Heir heads.

Benjamin Wallace-Wells's article "Like Common People" (January/February) was enjoyable, but stories of spoiled heiresses are nothing new. One of the very early Oscars went to a film he ought to watch called "It Happened One Night," starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. In that famous film, a wealthy debutante gets her comeuppance, for being born rich during the Depression, presumably. The same premise still works even on MTV.

CDR Larry A.Grant

Via email

It appears from Wallace-Wells's article that youth of the extremely rich are in as much need of mentors and guidance as those at the other end of the social spectrum--it is obvious that they are not getting it from their parents. Too much money is as much a curse as too little. Given a choice, I think I would choose the less affluent end where there is a greater sense of community, populated by people who look out for each other. Children thrive in a structured environment where the rules are clear and enforced.

I believe that those who attain contentment usually do so on a modest income that provides leisure time outside of daily work for intellectual activities and involvement with the community. Each of us needs a reason to get up in the morning. Even as adults we need structure to our lives; without it we start to drift, become feckless.

Andrew Donovan-Shead

Tulsa, Okla