Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-05-20
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VAN DER BII.T.
How hc Treats his his Friends.
The business Advantages of Sons
and SOns.in-A Laws.

From Medbury's new book, on Wall
street mysteries, we extrac. the following {:
| The newspaper belief that Vanderbilt
never goes back on" his friends, is not
generally assumed to be true by brokers.
There is o tradition that in years gone
| by, when the Commodore used TO ride down
to the old homestead on Staten Island, he
would now and then meet man who
courteousy offered to hold his horse. Some
thing in the appearance Of the stranger
struck Vanderbilt, and he inquired into
his history. He had been, it seemed,
broker sin the street," and, having failed
badly, had decided to follow Horace Gree
| ley's recommendation, and take to country
"If yon viii come to the city will start
you again." said the King Of Central.
Nobody could be more grateful than the
Staten Islander. He returned to Broad
| street, acted upon the Commodore's hints,
and in duftinle began to prosper. Brok-
| ers soon had faith in this protege of the
great man. They watched his movements
at the Board, and bought and sold in &C
cordance.
One day the Commodore was planning
large OpeIdllot. ~ "a 1O bIdHh, nech!uS
for point. "Im buying said the rail-
| wav lord.
Blank buys brayely--thc street follows.
Presently down slips the stock, and the
| Staten Islander is henceforth "lame
duck "One of the Commodorc'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.. Vanderbil,'s son-ia-
law, was always favoritc with the stately
old gentleman. The current gossip about
his marriage is not lacking in amusement
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? ~ quoth the money king.
| Clark repeated his words.
"You mean you want my money"
growled Vanderbilt, from his chair.
"You and your daughter be ID"
famed out the young lawyer, as he clenched
his hat in his Land, aud turned to leave the
room.
"Hold or, young man. said Vanderbilt.
Strengthening himself on his feet and look.
ing wonderfully suave and patcrna!, 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
| modores 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 dollars. He
boldly told his father what be 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 near.y
every member Of the heftmily. William Van.
derbilt is credited with having been favored
in this way. One day his father came to
him and suggested that he had better sell
Hudson-ll0 was too high.
"Thank you," said the son.
Nevertheless, William concluded 10 look
about him first. The stock kept steady,
with ups and downs of fractions Of one per
cent. By peculiar ways it was discovered
that the elder Vanderbilt was buying
quietly.
William determined to follow suit Up
Jumped the stock to 1877. 1t was o clear
&c per cent. in pocket.
When the operation was concluded, the
Commodore RODE around to the sons office.
"Well, William, how much did you
lose y
II went in at ITO on 10000 shares. That
ought to make me $260.000-"
livery bad luck, William" quoth the
father, trying to look extremely troubled
"Yery bad luck this time"
But then bought and SO made"
Hey? What sent you doing that, sir?'
40, heard that was your line, and so
concluded that you meant long instead of
Short"
"Ahem!'' croaked Vanderbilt pere. as
he buttoned up his fur overcoat and ssalked
out of the door. He always had high
oninion of William since that event.