New-York tribune., 1877-01-05

hight marks the middle of the house-frOnt. The
interior of the house is plainly and comfortably
furnished. The only piece Of statuary of any pre-
tensions is bust of the Commodore by Hiram
Powers. The pictures on the walls are few and
ordinary. The Commodore never invested much
money in books. His mental force which remained
almost unimpairci, he hcll in reserve for his busi
ness and whist. Bunyans " Pilgrims Progress was
his fayorite book. and he sometimes carried il with
him when he had a long journey before him. He
was illiterate, and could not write note Of i've
lines without betrayirg ignorance of grammar
aud sl'elling-hook lie cluug to old furniture and
old carpets mainly for associations sake, end when
his second wife suggested new fittings and frcecoes
he was inclined to argue the point, but finally yielded
gracefully.
He was more lavish of lis money on his stables
and horses, which were kept on Fourth-st back Of
his house. The eEtrance TO hls heart, as many of
his fayoritos who were wise in their generation
found out. was through the stable door. All his life
long he loved horses In his stable he always had
half dozen Of the fastest ro2dsteTs in the country.
After MT. Bonner hc perhaps the greatest horse
fancier on the island Among his best horses have
been Post Boy Plow Boy, Mountaineer, Mountain
Boy, Mountain Girl, Doctor. and Flying Dutchman
In his present stable are Mountain Maid, The Boy,
iFlDcSTS, anu hOD 10y. Mountain DON WIS HIS Ia
vorite horse. One of his last purchases was L" Small
Hopes" a horse which gave promise of great speed
He was frequently seen driving in the Park and
through Ilaricm-ane. On trotting days at Fleet
wood Park he liked to appear the with his
finest team between heats. He passed much of his
time in his stable among his horses, groons and
Stdbcmcn. When he was unable 60 drive out he
wOUd order his men 20 tie his fav0ritc horses out
side of the stalls and would sit by the halfhour
watching thcm.
lIo WAS rs fond of cards as was Taeyrand: Prior
to his second marriage he vas member of three
social clubs, in which whist was regarded the
great social duty. He first joined the old Racket
Club and when it was broken MP lie became a mem
Der OF the City Club. and finally united with the
Manhattan Club. After his second marriage he be-
came more domestic in his habirs, and was seldom
seen al his club. But the Saratoga iye-pont euchrc
parties fiourised all the sanc in July and August of
each year. The Saratoga party was very exclusive.
A stranger was seldom il taken into the game
allowed to watch It's progress. Besides the Com
modoge there were usually at the euchre table,
Chester W. Chaplin President of the Boston aIe Al
bany Railroad; Joseph Harper, a New-lork Central
director; William Turnbun OF New-Yorls; Com
modore c. X. Garrison; a. Body, form
erly Of the Baltimore and OHIO, w. II.
Vanderbilt and Mr.. Peabody of Philadclphia.
The "ante" was always dollar, and owing TO the
peculiarities of TIE game. it frequently happened
that there was from $50 to $50 in the pool,
march" beng the only play that wOuld secure the
stakes. Under these circumstances the Commodore
and Mr.. Boody fell into the habit of playing worth
less hands when it was their next deal. or iii other
words, making reckless venture to improve their
chances of getting deal before the stakes were
captnrcd by somebody else. To put an end to these
tactics penalty of 50 was imposed If the person
p'ayirg a worthless hand failed to take two tricks
and SO if he did not secure single trick. The
Commodore usually played with caution and good
judgment. An illustration of his fOndnesS for
social game of cards was brought out a few years
ago at corones inquest over the bodies of the vic
tins of a disaster on the Hudson River Railroad
The Commodore had been subpenGcd, and appeared
in no very good spirits at being annoyed about
matter OF which ne had no personal knowledge and
could give no evidence, and so expressed hin-
self. The Coroner asked him il he had not been
informed of the disaster. YES answered the Wit
ness " the conductor teIegraphed for physicians to
aid the wounded. and tie dispatch was sent to my
house." What did yOu do about - Il did
nothing" he answered. cit came when was en-
gagged at whist and never allow business 10 inter
fcle with the game"
Mr. Vanderbilt Gas a nan Of few words. The
letters which he dictated to his coniidentia!
clerks were models of business tcrseness.
He never made a public speech. When he
was in London lis health was given ut a banquet
and theyt. were loud calls for speech. "Gentle-
men, said he al have never made a fool Of myself
in INV life, and am not going to begin now. Here
il II friend of mine who can talk all day. lie VIII
do my speaking" The friend was his lawyer.
He not ouly kept out Of politics, but he stayed
away from the polls. Twice in his long life lie
voted. ..., or,.,,,,
He always eviuced great reverence for the Bible.
He spoke of Christ as our Savior" and although
never member OF any church, be frequently at
tended religions services. His favOrite hymn was,
"Tneve is rest for the weary lie was easily al
fcrir,i by solcnm and pathetic passage in hymn
or sermon aud on sach an occasion never minced
matters, but wiped the tears away with his hand,
Ike an old captain Oh the hurricane deck with salt
IN his ey-cs Profanity was habit with him. ac-
n,,irrd ;p the dayS when oaths were an essential
cle,en ut in the steamboat business. As an instance
Of tlis ne wac telling story about has mother
and he always loved to talk about her-dnd Sild
that he surprised her one day, when he was tho
ord owner of his first steamboat by tabing her on
hoard aud showing her a magnificent least "hich
had been spread ia the cabin Ihe Coninod0res
word, were: Mother said, Cornell, where the
al did YOU get that dinner" The aNt0hiShcd
listener broke in: "Why, yOur mother didn't say
my such thing" but the Commodore again placed
the oath in lis mothers mouth and Only nohced
the Interpolation after his attention had been III
rcctly called 10 It.
Atone time the fist Mrs VandcIbiit's pastor en-
d.,royed IA influence her husbands character to
dood. of benevolence. Mr.. Vanderbilt manifested
some i,npaticncc, and finally handed his visitor
t,,o ticket by a steamer 10 the West Indies. And