Caesar's Column: The Gorgeous Shell

In Caesar's Column by Ignatius L. Donnelly, Donelly describes the rich as a "gorgeous shell" then proceeds to say that "it is a mockery".  What Donnelly means by this is that on the surface, the rich present themselves as well civilized and kind people, but this is a false "shell" on the inside they are closer to that of "dead men's bones".  They are a cruel and uncaring bunch, only thinking of themselves, and never thinking about how their actions affect others.  Men and women are capable of good, we have gained knowledge and experience over time to learn rightnd wrong.  Yet with all this civility some people are still cruel to one another, and others allow themselves to be corrupted. This is true within the novel, the people who are well dressed, present themselves as cultured, and are considered beautiful, are the people with the cruelest intent. They gain their fortunes by stepping on the back of the poor, they have no regards for rules and break the law because they can get away with it. The outer appearance of their beauty and civility is a lie, because within this beauty is malice.