New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-15
COMMODORE VANDERBILT.

Since the death of Commodore NanderDit
many OF his old friends whose lips sealed In regard
20 his personal characteristics while he was living have
conversed much among themselves ard with other
friends about the pleasant times they have had IN MS
company and have spoken Of some Of his distinguish
ing traits 1t said that the vast fortune which he had
collected and the power which he necessarily wieloe'
were constantly in his mind. He was consequently
always among his friends. lie dislked to be
contradoted when his views were expressed Tor ne e
he had made great achievemen during life at which
other men wondered As to tie accumulation OF his vast
wealth. the friends declare that many uansae"ons
proved successful through chance. CONSIDERABLE money
was made, and much kept safe by fortunate occur
rences which he had no influence AZ an ekap'o'
II ia stated that the ship North star went aground on
rock hound coast but al point where there was short
exteul of sandy beach, that httle harm was DONE III
the accident had occurred twenty feet elther way '"e
vessel would been crushed against the rocks ""'
the cargo and vessel lost As II was, the cargo was
taken ont the vessel was hauled of, and returned 10
port in safety. ~
HIS prlyate lie was not an extravagant one lie
lived in simple AID mcthodieal manner. HIS favolte
breakfast yolk only OF three sot-Doi 1o esss
cup Of black tea, with twelve lulnns OF sugar III IT.
Nte toast, and lamb chop. He always a;e this alone
I'm hs ROOM but the other meals were taken Win INC
family. Every dW he took drive through the west
side Of Central Park to Central Bridge and as far rs
Fleetwood Park. These drives were taken every AFTER
noon but within the last ten years the sunu'y urNe
Wa altered to o'clock in the morning TO aVoiu inc
great crowd on roads the afternoon He always ao
company hut his t.ends rarely sat in the same caree
IN him Sometimes there would be several carriages
GENERALLY stop would be made at siboern or "iIlam
Forcnc - for Il drink. The Commodore always look "a
,yineglass teequartors full OF in, with SIX unps OF
sugar This was about the extent OF his drinking "hn
!he last two years gave up the gin during his dfVe3 OH
The road and substituted half glass OF lager He man
,eent of horses was considered perfect He knew the
condition of his horses and whenever there was
brush on the road IN which he took part his horses
would eventually win When driving, he always had
cigar for he was myeteratc smoker, ana Wlth
his exception he was probably more free from the
foblcs and weaknesses Of tie world than any OF his
eonparicps On trip from Ncw-York 10 Albany on an
express train, ne known to have smoked seven
cigars
The greatest passion of which he possessed was his
delight for card playing. In former years the games
were always played at either the Union or Manhattan
Club and consisted only OF whist OF which he was very
fond Those who have played many games with him
state that he was a very adrOit and clever player He
had a most remarkable and wonderful memory OF the
cards after they had been played tie always
received poor play with irowh ana
praised q good one. He once had for part
ner WIN Cooke, railroad man OF Bridgeport.
He declared that Mr.. Cooke made the best play
he had ever during his long experience at the game
Hearts trunps and the Conmodores long sult was
spades the whole Of which he held with the exception
the king and caro- OF snallutIOhludtio "hIch "'Ie
held by Mr. Cooke without the Commcdore's knowledge
I, WAS the C,mnodores lead the irumps having been
exhausted and lie was debating his mind how to cap
ture or get rid of the king, so as to run out MS SUIT lie
az length LED the ace which his partner played the
king thus giving the Commodore the control or te SUIT
II the small card mad been play ed his partner would
have bad the leading card in tne suit ana wOuu nave
hcen unable 10 r turn the suit afterward The Commo
dore often referred TO this play and declared was the
finest he had ever seen.
Since the marriage TO the present Mrs Vanderbilt the
games Ia tins city have never been regular, and "Onid
only occur when party, made among his Old friends
went To hie Every Summer he went TO Saratoga
and il was there that the greatest games have taken
rlace within the last ten years. Within that period the
games Of Boston and point euchre were substituted for
whist The Commodore said that his increasing age I'm
haired his memory in recalling the Cal that hau been
PLAYED aud the game then became disageeabic task
than pleasure Point euchTe tben became 'he
fayore game The sessions for play ri Saratoga were
held twice q day regularly the striking OF the
clock The first session held at 10 O'Clock, ana
play was continued until i o'clock Then the party
dned and took drive. After tea the session re-
summed aud play continued until 1880 y. H. five per
sons always played, each putting one dollar IN the pool
and the dealer two dollars. This the extent TO which
the betting carried on, and many OF MS old friends
deny the statements that lie played poker or bad
thousands of dollars the table at once Although the
meetings at Saratoga were regular and long, no liquor
water FROM Hamilton Springs Among the old friends
who Joined in these games were Joseph Ha1ker'
Mr. rurnbull Chester W. Chaplin OF the Boston and
Albany Railroad Commodore c. X. Garrison, Col Sand
ford of the Adams Express Company, Mr.. Peabody
OF Philadelphia Azariah Body, and within the last few
years william H. Vanderbilt. AS to other games, he
rarely ever played them because he did not think that
he would ever able excel in them. He learned the
game Of billiards. but never became skiiul player
and after suffering defeat from several inferior players
in his estmation he discarded the game altogether, re-
marking that be began TO learn too late in life ever 10
bope To excel in IT, In ali the pleasant hourg which his
friends recall they emphaticay state that ne was On
terly opposed to lasciyiOus or leWd remark lie
would not listen TO any Improper words and would re-
sent such onvcrsaOn If 1t happened IN his presence
numbered him and frequently visited him, when "a dis
cussiun OF the past would ensqe Livery etcnns, wien
being the members the family and visiting Trends Tor
bis graf hcation. parlOr organ was procured ana e
songs would DC sung and sometimes the Commodore
would join H. Ms lac exceedingly fond OF music One
one else would sing an Irish song; tayoriies Of
the Commodore were DIXIE Sous m Una
songs An amusing incident occurred at one
Of these gatherings. hymn was selected when dc,
picted tie life OF after he had passed the allotted
lime of life three score years and ten Inc music vas OF
"a very plainye tone After one verse mad been SUM
VINO had been inteuty listening throughout, suddenly
crlsd, Stop enough OF that; no setup JOBS on me
dropped aud the well-lnown minstrel song Of &" The
Old FolKs at Home was substituted 1his was only
few evenings before he dlcd
Or DEEMs's ADMIRATION FOR VANDERBILT.
The ninth anniversary of the organization OF
Che Church of the Strangers took place YESTERDAY and in
terestng aud appropriate services were held III the
church. Every the building was filled. The
pastor the Rev Charles F. Deems d. d., read the regu-
lar Episcopal services and III Lis sermon urged his h0ck