Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-04-20
THE vANDEHBILTS,
Pen and Ink Sketches OF shis CelC~
DRAFTED Fnmily-Traits and pscus
lfaritics OF Its Various Mem bcrs,

= - hhu Buk Shetcnc6 WIS NeI
bratcd FnmiIy-Traits and pecl
lfnritics of Its various Msmbcr
William Vanderbilt, according TO my
vices, IS only G2 years old, writes Gath
the Cincinnati, Enquirer. lie has to lari
extent given up active interest in rail,oa
and other property. lie made large i
vestmcnt in government bonds, in order N
to have his mellow years harasscd with jus
ness. Not exactly hypochondriac, lie is
much delighted with his lie and bis lar.
revenue in it that he gives much of his tin
unto doctors, and annoys bis friends with h
sensitlvcncss about his health. With Il
health OF bull he has the nerves of a W,
man. For some time past he has had ii
movement cure, or the rubbing cure, wha
ever it may be called, involving somebod
come and scrub his muscles over and delud
him with the idea that friction Is health. II
is also victim of the homeopathic pcopl,
and bo'hcrs his friends by taking out of HI
pocket papers of No. I, No. 3 and No. !
and swallowing them in the midst of IN
ordinary social demonstrations.
lie is so far free from railroad Occupation
now that he docs not go more than twice i
one month to the New York Central railroa
| station. Indeed he is out of New Yer
Central stock. lie recently said that he AM
his family altogether had not over n 100, 90
shares Of Central. am told that his so
George, who is just about coming to he to b
81 years old, possesses 10000 shares Of thi
stock, left him by his grandfather. There
fore Mr. Vanderbilt has not over so 00
shares OF New York Central. THIS at pa
would be only SS,000,0 00J. So we may sa,
that he has but 50, 1000, 600 at present in New
York Central stock. | have inquired wha
Ing huup lp1o u,tl, tln H., a.
by selling out his New York Central. Som,
say that he bought his long line OF govern
men, bonds with it. OILERS say tina, he pos
scsscs long lines of stock In the grange
railroads, in the Mexican railroads, etc.
From what | hear, William VANDERBILT
aud his grown-up sons do not always lool
through the same glasses. Williams fathcl
left the boys large sums Of money, in gen
eral, 1000 shares apiece. This has brough
them Tor several years past an annual incomt
OF 100000. But to Cornelius Vanderbilt
the old commodorc's eldest grandson, he left
500, 900 shares, giving Inn an income oi
almost sj00,O1O year. These incomes, he.
inE independent Of their father, the boyi
have
Used as They Pleased.
Cornelius, the elder son, is very conservative
plain and straight. lie has built himself d
very noble house, but il does not show the
architectural taste and quality Of that of his
next brother, William X, who is the positi, G
member Of the family in the third generation
Cornelius, Jr., as lie is called, has very goJt
qualities, but no very dushng or innoyating
ones.
William L. is a positive spirit, sort I
Dan Cameron among the Nanderblts. Don
Cameron is celebrated for Conradicting hls
father, and saying no when the Old man
would say yes. William X is the Don Cam.
eron Of the Nandcrbi,s. When he sits down
TO play poker with lis father lie makes his
sire ante every time. "Falher,r he says,
''you have not anticd." eyes have, vii.
liam" says the old man. II beg your par.
don," says the son, 'you a1,icl last time,
but not this time Then the old man bcgs
the sons pardon and antes up. Ncvcrli.-
less, William X is described as being ruled
by his wife. Ills wife is yulupiu us'y
formed woman, rather of the dark order,
round and flush, and exercises that name IS
power that the dark women always have
over the men who come TO have their fortunes
told. William X. would be very much miifed
if lie read this notice, because he is not
aware that lie is governed by his wife; but
That is the tradition around the Vanderbilt
house, and being faithful reporter must
tell it.
There are four sons in the Vanderbilt
household and four daughters. The four
sons are Cornelius, William X, Fred and
George. The four daughters, al married,
are Mrs. Elliott Shepherd, Mrs Sloane, Mrs.
Twomblcy and Mrs Webb. To start with,
he sons Cornelius was much better put up
'or by lis grandfather than any of the others,
because he took his CraGdiathcr's name, aud
he old.man saw more Of him as he developed
han he did of the young sons. There was
M idea for some years that Cornelius WAS
he railroad genius of the family but recent
y a theory has developed that William
IA. Is more OF business man than Cor
lclius.
William X. have already described lie
Is Fine Poker Player,
lc is game man, he feels his cats and is an
and docs MT consult lis father
bout busin, SIS or pleasure. lie is n club man
md likes his game and is hard man to
ackle at the game. Ills house is fine DEM
nslratlon OF how thoroughly he does any
hing. lis father has been compelled to
'elp him make money, because William K
S not troubled with ashtulnoss aud goes
light in ard asks the old man what is the
afe thing, and tells him that, if he sells him
mt he Will lose the confidence of his greatest
on.
Next, ms to Fred. Fred is an impressillc.
morons, feminine kind Of fellow, according
o my information. He has n cousin named
Iorlencc, who was married TO pretty wo.
nan. Torrencc land lis wife did not get
long well together. Fred came on the hOr-
son, felt the spendor Of Mrs. Torrcnce, in
cntlnehtly cnyrd aud On ed by marrying his
ousln's wife. This made more excitement
n the Vanderbilt family than anything that
ad happened since William KS horse
licked OFF the horseshoe The great subject
I that house is the behavior of the horses.
'ut when Fred married his cousins wife,
illlam, his father, was not able TO tell that
ay whether the horses kicked of II shoe or
OF. Tie Orthodox Dutch reformed
rinciples OF the house were seriously as
allied.
William, the sire, having married clergy
ian's daughter, and knowing that his wife
always right, particularly on morals, left
he question TO her. Size has severe views
n divorce, etc. William and his wife laid
wake OF nights for some time, wondering
ihether they should discard Fred for hav-
" made such II match. 1t was serious |
me in the family. Fred only had $1,000 |
w. The idea of that poor boy being pow
lty stricken with S2,O0O,000 moved the |
ympathics OF his father aud mother. They
'ept For some nights, it is said, there was
cry little sleep in the house. Finally dis
lal picture was presented TO the couplc--of
oor Fred, with only $4,000, 600 wandering
round the streets and unable to find board
lg house. 1t was