The New York herald., 1877-01-07
ANECDOTES AND PORTRAITS OF VANDERBILT 8
CONTEMPORARIES


vAypEIBILr LANDING, S. l., Jan G. 1871
.sThe Commodore" said OF his old ncighbors
chad three great qualities. He could
from his crown TO his by looking at him. He was
not afraid in his youth back agairst anything that
had money ana power 10 avidc, aud he had tine con-
sttuon, which ho kept up by frugal and temperate
habits"
SO instinct force and temperance ma1c Vanderbilt.
To which we might add the oppor,uy.y Of the time In
which he lived
USEFULNESS
Cornelius vandcrtAi. mingled enterprise well with
irugaty and had much OF the flavor OF sen air and
Of and bravery that we retGu gley remcm-
brancc OF him. He smeed of The aud ts preserv-
Ing salt although railroad Tor tho latter part
OF his life tho name OF commodore" stuck to him.
No other railroad man OF America had his personally
heroic character in ASSOCIATION with antique dtcis-as
pilotng pulling standing TO tho wheel, match
ing his activity and money against Old and rich monop
oes, and even subdung The predatory pcccarics
OF Wall street by his Bonaparte power Of
hurting mass,s OF money and stocks against
their combinstona 10 moro nearly than
any rssh American independent man. He
never wcld buy nor control newspaper, although
liable to constant assault and cabal
lie felt of tho mpregnabilty Of his personal
character his chastity responsibility and temperance
tina, he knew nobody would assaii them. or assaliug
generation He made no personal advances 10 corrupt
concilate Legislatures beyond giving the members
Transportation Some else did most o that species
OF work without acqualnting Vanderbilt, necessarily
OF the matter. | do not mean regular LOBBYIST was
employed to do corrupt work but there what
might be called political manager OF the road who
was the Albany representative oi IL such piece
OF properly, chartered and partly regulated by
the State, had to have conciliator vanderbilt was
independent OF towns and town councils, mperous but
iyrannica, captain but not prvacer. lie had that
greater power than silence tho power both TO be silent
and 10 speak. II speech be sivercd and silence golden
he the perfect currency OF civilization, the gold
well the silver. IL Is possible TO ken hm IN sew
respects the great soldier o President
Grant lie had obtusc and indeed, callous sides Of
character bot he loved horses, centaur company,
homciy personal "reminiscences, domestic comfort aEd
mobocrat neither restless nor sull He cultivated his
body he believed IN the text that II was temple
o God aud destined 10 be gior.ned, and most beaut
iu old age crept quietly upon hun, still straight, col
unnar, expressive ana rcsolute, facing death IKE
sailor to whom II Is ever new He had no neekncss
but The mcckncsslor character Is lot perfect
without something releniing He was not the mere
indoor merchant that stewart was. although more
frugal mau IN matters Of appetite ana cntcrtainmcnt
nor The cosecd convcyanccr that Astor was pIthousn
an owner Of immense real estate. Vanderot's rc"i
estate IN the large clies OF New York along the water
| fronts oi the Huuson ana Lake Ere, and IN the
metropolis were prodgious; for he was the majority
| OF his railroad. What II brought was his iet ne
mover yledcd to the real estate mania, ana was thc
on! wealthy man OF his period Win the snRacity 70
see 'h"t town lots were productive forms OF prop
cry, ana that wOrk and rest was the curse anu
piesslhg OF Tue ground AlinOugh an uniniormed man
III many INNS his business perceptions we're OF IN
extensive knd almost like nsplralions bat IN reality
'heY were hc lrult OF holding iycdly 10 Few orthV
uoA eon'e'ons taught him, perhaps, by his mother