward to strike your hands upon your knees
to hold one of your knees between your hands locked together
to cross your legs
to extend your feet on the andirons
to admire yourself with complacency in a glass
to adjust in an affected manner your cravat hair dress or handkerchief
to remain without gloves
to fold carefully your shawl instead of throwing it with graceful negligence upon a table
to fret about a hat which you have just left off
to laugh immoderately
to place your hand upon the person with whom you are conversing
to take him by the buttons the collar of his cloak the cuffs the waist etc
to seize any person by the waist or arm or to touch their person
to roll the eyes or to raise them with affectation
to take snuff from the box of your neighbor or to offer it to strangers especially to ladies
to play continually with your chain or fan
to beat time with the feet and hands
to whirl round a chair with your hand
to shake with your feet the chair of your neighbor
to rub your face or your hands
wink your eyes
shrug up your shoulders
stamp with your feet

so, i'd have a bit of an adjustment to make to living in the 1800s. ; p

 

[maxwel]

If I lived in the 1800s, I'd die without a microwave.

On the other hand, you'd all be spared because I couldn't whine about it to everyone on the internet.

: )

 

[Fenner]

Nope, I like modern conveniences. I like indoor plumbing, I like modern medicine. I like T.V. I like daily showers. If I went on survivor they wouldn't have to vote me off, because I'd probably die after 7 days. This why I don't camp. Call me high maintenance if you want, but if I had to live back then I'd probably get the plague on purpose.

 

[JimJimmers]

Lol I would want to remember all the stuff from this time personally just to see the look of disbelief on the ancients' faces lol.

"No for real bro, we have boxes that make the air cold in summer and the air warm in winter."

LOL, If you showed them an iPad, you might get stoned for being a warlock.

 

[UpstateNYChristianBro]

Ah... yesterday's millionaires are not the same as modern-day millionaires. Sure they had money and if you converted to today's dollars, they are much wealthier than modern millionaire however, it does not work that way. Technically, their wealth are different back then as opposite to modern. Today is harder to live by even for the wealthy ones. Why? Today people are so blended that they are close to the millionaires because they all have cars, houses, etc.. just the size of homes. Back then wealth had different meanings such as owning large farm, the horses, monopoly control of businesses like the Rockfellers, Fords, and Carnegies of yesteryear. Laws and taxes were almost non-exist and they were wealthy if you compare with today's dollars in today's dollars but they were poorer because they lack of every technical means such as cell phones, televisions, lights, etc. Wealthy people had castles then manisons and now, just large homes. But living conditions back then were harder than today because of no HVAC system to feel comfortable, had rats (why you think plagues and communicable diseses were wiping out so easy back then)? Wealthy people were still having to walk on dirt roads, ride horrible buggies or carriages just the same as the poor people did. A good show explained about the wealthy people of 1800s was on the History Channel in early 2013 about the lifestyle and how they started their industries. It was them that started technology age and industrial age that set them apart from everyone else by their wealth.

I came from well-to-do families on both sides. There are landmark buildings in my families' names around my hometown and their wealth were the ones made what my hometown is today.

 

[kayem77]

I know it's a fictional character but when I was reading Pride & Prejudice, I couldn't help thinking how much I would enjoy living in Mr. Darcy's mansion. Yeah, they didn't have internet, tvs, cell phones or nice sushi places, but he had horses and carriages, a lake right by his mansion, beautiful gardens, and most importantly, an amazing library. I know there's no such thing as ''the good old days'' but, I like to entertain the fantasy some days.

 

[GodIsSalvation]

LOL, If you showed them an iPad, you might get stoned for being a warlock.

Lol considerring the real warlocks in the ancient past I think they'd be more likely to turn the iPad into an iDol.