Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-02
YANDERBILT'S HOME LIFE.
HOW the Richest Man In America
Looks After His Dfet-What He

HOW the Richest Man In America
Looks After His Dfet-What He
Eats.
From the New York Cook.
''Since my boyhood, " said Mr. Will
liam FL. Vanderbilt, 81 have been
accustomed to plain, wholesome nv-
ing. To my style OF living and regu-
lar habits attribute my uniformly
good health. have my ills and aches
like other men, but [ am free from
spells of sickness. I have tried to
think if there is one thing that suited
soy palate more than another. do
aot believe there is. Ny appetite, as
O. rule, keeps so good that | can eat
one thing with quite as much relish
rs another. / was brought up on a
farm, you know, and / must confess
an honest liking for good roast beef
and roast mutton. I do not like either
too we'll done or too rare, for believe
In either state they are indigestible.
want them brown, rich and juicy.
and witA them like to have served
potatoes, white and foury. Above all,
desire my food prepared and served
plainly. Grease, spices and rich flaw
ored condiments are not suited TO me,
and do not believe they are to any
person. [ have an idea of my own in
this respect, and am convinced it is
correct 1t is that accustoming ones
self to sp1ced gravioS and reliehes and
other things that taste horribly at
first is simply the cultivation OF a
vitiated taste. / have observed the
absence of clear compilations and
bright, sparkling eyes in persons ac~
customed to high living. The rosy
color and clear eyes and buoyant
spirits of persons who live plainly,
but well withal, convlnces me that
the simple, boUntiful way of living is
the best"
Mr.. Vanderbilt talked of his mode
Of life with as much interest as he
ever talked of money, stocks or rail
~oads. 1t is true that Mr.. Vanderbilt
lives in magnifcence, but he lives
sensibly. He calculates to retire at
40 o'clock at night, and he rarely
misses going to bed at that time. He
is called at 7:30 in the morning, and
at $50 is at breakfast with his whole
family. He usually spends the morn
ing at home. Sometimes he goes out
before lunch and sometimes not until
after lunch. When the weather will
permit he goes out for drive in the
afternoon. The drive may be through
the park, it may be to Macomb's Dam
bridge, or it may extend to Fleetwood
Park. When Mr.. Vanderbilt returns
from lG he lies down in his library for
q nap, which lasts until the dinner
hour. He arises refreshed, and sits
down to his evening meal as much to
enjoy the conversation with his fami-
ly, which is an extremely pleasant
one, as to partake of the viands before
him, Mr.. Vanderbilt always eats
sparingly, and avoids liquids as much
as possible. He takes his coffee some
times after his dinner. Sometimes,
however, he does not drink it at all.
Mr.. Vanderbilt is an extremely abb
stemious man in every way. He
never uses liquor in any form. If he
rs IN company where he is compelled
to take wine, he will simply raise the
glass to- his lips. n the ffrst PfsU0, lr0
has no taste for liquor, and in the
second place his physical composition
will not admit of indulgence in any
form. On account of slight affection
of the muscles of the face persons not
familiar with his habits might think
that he allowed himself to crafty
taste for wine. It is not so. When
he requires beverage he calls for
lemonade, and he likes to have the
lemon juice fresh pressed from the
fruit. He used to be addicted to the
use of tobacco, but for thirty years he
has not touched the weed. Mr.. Van
derbilt is extremely careful of his
health, and looks to his eating as
much as anything else too keep it
good.