Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-05-02
A New YORK Great RfAn=sharp Lines ID n
Large Pfcetrr.


Large Ptcttre.
The English author Of Guy Liuiagstone writes
q sharp description Of one Of New York's great
Commodore Vanderbilt. To Consider
tho influence that this man exercises on the
business prosperity Of the country, the desctip-
tons is not altogether agreeable and re-assur-
ing -
One day, driving back through the Central
Park-we were trying famous team, and had
gone out early, so as to "speed" them when the
lane was comparatively clear-we met wagon,
drawn by q pair Of raking browns, going at the
lazy, Looping gate noticeable in many trotung
celebrities when not extended. In the shadow
of the hood sat tall, spare, erect old map;
severe and somewhat stately is aspect with
touch Of the decision in the trim OF his beard,
the fashion OF his sombre apparel and the turn
of his broad -brimmed beaver Neither in figure
or feature was there the faintest resemblance,
yet something in his pose and method OF hand
ling the reIns reminded me at once OF deceased
dgnitary, better known in the Row than in Con-
vocation though austere dignity was assuredly
not leading characteristic Of the Dean OF st.
Bunyan's. In acknowledgement of my compan-
on = CHEEKY hail, this solemn elder vouchsafed
q ehort. surly nod, but scarcely side glance
out Of his hard steady eye and yet the two had
been intimate for years, and not seldom had
made venture in the same argosy. Temperate
and frugal-for tobacco is his sole excess, and a
trottng steed his sole extravaganza not a fond
husband or father, but just in his hard way to-
ward the children, ,scarceya protesting Christian
yet rendering to the church her dues, and not
slow to contribute to public charities; both
physically and morally absolutely fearless pru-
dent patient ,persevering, and sagacious SCENT
ing either danger or profit from afar with a
keenness allied to instinct such civic crowns
Vanderbilt may assuredly claim.
Now turn another page A despot In council
a bully on the tavern stOop; everywhere wheth-
er in Jest or earnest, asfoul-mouthed, sblasphe-
nous railer grossly illiterate and boorish, and
boastful OF both defects ever moroee and sa-
turnne, save when moved to surly laughter by
some brutal Jest lberal in bIibes, and some
times ostentatious in benevolence. but the veri
est miser Of private aims man who would
lever any day. hire sycophant than secure
friend always utterly remorseless, pitiless and
unrelenting and in his al fogant intolerance Of
rivalry, wAntonly perhdious and cruel. In the
early part OF this century aourished, like
mighty bay tree, certain Marquis, one OF the
Regents chief worthless. He had practiced the
Seven Sins so sedulously and extensively that
small vices began to pail on his taste and, even
in gambling, he craved for some adventitious
excitement 1T is poor sport playing with Itch
folks, he was wont TO aver but like win
ming of poor men-they feel II so." Truly, it
would seem as if some of the peculiarities OF
this amiable noble had been reproduced in the
Commodore That man Of his reticence aud
reserve should keep his secrets safe locked up,
is natural enough but that he should not sell
what unaccountable.
He has, ere this, given valuable clue to a
bar-keeper,. prize fighter, or trotting Jockey,
when his own kin and familiars were cropping
helplessly in the dark. Indeed it is credibly af-
firmed that his son-in-law, after being trapped
in divers commercial pitfalls, only escaped ruin
by at last going exactly counter to the Commo-
dore's suggestions; and, ever since, he has stood
much higher in the old mans favor, as one who,
having paid his prentice fees, is entitled to the
honor Of an independent trader. Assuredly,
there are very many mansions in New York that
would still remain closed against this Roi Car
oNe, were his wealth and power trebled. New
ertheless he is. beyond question, rather popu-
lar favorite. When, awhile ago, not a month
after the death of his first wife, the mother OF
all his children, aud his faithful helpmeet for
forty years, he sold her favorite horse to the
highest bidder, people only laughed, saying TT
was the Commodore all over = and others Of his
social offences have in like manner been CLOSED
over and con oned. Well, it little becomes us,
who have gathered up reverently the scattered
aspirates Of railway rhonarchs and been edited
by fraudulent Gamaliels, TO sit in judgment on
our neighbors but think We have never yet
bowed down before quite such an idol as this.