The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1881-06-18
THE vANDERBrLrs

OF this millionaire family, the New
York correspondent OF the Philadelphia
RSfO'1 has this TO say:
William II. Vanderbilt, at the age of
90 years, is building what is really n
palace, on Fifth avenue. Although his
father Was rich, in his carly years he
lived in the parental farm house at Toad
Hill, Staten Island, in great simplicity
until he was IS years Of age. The old
Commodore didn't believe in letting
children have their own way too early,
and William, who was n frank, clever
boy, had 4 great respect for the old
gentleman's millions. The writer used
to see him frequently in those days, and
wondered how he could preserve his
equanimity, knowing that he was heir
presumptive to large estate, and would
probably have one day the spending Of
untold wealth. He acted very shrewd-
ly, but now that he has hold of the
money he makes it fly, so far as his per-
sonal surroundings and personal COM
fort and luxury are concerned. Books,
pictures, statuary, bric-a-brac, fine fur
niture have been bought for the VAN
derbilt palace with a profuseness that
must have disinherited "Bill" il the old
Commodore had been able to return
from his present quarters. The Van
dcrbilt boys, too, live in clover. Cor
nclius Vanderbilt, who is already dis
tinguishcd for his liberal gifts to
churches and charities, has an unfinish
cd palace at Fifty-seventh street and
Fifth avenue of Indiana limestone, re-
scmbling CIcn stone, which, when COM
pleted will be literally an ornament to
the city. Ruddy, and without vices or
bad habits, Cornelius wa; always the
favoritc grandson ofthe old Commodore.
Fred lives IN his own house, which is
magnificent enough within to satisfy the
tastes Of a nabob; but il can't come up
to the palace of Cornelius. II the next
generation keep on at the present adj
vance in luxury, the kings, queens and
empcrorS on the other side will be COM
PEELED To take trip across the herring
pond in order to learn Of New Workers
how to make themselves comfortable.
The same correspondent tells this of
Bcccher:
One of the mysteries of the age is
what Henry Ward Bcccher has done
with his money. Al one time he was
in receipt of $4,000 from his church,
$40, 1000 from his newspaper, $40, 900
from his lecturing and $780, 900 from
marriage fees, literary work and his
books, making total Of 500, 900 year.
Yet Beecher never had any money to
spare. His houshold was modest, not
expensive his wife was apparently not
cxiravagant he gave nothing tha; was
known to charity and yet he was al
ways impccunious. When he wanted
to help Tilton he gave mortgage upon
his house, and now he has sold his house,
furniture and buildings and gone to live
with married son. He told me he did
this because the young birds had all
grown up and flown out Of the nest, and
yet it was marvel that in his old age he
should leave his comfortable home upon
the Heights Of Brooklyn and go into
narrow quarters rs boardcr He spoke
with sigh and very evident regret at
the breaking up Of his old house. This
was strange, but the unfinished story in
regard to his farmer, Thomas Turner,
at Pcekskill, is still more strange. When
Turner died, Mr.. Beechcr took charge
Of his paper, and burncd large number
Of them, among which. it is alleged,
were number Of promissory notes.
The whole thing has queer look, and
the question which agitatcs newspaper
men Is where has all the money he has
made in the last quarter of 4 century,
amounting to millions, gone to? Per-
haps, it is one Of those mysteries that
no fellow can find out, but the curiosity
Of the natural man will prompt him to
find out the undiscovered channel
through which it flows. Looking at
and talking with Mr.. Bcecher, who is
now more spiritually-minded, reverent
and large-hearted than ever before in
his life, the mystery only decpens.
That there is mystery connected with
the mans life and his daily expenditure
on one can doubt. Perhaps when the
curtain is lifted, il will increase the
charity which the world is beginning to
feel for I great, sorely- stricken man.