The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-08-12

life are coming prominently forward in the
newspapers. He was very fond Of his re-
creation in Saratoga, where he generally
spent two months OF every, year rs respite
from the other ten months OF hard work.
He was very fond Of whist, and used to
play with companions, Of whom the greater
number have preceded him In Joining the
silent majority. Commodore Garrison and
Chester w. Chaplin are the onE ones oil MS
old companions who remain. A correspond
emit Of the New York Tribune speaks thus
OF his daily life at the Springs: ~
He usually rose at 7;30 O'Clock, and always
by o'clock. Congress water suited his
palate and digestion, but OF late he has
evinced fondness for the Hamilton Spring
on account of its iron properties. He almost
shared the doctrine of the old lady who be-
lieved that fish went straight to the brain.
He could feel, he said, the influence OF the
iron OF the Hamilton Spring in his blood.
Then he was ready for breakfast at about
$50 o'clock. He ate sometimes heartily,
but never abused his appetite, ana adhered
closely to his theories OF food and its direct
assimilation. He never ate the white OF an
egg. and when once asked his reason Ter
picking out the yoik and discarding the
rest. replied that the white contained no
nutrimcnt, and he didn't see why it should
be used to lumber up the stomach. He was
opposed to a mixture Of food, and White
fond of varieties Of flesh and fowl, he could
not be induced, rs he expressed II, 10
"makc ME naeerie Of the stomach"
After breakfast he was on the piazza Tor
a smoke and for quiet chat, which usually
drifted into a suggestion that 1t was time
..to resume" The whist-party would sst,
us a rule, till the dinner hour. After din
ner there was always another cigar or two,
more chat and q drive. II he had his own
team. he drove five or ten miles out, and
knew their speed and endurance. lie ire,
ouently drove 10 the lake, but respected all
noints OF the compass. After tea, when
he seldom delayed after I O'Clock, and never
ate even a cracker between meals, life was
something OF burden till the WHIST game
was called, which was pursued IN ueau
earnest. and without much fear OF inter-
ruption, till IL O'Clock, the Commodore re-
firing always before midnight.
The late Rcverdy Johnson and John I.
Kennedy, of Baltimore, were two OF the
Commodore's intimates, and were frequent
" seen at the whist-table with him. he
ALWAYS played to win, no matter whether the
stake was large or small, and there had 10
he limit fixed to hinder him from running
un the pool. While he was playing cards
he never could brook interruption. the
same correspondent tells this characteristic
incident OF him:
When Robert l.. Schuyler ran away, ow-
ing to his financial endorsements, ana the
Commodore was q creditorto aVast amount,
n gentleman rushed into the CLUBHOUSE
white as a sheet and broke the news Dreatll-
lessly to the Commodore, who was at cards.
He played right on without saying awning
or showing any excitement, finally remark
ING that SCHUYLER was Il good fellow, and
could have had q million dollars il 1t would
have saved him. One day gentleman
called on the Commodore and insisted on
an interview The Commodore never re-
fused to see people, but was not SLOW 10
hint that they might 80 if their business
did not interest him. In this case young
lady acquaintance was in the parlor, ana the
Commodore informed the gentleman, in an
swer to bis request for privacy, that tnere
could be nothing said between them that
any person might not hear. The interview
WINS short, and the young lady inquired:
"Now, Commodore, what did you fib to the
gentleman for: you that preach SO much
about truthflllncss and honestly" He had
eyaded the exact truth to rebuke an imper-
.tinent question, which was none OF the gen.
tleman's business. 'sWell," said the Com
modore, "when man asks you question
that he has no business to ask, and he knows
IT. YOU are not always bound to tell him the
truth, if lie will do no particular harm."
OF the interesting gossip in the same let
ter concerning him the following is the most
important: -'-.
The Commodore is much OF a "ladies'
man." He has seemed to grow good-look-
ing and refined in feature as he advanced IN
years, rs thoughtful and vigorous men
always do. 1t is not remembered here that
<oo init in hotI.rn0In1.
but in the parlors he was frequently the
centre Of company of ladies, with smile
on his features, and doing little more than
his share OF the conversation. Among gem
tlemen he Is not very talkative, and does not
converse about the money-making part OF
his career. He loves rather to narrate his
boyhood adventures and talk OF the time
when life was o. struggle.
In 1865 the old United States Hotel was
burned, and Vanderbilt the next year stayed
at Congress Hall, where he was annually
guest till 1876. At Congress Hall whist was
not SO much played, and from that time Tor
ward the Saratoga game was point cuchre::
He was in Saratoga when the news came OF
the serious illness Of his first wife. She was
n woman OF good business faculties, and
one who knew her says that her Skill IN
keeping hotel, whereby she amassed $780,
900, was part OF the capital which gave
the Commodore a good start in the world,
and that her counsel contributed largely to
his business success IN after years, My In,
formant said also that because OF the good
part the mother had taken in building up
the Commodore's fortunes, ~"the girls"
meaning the Commodore's daughters,
"compiained Of his giving such an immense INN. u.'e
truth of these alleged complaints, for "the
girls" have been maguifcently lowered,
and the Vanderbilt policy Of massing the
by all the family. The elder son OF the
house will be as complete master OF the
Vanderbilt millions and the Vanderbilt en-
terprises as the father has been. The main
possessions in railroads it is impossible to
divide adyantageously among half score OF
heirs. And it is at once for the family,
the corporation, and the public good that
the railroads should remain under one
direction, pledged, as it is understood w.
Il. Vanderbilt is, to make no more combi-
nations with the other trunk lines. UNI
darsfapd that Mr. Vanderbilt lately said that