Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-01-22
LETTER FROM NEW YORK..
Special Correspondence.
NEW YORK, Jan. l6, 1877.

NEW YORK, Jan. 16. 1877.
The world usually takes upon itself
the duty of criticizing the actions and
the requests of departed great
ness. and its course respecting the dead
Commodore forms no exception to this
rule. Mr.. Vanderbilt, true to his in
stinctive love for the acquisition and
retention of power, following the En-
gllsh law of primogeniture in his will,
far enough to leave at least fve-sixths
of his whole property to his oldest son,
VIM. H. Vanderbilt, and the latter's
family. The remaining fraction is dis
tributed among his other relatives and
friends in sums ranging from about half
million down, his widow receiving
only about the latter sum, and, now
thousands and thousands of people who
have no knowledge of the circumstances
governing the testator's action, and no
possible business with it, anyway, rise
up and SOundly berate the old gentleman
for not dispOsing of his millions accord
ing to their own superior sagacity and
fairness. 1t is true that some of the
minor requests and annuities seem very
small, but in the case of his numerous
children to whom he gives from 100000
to half million apiece, and who are
getting good deal of public sympathy
for their poverty, it would be interest
ing to have somebody tell US how much
better off these people would be with
ten millions apiece. Enough's as good
as feast, and all the comforts of life
can be got with 100000 as we'll as
with any greater sum.
VIM. H. Vanderbilt is to-day the
richest man in America, with property
estimated as high as from sixty to
seventy-fve millions, but l really can't
see how he can get any more comfort
out of it-any better board, clothes
recreation and opportunities to do good
than with hundredth part of thai
amount. On the contrary he will only
have proportionately greater care, worry
and confinement to show for his enor
mously greater wealth.
Quite a coincidence in connection
with Mr.. Vanderbilt's death at tn
great age of SO, was the death on tn
following day of his sister at the age o
So years. Her disease took place a
the old homestead on Staten Island an
her funeral obsequies we're held on tn
, day following those of her brother.
In his Friday evening talk succeedin
the death of the railroad king, MI
Beecher considerable astonished hi
|. hearers by saying some pretty sever
, things about the departed. which al
e somewhat interesting as showing tn
S eminent divine's views on death be
repentance. Referring to the descrip
ions Of his last hours. of the religion
{ conversation, singing of hymns, etc
Q Mr.. Beecher remarked that Mr.. Val
!, derbilt had never been known as
G particularly religious man, nor as
= very kind and benevolent one, and sai
e that it would have been a good de
e better for him if he had done some
IL this hymn singing twenty or thirty yea
= ago, instead Of reserving it all for h
% dying bed.
ss And, aprOpos of Mr.. Beecher, t
Iy regular annual auction sale of the PEI
Of in Plymouth church took place on Tue
~ ~ day evening last. the total amount re;
or lied clearly showing the effect of ha
er times, being only about $4,000, viii
is from 20 to so per cent, less than a