Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1877-02-01

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AS hard as rock;
As stiff poker,
AS calm, as a clock; rr}.{
( AS green as a.gosling, .-
AS brisk bee;
And now let me stop,
Lest you weary of me.
vANDERB1LTs PERSONAL HABITS.
Commodore Vanderbilt came of a long-lived
family, and had always, until very recently,
enioyed the best of health, looking at 80, save
for bis silver hair, but half. that age. He was
tall, Of magnificent physique and carried
himself like very dignitary of the church
of England, which bearing, with his constant
suit Of black and white neck tie, probably
gave rise to the often-made statement, "The
Commodore looks like an archbishop" Small
gray side.~hiskers fringed his hale and rosy
face. His eyes were dark, soft and kindly at
times, with way of growing keen and steelly
on emergencies. "When the Commodore
puts on bis railroad look he means something"
his acquaintances used to say, In disposition
he was quiet not disposed to be aggressive,
but, when aroused, merciless. In the sense of
church attendance, he cannot be said to have
been religious man. He had profound
reverence for sacred things. "Had bis early
surroundings and associations tended in that
direction" said clergyman intimately &C.
auainted With the Commodore, she would
have made clergyman and successful one."
He is said to have been particularly fond Of
Bunyan's "Pigrim's Progress" carrying it
about with him wherever he went. hHT
The Commodore was most absternious
man, never taking wine. He was, however,
an inveterate smoker, and, during his last ILL.,
ness, when demonstrated with for continually
smoking said: "When I have to give up
smoking, you may give me up"
Business never appeared to trouble Mr..
Vanderbilt much in late years. His custom
was to spend two or three hours daily, at his
Office back of bis house, and 60 home early
when there was no trot. He used to devote
good deal of his evenings at whist, of which
he is said to have been superior player. At
any rate he used to respect the game heartily,
and was a. particularly careful observer Of the
silence and concentration it demands. An
amusing incident illustrating this devotion is
furnished by testimony he gave before one of
the legislative investigating committees which
it was his fortune to encounter, He was
asked what he had done when some impor-
tant news was told him. II didn't do any
thing" he replied; II was playing whist at
the time, and never allow anything to inter-
rupt me when I am playing whist. Up to
year or two ago, at any rate, be used to stop
in Summer at Congress Hall, in Saratoga, and
under the ball room across the street, was
little corner room known to visitors as "The
Commodore's Card Room" This was plain
ly furnished room, and here he played with
pretty much the same party every evening,
but occasionally with new corners specially
invited. Great stories are told about high
play in this room, and it is said that the Com
modore thought nothing of having $4,000 on
the rubber. However, whatever was on the
table, at 10 o'clock at night precisely, the old
gentleman stopped short and the game ended:
Commodore Vanderbilt never boasted of
his wealth, his power, bis gifts, or hissuperior
abilities. But one thing he did boast of, and
that was the manliness of that son of his who
was lost in the war of the rebellion. He was
also very proud of his first wife, and used to
say that she was the finest woman of her age
in New York city.
AS a business man, he was bold, but none
the less prudent. He used to say that no
man could prevent him from keeping an en-:
gagement, when once it was made. If he had
bound himself to pay million Of dollars on
the first of May, be would at once provide
for fulfilling his engagement in such a manner
that no failure on the part of others, or any
contingency Whatever could prevent him
doing it. In other words, he would have the
money where he would be sure to find it on
that day.
He never was fond of talking Once he
was at dinner in London, and, his health
being given, he was urged to respond in a
speech All that was got out of him was the
following. Rising, he said: "Gentlemen, L
have never made fool of myself in my life,
and am not going to begin now. Here's
friend of mine (pointing to his lawyer) who
can talk all day. He will do my speaking"
Still he knew how to express himself with
clearness, force and brevity, and some of his
business letters were models of that kind of
composition. He also possessed the more
difficult art, that of not saying what he did
not wish to say.-New York World.
GATES ON THE FARM.-Good gates are
great luxury, and everybody can enjoy them
if they will. We mean those who have use
for them. Every farmer should have a good
gate Just where it is needed. 1t may cost some
money, time and labor, but it will prove to be
an economical investment. We don't mean
to say you must 60 to town and buy one made
to order, though you may do so, but you can
have better gate for the farm if you select
few good logs, take them to the saw mill and
have "gate stuff" sawed to suit yourself.
Hard wood is preferable to the ready.made
pine gate we often see for sale. This PROPOSE
lion needs no argument to prove its correct
ness to those who have had their nice town
made gates eaten up by the mules, or the stats
broken by some unruly COW or outside hazel
gather. Four.inch Stats Of walnut, ash or
white oak, with heel post Sx43 inches. and
front post 3x3 inches, properly braced, make
a very good farm gate. The posts should be
large and of durable timber, and the one
which supports the gates should be so deep in
the ground that it will be impossible for it to
sag. We frequently see gates the convenience
of which is little more than bars, and yet
few moments of labor would change all this
to downright comfort. Time is equal to
money, and, keeping this in view, it is an easy
matter to see that we should lay aside our
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