National Republican., 1882-04-08
GOTHAM GOSSIP.
A WEEKLY RESUME OF THE NEWS.
Suicide OF Cornelius J. -speculations
Thereon--PassioH Week and the End or
Lent-Patti's Fareuell--The
Andre Statue.

Special Correspondence Of THE REruRLIoAN.
NEW YORK, March Al have just returned from
tho funeral Of Cornelius J. Vanderbilt, whose
tragic death at the Glenham Hotel on Sunday
last has created so much excitement and talk in
this city. Il is now pretty generally understood
and believed that the unfortunate man intended
to take his life, and that the shooting was due
neither to an accident nor TO temporary aberra-
ton of mind, as the family and his intimate
friends would have the public think. II is cur
rent gossip that the Yanderbllts regard the event
Of Sunday as disgrace and stain upon tho
family esoucheon. And feeling thus, IL is but nat
ur al that they should strive to deprive the tragedy
of any element OF a sensational nature But every
thing points to cold premcditation and
design and 1t will be difficult to make people think
otherwise. Mr. Vanderbilt was in i'll health, hav-
ing suffered from that terrible disease, epilepsy.
since childhood. He was a physical wreck, with
death ever staring him in the face and liable 10
occur at any moment His mind was diseased and
weakened by business troubles. He had met ro-
verses In his business ventures. He became dis
couragcd and desperate. He crayed excitement
and finding no other avenue open he returned 10
his old habit Of gaming. He was again unsuccess-
full in this field, being heavy loser.
his OLD MALADY RETURNED,
the attacks of the loathsomc disease being mora
frequent and more severe. Anxleties about Inn
pending business and legal complications de-
pres ed him, and a combination Of all these causes
led up to the final climax eliminating in his death
by his own hand tits not to be wondered at. Poor
wretches every day cut their throa,s with far lea
cause. II Is only because this man was millionaire
and the scion Of aristocracy that his taking OF"
should he ascrbed to some other agency than
the true. one. What disposition the deceased
man made of his property is now the subject Of
speculation Il Is hardly probable that any OF
however II is an open secret that there was no
great amount of affection between the two sous OF
Commodore Vanderbilt and their respective fam
ilies, and Cornelius j. hqs said repeatedly that he
wished his Will TO be drawn so that not dollar OF
his properly would ever com come into the hands Of z
and companions have been remembered in gener-
Gus style in the new will, If there was one. lie
| had made several devseS, which he destroyed
when some new fancy dictated change.
1T Is PROBABLE THAT HIS FORTUNE
| had been greatly depleted by unfortunate trans
actions ana by bis passion for gambling, in which
| he was generally unsuccessful. On the evening
| preceding his death he was ut well. known gam
| bling place in Ann street, where he spent the
| night, not returning to his room at the Glenham
until six a. m. The funeral this morning was held
at the Church of the Strangers (Rcv. DIR. Deems),
| from which his father was buried five years ago.
| The serviceswere brief and simple consisting sim
| ply ofthe reading of a few passages of Scripture,
with no noremarks and no music, The floral tributes
were few and inconspicuous. The interment
was at Hartford, Conn.
PALM SUNDAY.
was quite generally observed here in the Catholic
churches, in which special services were reid
commemorative of the occasion. The last week Of
| Lent bids fair TO be unusually solemn and dull.
| The words mot at home" are the ones which well
come O all callers, and everything in society is al
standstll. The fair penitents are just now SAY
| ing grace before meat" as II were, studiously
avoiding all sinful pleasures and luss the flesh ia
the, way of germans" and the opera, intent upon
theirdevotons and Easter toilets. They are llde-
voutly praying for fair weather ana clear skies
next Sunday. The female Vennors shake thcis
heads ominously when they. remember that I,
| rniup1 last Sunday-'' tho first Sunday I'm the
| month"
PATTI HAD COMPLETE OVATION
at her farewell performance Monday evening
Seats were sold at prices ranging from 81 to si4
and yet the house was packed. The great prima
donna was literally showered with bouquets from
her enthusiastic admirers, and repeatedly called
before the curtain in response to encores. All
these tokens Of admiration evidently put her In
the best possible humor and she sang accordingly
she was in excellent voice. This successful close
other very successful engagement must have been
very pleasing to her, part~ariy after the
fp'lS a All % tRis IS IS @ due 0PoER Po he sa ssaorton, s
of her enterprising American manager. Mr.. Abbey
who has snatched victory from the jaws Of defeat
ance was quite spirited. The first choice was sold
for $3.50: second choice, $780, the latter being
bought by George Gould (son of Jay Gould,
Jenny Lind when she was starring through THU
country under the management of Barnum
ApropoS the receipts of
BARHUM's "GREATEsr SHOW"
are said to have been $4,000 for tho first two
weeks. The garden is constantly thronged. Whet
Jumbo arrives the attractions will have received
another we'll advertised acquisition, and CORE.
spending increase in the receipts may be looked
for. What with Jumbo, the haby elephant and {
recently born monkey, the attractions will b,
second desecration eff the Andre monument Il
strongly condemned as 1t should be. There Is
reaction in the city in favor of Mr. Field. Is is M
longer q question of individual prejudice o
caprice. The motive good taste, and judgmen
of Mr.. Field in erecting tho monument may b'
open to criticism, but there can certainly be m
question TO his right to do So also Of his righ
vandalism as the one in point should be frownet
upon and made odious. The offender, II he car
he found, should be sunimRrlly dealt with. Mr.
Field announces that he shall not repair the mu
tilnted shaft, and under the circumstances no ont
will blame him for the decision.
THE POLITICAL POT
in the State and city Is beginning to bubble Th
gubernatorial question begins to assume shape
and the announcement of Judge FolgeTs probable
producing much talk and no little interest Rev
Dr. Paxton isyery iavorably received. The churcl
J to which he has been called (the West Presbyte
rian) is one of the weathiest and most arstocrau
, in the city. DR.. Newman, another former Wash
ingon divine, has risen rapidly since he came Il
New York. The Central NJ. L. Church (over whicl
he presided for two or three years. filed up u
r ferred his lnbors to the Church of the Disciple
/, (CongregationaN, DR.. Hepworth's old charge, an'
he is well liked there. General Grant and ex
Postmaster General James are among his hearers
FAYE ELLIE.
MR.. BEECHER ON LENT.
l AZ MI