The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-24
Anecdotes of Vanderbilt.

Anecdotes OF vanderbilt.
had known the commodore for I
suppose so years, but it was only with
in THO last Is years that our relations
assumed a character of intimacy and
friendship. was to have been one of
the family party who made the tour of
the world in his steam-yacht had not
at that particular moment political and
journalistic business of an urgent char
| acter detained me here. He did not
love Albany and seldom cared to visit
it, and though man who when neces-
sity demanded was ready to accept the
situation, the corruption which reign
ed and ruled at the State capital of late
years was very forbidding to him. But
at Saratoga we met every summer and
had long talks together over men and
things.
AS an amusing instance of his OBJ
stinacy in adhering to any habit as
| we'll as opinion he had once formed,
may mention that when the fashion
of falls to pants came in and the old
flaps went out, the commodore, Frank
Granger and myself were the last three
who adhered to the old form. am
told that when railways were first in
troduced into England, a member of
parliament, Col. Sibthorp, resolutely
refused to travel by them, and always
posted down to Lincoln (which he rep
resented) in a postillioned chaise; and
I know myself that Mr.. Cauley, men,
Der for Yorkshire, and Col. Wyudom,
member for Sussex, always went down
to the house of commons, to their
death, in drab breaches, top boots,
buff vest, and blue coat with brass
buttons. Well, we should have held
on to the flaps with similar tenacity
had not the tail0rs at last rebelled and
refused to make after our pattern.
The commodore had a very ready
and pithy humor. I may mention one
or two specimens which did not see
recorded in your paper. On one occas-
ion a gentleman called on the commo-
dore to propose for one of his daugh-
tiers, and commenced, by the most
eager and vehement protestations, to
assert that he was not actuated by any
desire to obtain her fortune, but was
animated by the sincerest and purest
affection, and inspired by admiration
for her personal and mental beauty;
and when, to emphasize these profess
tations, he was about to renew them
again, the commodore stopped him,
saying quite quietly, II did not know
she had any fortune" On another &C.
casiOn, when, alter the commodore had
displayed 1ore than usual judgment
and ability in the conduct of a railroad
| negotiation, his son-in-law. Horace
Clark, said to him, "Commodore, it is
a pity you had not college educa-
tion," he answered, Had you a col
lege education, Horace?'' Eyes, sir"
''Well, Horace, I do not think could
afford to swap with YOU"
When the late Sir Henry Holland
was in this country he breakfasted
with me very early on the morning of
the day of his departure for Europe,
and said, Snow let US see, have we
got through with everything!''
"Well," Sir Henry said, 'sthere is
one of your merchant princes of whom
I have heard a great deal-Mr. 4. 7.
Stewart. / should like to see him."
II will take you to him. said L; but
the commodore Immediately came up
to my mind. and l said, "There is a
great railway magnate-a friend of
mine--I should like you to see frst,''
and drove him off to the cOmmodore's S.
After the usual expressions on intro
duction, Sir Henry said: II should
like, if you will permit me, Commo-
dore Vanderbilt, to see your bureaus
of afrairs.'' what bureaus?' asked
the commodore. "Your departments
of business. Where do you couduct
your affairs?'' "There, said the COM
modore, pointing to boy at the oppo.
site end of the room seated on stool
at desk. "The rest is there" added
I, pointing to the commodore's head.
''But come; pull out your business
drawer for Sir Henry. Show him the
materials Of work." The commodore
pulled out the drawer, when, to the
establishment of Sir Henry it's contents
were found to be check-book and a
box of cigars. Sir Henry subsequent
ly went over Stewards monstrous
building, and at the close Of his visit
remarked to me: 81 have no doubt
that Mr.. Stewart is keen, close man
of business, and directs everything,
but your commodore is d genius. He
mnst have other habits that would in
terest me-" When I told Sir Henry
of his passion for trotters and the
| whist table, and his habit of daily be-
ing for many hours in the open air,
| Sir Henry said: II OWNED as much
| from his freshness and the ease with
which he seems to transact affairs
His prescience was not remarkable.
On one occasion he was pressed to din.
ner to meet some important railway
men who had come together to put
through one Of the largest railway en-
terprises in the country, but he de-
! clinetf. saving: 81 cannot wait for my