We have spent the last four days on Jekyll Island, a lovely resort of gentility and Spanish Moss.  It was originally founded 125 years ago by the famous “Robber Barons” as a place to escape the awful New York winters.  They spent lavishly on their 5,000 square foot “cottages.”  Their clubhouse even had a restaurant to rival their favorite restaurant back home, the legendary Delmonico’s in lower Manhattan.  They spent their days in fine style, indeed.  The men wore suits and neckties to hunt.  The ladies wore long dresses and hose to ride bikes.  They dressed the same for the beach.

As succeeding generations customarily become more indolent, they also become less interested in gentility and Spanish Moss, preferring more “exciting” places to vacation.  Eventually, this lovely place fell into the hands of the government of Georgia, which has done an excellent job of restoring it and commercializing it.

I was pleased to watch other tourists gawk at the ostentatious cottages but in a respectful manner.  Unlike France where the homes of the rich were sacked after the French Revolution, people here merely admired the ostentation of the Robber Barons with a wry smile and a knowing look.  There was no obvious envy, merely wry amusement.  That speaks well of both America and Americans.

Of course, I heard the term “Robber Barons” one time too many and finally suggested the tour guide refer to them as “job creators” instead.  For some reason, I was promptly heckled by the other tourists.  Did I go too far and get too political?