Philanthropy may be a cornerstone of the fortress inhabited by America's ruling class, but it's also its first line of defense. Giving away money burnishes reputations by laundering imperfect pasts.
Nowadays, strivers wrap themselves in the cloak of philanthropy even if all they do is buy a gala table. But unlike spontaneous charity, philanthropy is a well-thought-out practice designed to do long-term good while removing the stains all too often acquired in the accumulation and retention of wealth.
At some point in our history, the aristocratic European notion of noblesse oblige became a democratic duty for Americans of a certain class, just as the seeds of freedom, reason, and individualism planted by the Protestant Reformation and French Enlightenment bore fruit here in the WASP elite.
Consider the life of George Peabody, a sixth generation American who remade his image, transforming himself from grasping miser into model humanitarian. Never heard of him? Well, listen closely, because you still may be following in his footsteps.
George Peabody started with almost nothing, launched himself into the financial stratosphere with a single-minded devotion to making money, and then, having achieved great wealth, gave it all away. In between he was a pioneer of the awful yet awesome self-absorption that would, within a century, be seen as a defining trait of the American WASP. But Peabody demonstrated a larger truth: While a flaw can seem universal, individuals can and do rise above it.
Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av Town & Country US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 2023-utgaven av Town & Country US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Jersey, JE ΤΙΜΕ
Nearly 50 years ago a museum opened in Paris.
THE HUNGER GAMES
Two former bons amis grew up in the same expensive suburb and cut their teeth together in the Paris nightclub scene. Then they launched competing restaurant empires, and the gloves came off. Now one of them is facing a suspended prison sentence and a huge fine. Welcome to the city's most delicious grudge match.
HIDDEN in Plain Sight
T&C was invited into the private archives and secret workshops of Paris, to glimpse the treasures that have made this city famous for its style and craftsmanship. It's a reputation worth fighting for.
GUARDIAN of Objects
Laura Kugel is the go-to art dealer for the world's most discerning clients, but her family's Paris wonderland is open to all. Come inside, won't you?
Ecole! Elysée! SCANDALE!
The path to the French White House requires a political education at one of the country's elite universities. As controversy swirls around Sciences Po-class treason, #MeToo à la française, creeping le wokisme-will its grip on power finally slip?
Are There Still Mysteries in Paris?
Surely not, in the world's most visited city! And yet: Why is the Louvre called the Louvre? Why do the upper stories of its 17th-century buildings tilt in? Why do even familiar streets feel so enticing, unknown? One thing is clear: So many of us return because the City of Light is really one of mesmerizing shadows.
High SEAS
How seductive is a cruise on an ultraluxury ship (yes, that's a category) like the new Regent Seven Seas Grandeur? So much so that a 132-day sailing sold out in three hours. It was time to investigate.
The Cruise Cure
One definition of bliss at sea is padding down a ship's hallway from your suite to the spa in a robe and slippers. Here's what awaits.
Only a Day to Spare?
These hotel spas-mini-me's of destination, health retreats punch way above their weight. So, if you're in the neighborhood...
So, Where Do You Ride in Paris?
A fancy equestrian's guide to the best of Gallic galloping.