The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-08
TIEE DYING MIDAS.
4 Sketch of Sanderbilt's Sick Room
i Few Days Before His Death.


Especial correspondence of the Philadelphia Times.
NEW YORK, December 30.-The last sick
ness OF Commodore Vanderbilt has had a
kindly influence on his fame. He pays
dearly for respite and nepetthe in tile pro-
longed pain he suffers, but the severity Of
mems Judgment reiaxes at the sight of an
old fellow-mortal lying there, like Monte
yuma OH the burning Goals, slowly tortured
for the secret of his wealth. Wealth,
however, has neither secret nor key.
They who made it hardly know
how; they who teach how to make it
seldom get it: for wealth is not an affair Of
wisdom, but of patience and vim. Girard
brayed Cape Horn with his cargoes locked
up in infdel ships-the Voltaire, the Rous-
seau, the Montesquieu and the Helvetius-
but Providence never sank them; while the
Dious Gilbert, who rejoiced that "we are
rs near heaven on sea as on land" went
down in the sight Of the kingdoms he DIS
covered. Mr.. Astor died in his library, as
it were, in intellectual communion with the
dend. Mr.. Stewart died in like unexpected
ness, though he put Il physician next door
and clasped their houses with alarm-bells.
The grim monster stalked in just the same,
squirting over a new picture, and the mer-
chant balanced his books forever.
THE CoMMoDoRE's SLOW DYING.
But Vanderbilt is dying like the rustlng
and rottins Of one Of his livc-oak ships
with outside engines. We observe the
whole process Of slow decay; the warping
of the long, straight keel, the shrinking
breadth, the thinning timber, and the naked
flagstaff with its brave colors flying no
more. We say to ourselves: "Did that
liz hill Of, inbf bfy-f " ~
spirit Did he come like another Minerva,
full born from the brain OF Fulton himself,
and with his one experience compass all the
history Of steam navigation. Did he, like
the ancient mariner, 'pass like the night
from sea to land,' and consolidate his power
there when his fleets were obsolete! And
is he now, without bellows or fire, mere
locomotive hulk delaying the wrecking
train ?" Such pitiless picture makes men
pitiful.
The Commodore lies in back room, some
times in bed, sometimes in Il sick chair with
large wheels, originally made for the inmate
to pull himself about. But when, OF after
moons, they change the old mans bed and
lift him into that chair. he lies out straight,
doing or hearing music, occasionally per-
mitting visitor to enter.
SOME VISITORS.
Some days gone by the door-bell rang,
and two gentlemen who drive fast teams
on the road sent up their names. In
other days they let out their trotters on
Harlem lane, behind that old, bleach-whis-
kered man, who took the middle Of the
road, and hardly seeing what came or went
before him, rode with blind confidence,
leading bis coterie. Park police, bridge
tenders, grooms, and carriers gave him the
road, feeling that disinterested fellowship
which physical reputation always makes
among laborers.
He hated to be beaten, and loved horse
better than ship. These two visitors
We're shown up presently to the sick room.
There, Just composed upon his rolling
chair with other chairs placed side by side,
at that spot where his face was inclined, the
Commodore lay long and thin and tucked
up, his feet pointing out together, his chin
sharp, and the light of former years faint as
rainy dawn in the dim windows OF his
eyes. The visitors, broad-shouldered and
robust, looked at him as the two mrlsketeers
might have regarded the dying Athos, their
comrade. They shook his hand in inita-
ton, grasping his upper arm. After short
silence he said in a low, hollow tone:
"Iam glad you called. " I wanted
to have you come up. thought
you would like to see me again.
For fear it may be for the last time"
sDon't say so, Commodore !" exclaimed
these two big men; owe hope that isn't
going to be so.''
II haven't given up hope yct,n he said.
x r. "But this long confinement is so
wearing. It has gone on so many
weeks and months that have thought my
l,ct bo11p n,ipht bn onDro1chOr -
'tOh, no, Commodore; we ali want to see
you up again.
He was silent few minutes, and said:
"Iwanted to be out on the road.
NV preparations were made to give you
some driving that hasn't been seen in New
York. l had secured a match for
my horse Small Hopes. x The pair
is in perfect training. My son,
William, has been driving them himself out
through the park at my command, so that
could get up at any time and take the reins.
It may be that you will see me in
the lane again; don't know"
They sniffled little from real feeling; for
great as was the distance between them and
Vanderbilt, how immeasurable between him
and the next Supreme One! He was hold
ing to the shore with both hands, where they
stood, and the ocean OF eternity was the
next thing beyond him.
"Tell me-" he said, "the news on the
road.'?+ Who's making the pace? Have
they any new trotters out there? ...-,
Thus brought to place where their
tongues could trot on solid ground, his
equine visitors threw the news OF the road
like clods from rapid hoofs, where present.
" the coffin-boards would cover the ears
that listened. ~
"Joe Harker's got Il bright bay, with one
ofi-foot white, that took the road a-Sun-
day!" 49,. ...,
"A And Sam Boody drives pair OF browns
from Kineday that busted Bill Hoey's Ham
bletonian. But one Of 'em's gone lame, and
he's put in racker that spiles the gait"
"Mose Clayborne's painted his Brewster
wagon-wheelS bright-yellow.", - =
"Tom Despard sold his big roam mare to
Hannegan, the brewer, and his coach dog
went over with the purchase and Tom
could't hire him to come back"
"They've put up eleven new stalls at
Florence's."
"And are startin' to build new drivin'
bridge over Harlem river at Madison ave
nue."
"Pud Tomkins' geldin' wears leather on
his knees"
"The p'liceman, Commodore, asks every
day for your health, and takes it hard you
amt there like you was.''
SWELL HAVE SOME MUsIC." ,.
Meantime the old man, like child, has
dropped off into doze, driving his dying
fancies, perhaps, along the territory where
Che pale horse carries the grisly rider. They
prepare to steal away, and he aWakens.
l..