The Model Millionaire, a Note of Admiration
A young man named Hughie Erskine struggles with his lack of wealth while being in love with Laura Merton, the daughter of a retired Colonel. Despite his good looks and charm, Hughie is financially dependent on an allowance from an aunt and has failed in various professions. The Colonel refuses to consider an engagement until Hughie has £10,000 of his own. One day, Hughie visits his friend Alan Trevor, a talented painter, who is working on a portrait of a beggar. Hughie, feeling pity for the model, gives him a sovereign, believing it to be a generous act. Unbeknownst to Hughie, the beggar is actually Baron Hausberg, a wealthy man who enjoys disguising himself for artistic purposes. Trevor later reveals this to Hughie, who is mortified at having given money to a millionaire. The next day, a messenger arrives from the Baron, delivering a letter that contains a cheque for £10,000 as a wedding gift for Hughie and Laura. The story concludes with their marriage, where Trevor humorously notes the rarity of model millionaires, highlighting the unexpected kindness of the Baron. The narrative explores themes of wealth, perception, and the nature of generosity, ultimately revealing that appearances can be deceiving.
By Oscar Wilde · First published 1887 · Genre: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor · 2,490 words
First lines
UNLESS one is wealthy there is no use in being a charming fellow. Romance is the privilege of the rich, not the profession of the unemployed. The poor should be practical and prosaic. It is better to have a permanent income than to be fascinating. These are the great truths of modern life which Hughie Erskine never realised. Poor Hughie! Intellectually, we must admit, he was not of much importance. He never said a brilliant or even an ill-natured thing in his life. But then he was wonderfully good-looking, with his crisp brown hair, his clear-cut profile, and his grey eyes. He was as popular with men as he was with women and he had every accomplishment except that of making money. His father had bequeathed him his cavalry sword and a _History of the Peninsular War_ in fifteen volumes. Hughie hung the first over his looking-glass, put the second on a shelf between _Ruff's Guide_ and _Bailey's Magazine_, and lived on two hundred a year that an old aunt allowed him. He had tried everything. He had gone on the Stock Exchange for six months; but what was a butterfly to do among bulls and bears? He had been a tea-merchant for a little longer, but had soon tired of pekoe and souchong. Then he had tried selling dry sherry. That did not answer; the sherry was a little too dry. Ultimately he became nothing, a delightful, ineffectual young man with a perfect profile and no profession.
What this Textopian page supports
The Model Millionaire, a Note of Admiration is listed on Textopian as a short story by Oscar Wilde, dated 1887 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Oscar Wilde
- Date: 1887 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Literary Fiction, Social Commentary, Humor, Romance, Short Story
- Length: 2,490 words
- Structure: 1 section, 53 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
- The Model Millionaire by Oscar Wilde
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- No Help For It by O. Henry
- Georgias Ruling by O. Henry
- A Good Match by Guy De Maupassant
- Nona Vincent by Henry James
Genres
- Literary Fiction — The story explores complex themes of wealth, social status, and human relationships, characteristic of literary fiction.
- Social Commentary — The narrative critiques societal views on wealth and poverty, highlighting the disparity between appearance and reality.
- Humor — Wilde's use of irony and wit throughout the story provides a humorous perspective on serious themes.
- Romance — The central plot revolves around Hughie's love for Laura, adding a romantic element to the story.
Tags
Social Satire · Comedy of Manners · Romance · Class Conflict · Love Triangle · Upper Class · London Setting · Marriage · Deception · Identity Crisis · Appearance vs Reality · Moral Ambiguity