The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-02-24

~NEff ioIh ASttei III the charleston News and
Courier.
w. III. Vanderbilt, the richest man in tba
world, may be seen driving his mare Maud
s. which runlor SAYS he is spoilino nv
inJudicious handling, almost any fine after
noon on Fifth avenue. Look for large
heavy man, with dark eyes, swarthr skin
and black side whiskers, and intentlv
earnest but not over intelligent face. ii
the weather is cold the owner of untold
millions VIII be wrapped up in a closely
hitting coat of sealskin, and over his knees
another robe of the same fur. The superb
horse or horses that he happens to be
driving do not seem to be going very fast
as they dance along, but it will be noticed
that he goes faster thar the other people
and the groups of sightseers who stop for
moment to gaze at the well known figure
as he fits by, wrapped up in his sealskins.
get but brief glimse of him. Perhaps
Jay Gould, looking out of his library in the
second story of his big house at Forty
seventh street and Fifth avenue, wonders
that man with such magnificent opportu-
mites for making more money does not
devote his days and nights to it instead Of
triffing away his time driving fast horses.
Jay Gould never drives fast horses or in
dulges in any kind of sport OK
cept money making. From $50
to 4:30 every afternoon Vanderbilt
drives his horse. Then his horses 90 to
their stalls of mahogany trimmed with
silver, and Vanderbilt goes to his palace
He always passes his evenings at home, not
having been to the theatre or opera since
Wallack's was opened last January When
the Baron James de Rothschild died in
1868, near Paris. his wealth was estimated
at 700, 100000 francs, and he was account
in hat
time. At the present the distinction of
being the richest man in the world Ger
tainly belongs to William FL. Vanderbilt
With the $40, 600, 900 which his father left
him, he has made twice that sum and,
moreover, put his railroad property In such
shape that it produces an income of at
least 8 per cent. At present he has an in
come of at least $4,000, 000a year or $50
second. Thirty years ago he did not
know where to turn for 50, 600 Wander
bilt has eight children and eleven grand
children. His four daughters are married
to New Workers, and two have been pre-
sented with small palaces costing $500, 900
apiece, while he is building houses for the
other two at the corner of Fifth avenue
and F'ifty-fourth street, adjoining ST.
Thomas church The ground for the two
buildings cost 800, 900 last spring, and
suppose the houses will cost double that
His two eldest sons, Cornelius Wander
derbilt, Jr., who seems destined to occupy
toward his father the same relationship |
that William Ell. held to the Commodore. |
and William K. Vanderbilt, the sesond |
son, are already millionaires IN their own |
light, and are now furnishing palaces |
which even eclipse the new house which |
' anderbilt moved into last year. Corne |
Jus Vanderbilt is the financer among his |
OnS while William Il is the aesthetic /
member of the family, having employed |
Richard nj. Hunt to build his white stone
hateau at the corner of Fifty |
treet and Fifth avenue. and having paid
$3.50, 900 for the carving alone on the in
ide of his house. Some of the tapestries |
or his house are now ON exhibition at the
Metropolitan Museum, while the painters
nd decorators are giving the last touches.
The house has been three years in build
ne, and has occupied the whole time of
wo architects. working under Hunt, and |
TX draughtsmen. The design for one of
he mantles alone required three months
York by two men.