Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1868-11-05
THE MIILloNAIRE's WIFE.
RaMiSIscENcE AND CHARACTER OF NRs.
VANDERBILT.


Vanderbilt, died recently. We find in
an obituary Of her the following Incl
dent and character, showing that Van
derbilt had good partner in life, and
that to her influence probably was due
much Of bis saceess.
Somewhere about sixty years ago
Cornelius Vanderbilt commenced life
by running a ''perianger. between
Staten Island and New YORK. Daring
the day, he Piled his vocation, and,
Whenever lis duties permitted, visited
his second cousin, Miss !'opie Johnson,
then young aud comely girl OF 16,
who also lived on the island. Perhaps
it was the outbnrst OF his first love that
made the young sailor SO ambitious,
and inspired him with the energy and
enterprise he has always exhibited. -
Certain it Is, however, that the cousins
married, and old folks who knew them
then, speak with delight of the hand
some pair, for they were admitted to
be the comeliest couple Staten Island
has ever produced. 1t is unnecessary
to trace the Commodore from the time
he was ferryman, until he was pro-
noted, or, more properly, promoted
himself, to the responsible position of
captain of steamboat which piled be-
tween New York and New Bruins wick,
N. J. At the latter place, however, he
was proprietor of hotel, at which
passengers from New York, to Phila-
delphia used to take meals, and ocea-
sionally nights rest. 1t was a kind
of half way house. His wife superin-
tended the hotel while he was engaged
in his active aquatic vocation. One
evening he arrived from New York,
and while sitting at supper, said to his
wife
"Sophie, 1 wish ] had So, 900 in ad-
dition to what / have, to buy shares in
the steamboat line; think it would
be good Investment.
''Do you think so, Cornell q
II do, said he.
She said nothing more, but next day
consulted Mr.. Gibbons, and he advised
the investment. Next evening at sup
per she accosted her husband thus;
'Corneil, I've spoken to Mr.. Gibbons
about buying shares, and as he APP
proves your idea, there is the IS. 200 :
buy the shares tomorrow"
As she spoke, she took the amount
from one of those old fashioned pockets
| that used to be worn under the dress,
and handed it to her astonished hus-
band. She had saved the money unbe-
known to him, and it was probably this
same money that fioated the Commo-
dore into fame and fortune. This in
cident shows what the woman was. The
money was wisely sown, and. as is well
known, the harvest is great The sub
sequent history of Mr.. Vanderbilt is
the inherit ance Of all men and though
the part taken by his wife in building
up his immense wealth cannot be made
public, yet it is safe to say that with
him she bore the burden ana heat of
the day, and melted him by her cheer.
ing and courageous words to embark in
great undertakings, and by her wisdom,
conduct them to successful issues.
In her homo she was kind and anna
ble--a true and faithful wife, fond
mother and firm friend 1t was in
the sacred precincts of the family cir
Gle that she was best known it was
there her good qualities were most APP
parent and most appreciated. And now
that she is no more, her cautious coun-
sci, her motherly love, and bright face,
beaming with good nature, will be sad
ly missed.
Mrs. Vanderbilt was no ordinary
woman; far from it. Independently
of her position as the consort of one of
the notable specimens of self-made
men, she had inherent in herself ele-
ments that raised her above the level
of ordinary woman. She was just the
woman to be the wife of Cornelius
Vanderbilt intelligent, energetic, of
an ardent, hopeful temperament, and
withal kindly, motherly, and purely
womanly. It is certain that she relieved
him of all the care of large family,
conducting her household affairs well
and wisely, experimenting the educa-