Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-05-05
VANDERBILT.
How he Treats his Friends The
Business Advantages OF Sons and
SOns-in.LaW.


How he Treats his Friends Tn,
Business Advantages OF SONS and
SOns-fn-Law.
From Medburys new book on Wal
street mysteries we extract the following
The newspaper belief that Vanderbilt
never goes back on " his friends is moi
generally assumed to be true by brokers
There is tradition that in years gore
by, when the Commodore used to ride
down to the old homestead on Staten
Island, he would now and then meet a
man who courteously offered to hold his
horse. Something in the appearance Of
the stranger struck Vanderbilt, and he
inquired into his history. He had been,
seemed, a.broker in the street, and
having failed badly, had decided to fol-
low Horace Greeley's recommendation,
and take to country life. g~t.c [8
VI" If you will come to the city / will
start you agein, said the King of Cen
tral.
Nobody could be more grateful than
the Staten Islander. He returned to
Broad street, acted upon the Commo-
dore's hints, and in due time began to
prosper Brokers soon had faith in this
protege of the great man. They watched
his movements at the Board, and bought
and sold in accordance. s'@@ 'a~'asFv
One day the Commodore was planning
large operation. In came Blank, seek
ing for point. I'm buying" said the
railway lord. 1aAh
Blank buys bravely-the street follows
Presently down slips the stock, and the
Staten Islander is henceforth lame
duck. One of the Commodore S stool
pigeons is what the irate brokers chose
to name him.
Similar incidents, trustworthy or other
wise, are narrated by the dozen.
Horace Clark, Mr. Vanderbilt's son-in-
law, was always favorite with the stately
old gentleman. The current gossip about
his marriage is not lacking in amuse-
ment. N#
I Clark was high-spirited man even
when poor. Having decided to wed the
young lady, he called upon his future
father-in-law, and, without preliminary,
began:
Commodore, | wish your daughter in
marriage"
"Hey?" auoth the money king
Clark repeated his words.
You mean you want my money,
growled Vanderbilt from his chair. sd
You and your daughter be id,
famed out the young lawyer, as he
clenched his hat in his hand, and turned
to leave the room.
Hold on, young man. said Wander
bilt, Strengthening himself on his feet
and looking wonderfully suave and pa
ternal, hold on; | rather like you. |
didn't say you should not have my
daughter. You may have her. rather
like you; young man."
Clark never did get much of the Com
modore's s money, except in indirect ways.
He had shares in speculations, and was
always well supplied with points Once
Vanderbilt proposed to "use" him
Clark lost hundreds of thousands of dol |
lars He boldly told his father what he
thought of it, and after time the losses |
were made good This habit of utilizing
everybody has been exercised, if we may |
trust rumor, on nearly every member of
the family. William Vanderbilt is cred
tied with having been favored in this
way. One day his father came to him
and suggested that he had better sell
was too high.
Thank you, said the son.
Nevertheless, William concluded to
ook about him first. The stock kept
steady, with ups and downs of fractions
)f one per cent. By peculiar ways it
vas discovered that the elder Wander
,ilt was buying quietly.
William determined to follow suit. Up
umped the stock to 1871 /. was clear
.6 per cent. in pocket.
When the operation was concluded,
he Commodore rode around TO the son S
,ffice.
We'll, William, how much did you
oseHP
Il went in at ITO on 10000 shares.
That ought to make me $3.50, 600"
Very bad luck, William, quoth the
ather tryingto look extremely troubled, .
very bad luck this time. luu
But then bought, and so made.
"Hey2 What sent you doing that, ,
irf'
o, ] heard that was your line, and so
that you meant long instead ,
{ short. ft.
"Ahemr croaked Vanderbilt pere, as
e buttoned up his fur overcoat and :
talked out Of the door. He always had -,
high opinion Of William since that :