National Republican., 1883-09-25
THE MAN ON THE AVENUE.
small Talk Abopt DIon Ond Measures

Small Talk About pIen Nnd Measures.
1t is being remarked by those who keep up
with the times that the average English
tourist reGrains this year from taking his inn
proved rifle out Of its case and strapping on
his side arms on leaving the steamer at New
York. Until very lately the average English
tourist expected to encounter Indians and
bufalocs within ten or fifteen minutes ride
from tho Battery. This spread Of general
intelligence among the cultured classes Of
Grea Britain is one Of the encouraging signs
Of the times.
Uncle Rufus Hatch is slowly recovering
from his overdose of vcaly European tourists
He invited several representative men from
tho principal countries of the old world to
accompany him on his Yellowstone trip and
farmcd out the job of inviting others to
friends in Europe. The result was a had
mixture. Tho friends in some instances
rung in" adventurers on Uncle Rufus,
while in moro cases tho people whose pres
ence was most enxiously desired sent
pin headed sons or other relatives thoy were
anxious to get rid of for while to repre-
sent them. Poor old Uncle Rufus found him
self loaded up with quite stock of this un-
desirable dead wood, which he was obliged to
take care of on tho expedition and treat
civilly, TO his indispensable disgust. Next
time he gets up Yellowstone picnic his in
vitations will read, "Not transferable" Como
TO think of it, he won't get up another Yellow
stonc picnic.
80
~ struck up chance acquaintance with
Commodore Vanderbilt" said the traveller,
"in 1873, and for two seasons used to meet
him every day. 1 dropped into the United
States hotel billiard room at Saratoga one
afternoon looking for game of billiards, A
tall old man, with long white hair, entered
another door at the same moment on tho samo
errand. He asked me to cross cues with him,
and accommodated him without odds. We
played billiards every day for nearly week
before learned that the old man was none
other than Commodore Vanderbilt. got to
liking him before we drifted apart that fall.
We played pretty even game, and when he
came to know me he thawed out and became
quite sociable, though for that matter, it
didn't take much to thaw him out. He was
as easy as an old SHOE and one of the most
approachable men ever knew. had heard
him described as a profAne old bear with
whom there was no getting along, but
found him very agreeable companion
and exceedingly we'll informed on matters
commonly talked about among gentlemen at
at the watering placos-horses, politics, men
and affairs He was good talker, with more
than ordinary freedom of expression. He
didn't indulge in extravagant profanity, al
though he would not have been mistaken
more than two minutes for a Presbyterian
divine. He liked beverage occasionally, his
favorite tipple being whisky sour, although
he would call for q bottle Of champagne once
in a while and have it made up into cocktails
About four days out of FIVE he would insist on
paying the entirescore. didn't altogether like
that, but what could man do. l didn't care
to argue such point with o man who wa;
notoriously worth $60000,000 or S70,000,0Q0
The following season visited Saratoga, and
naturally l dropped into my old billiard
haunt. / had scarcely stuck my nose inside
the door before the commodore was half way
across the room to greet me- That summer
was repetition of tho summer preceding.
AZ shall always remember Commodore Van
uorpiiO 10 d hlhuiy, SchiaA oiu inah' Nhch
knew him he was the splendid wreck of what
had once been truly magnificent specimen
of physical manhood. His, form was BEN
with age, but his eye was clear ant
his intellect unimpaired The abundan
long white hair that hung doyr
upon his massive shoulders gave tx
his great head and strong face a pecu
liarly leonine appearance. There wa
nothing of the offensive arrogance in hi'
manner that is SO often seen in self made
rich men, although the dogged resolution o
the man could be read in the lines Of his face
and in his bearing"