Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-20
A NEW REPORTER.
William H. Vanderbilt's Youngest Son
Ready to Begin-Observations on q
Reporters Life.

Utica Observer
We understand that the dingv brick
building on Mulberry street. opnosite tbe
neaoquarters OF the metropolitan police
is shortly to receive new occupant. The
structure contains the offices of the policf
reporters on the New York morning dai.
lies, and they will soon, it appears. be
called upon to welcome a new associate
in the young Mr.. George Vanderbilt, the
fourth son of Mr.. William H. Vanderbilt
who is ambitious of becoming a literary
man, and will begin his career as police
reporter. We do not doubt that Mr.
George Vanderbilt will receive pleasant
greeting from the gentlemen of the New
ork press, nor that he will find them
good natured with his inevitable mis-
takes, and courteOusly solicitous to assist
MN IN learning the scope of his reporto-
rial functions.
Whether Reporter Vanderbilt pursues
his literary career beyond the criminal
courts or not, he has made an excellent
beginning. He could find no sphere of
labor so we'll adapted, not only to the de-
velopment of his literary tastes, but 10
the requirement of a valuable fund of ex-
perlence and knowledge of life. He will
learn thorOughness, accuracy, fidelity
regularity. and the value of time. He will
be privileged to study life in phases
of which, perhaps, he has never
suspected the existence. He will
see poverty, bestiality, cunning, fe-
rOcity, pathos, humor, suffering. un
selfshness, sin, and shame, and
every sort of wickedness and de
pravity, in strange panorama every day.
The motley passions of mankind and the
cumbrOuS evils of society will demand
his attention and investigation. Then,
too, he will make the acquaintance of
men in all walks of life and of all tastes,
manners and dispositions. He will ac-
qulre readiness, adaptability, ease, cOur-
age, self-reliance, and an insight into
human nature. And if he is honest,
manly, modest, intelligent, observant,
with faculty of putting his facts into a
creditable shape, and willingness to do
any amount of hard work, 1t is probable
that in time young Mr.. Vanderbilt will
make an acceptable reporter.
Perhaps he will prove a different sort
of young man. He is worth several
millions in his own right, and will be the
heir to an immense estate. Seeing the
adulatiOn, fawning, trucking, and cring-
ing that wealth commands, it would not
be strange if he thought his own money
should command for him unusual re-
spect and Difference. In this case Re-
porter Vanderbilt will soon be taught bet
ter. New York reporters are about the
poorest lickspittles in the world. They
are behind the scenes of life. They see
the, ,shams, the tinsel, the cheap humbugs,
the tawQfy stage tricks OffashiOn and So
ciety; they touch the wires that pull pub
lie puppets; they smell the smoky cam
dies that light up the show to the public.
Theylwill take Reporter V Naderbilt for what
he is, and not for what he has. If he
needs the lesson he will be thankful for it
some day. But whether he needs it or
NOT RanOrfnr v NlndnPhiIt xrri11 do 70
leave his millions behind him when he
goes down to his newspaper office. 1t
Will do him good to spend what he earns,
and no more, If only to learn what money
will buy. And when he draws his $15
week as a beginner, and takes his humble
pretzel and its accompaniment at Mr..
Carl SmidGs i'll the afternoon, or goes
down to Mr.. Oliver Hitchcock's after his
work is done in the evening, and smacks
his lips over a ten-cent plate of butter
cakes, with his steaming yellow coffee in
stone china mug, he will doubtless be
surprised to find how much solid comfort
he can get out of very little money.
We wish Reporter Vanderbilt the great
est success in his chosen profession.
Although he does not come of an intel
lectual family, he should inherit a robust
good sense and vigorous, penetrating in
telligence. Charles Dickens first studied
lllc III IL pOllCe COufl, anu SOME OF MS DeSb
works had to do with the law, its pro-
cesses, its servants, and its victims; and
Dickens had none of young Vanderbilt's
early opportunities. Therefore, he need
not fear that he is i'll a restricted field.
For all of his talents he will find abundant
exercise. But if he makes a good editor
instead of a great author, we shall not be
By the time he is qualified
for higher duties, so many of the great
editors of the present day will have
stepped aside that there will be plenty of
room for Editor Vanderbilt.
At that time we shall expect to hear
him raise his voice against monopoly,
bribery, corruption, unscrupulOusness.
stock speculation, heartlessness and other
existing evils, and by precept as well as
practice teach the true uses of wealth,
for teaching which his Police Court ex-
periences will have abundantly qualified
him.