Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-13
VANDERBILT IN SOCIETY.
HOW THE FAMILY'S POSITION
WAS FIXED.

WAS FIXED.
The FInaneeer More Fascinated with
thu Road than the stabIe-SOmetbing
About His Children-Withdraw OF
the Cutting Case from Court-The La
test Wrinkle at the Opera.
NEW YORK, Dec. 10.-The Grim Reaper
has swept his scythe with unusual fire.
quency through the ranks of the great and
wealthy in this vicinity during the past
few months. Grant, Mcclellan, Claflin
and Vanderbilt have been moved down
in remarkable proximity Of time. A
glimpse into the lives Of the great families
Of Gotham Is always interesting, but ap-
pears to be made more far-reaching just
& after death has paid visit to their house
holds. At such times the public prints
4 overflow with all sorts OF "reminiscences
4 of the deceased. There has been no eX-
4 ceptiOn in this respect in the case of Will
liam h. Vanderbilt. The social position
4 OF the Vanderbilts has been more def
& Eitely fixed by the third generation than
1t was by the first or second. The old
4 Commodore was not a society man at ALL
/ and it is said the blue-blOOds of New York
stUckup their noses at him to his dying day
especially as he offended them by marry
ing handsome young woman after he
was 70 years Of age and Haunting her in
their faces in all the fashionable drives
daily behind pair of fast horses. Will
liam H. was not much Of a society lover
either. He was stout and indolent when
be got the entree to the best peO-
q pie, and he naturally despised a
"tea" and hated a swallOW-tail.
Entertainment was to him great bore,
and he neither entertained nor was enter
tanning. Still he built at Fifth avenue
and Fifty-frst street and FifTy-second
street one OF the finest msnsions in the
country, furnished it luxuriously, and in
quiet way welcomed his friends. He
took far greater delight on the road, and
generally owned the fastest trotters and the
best double team in the country. His
sale OF Maud S, to Mr.. Bonner for $1,000,
was thought by his horsey companions to
mean his decline. They believed he
would not have sold the mare il he had
been able to drive her. His elegant sta
bles were full of thoroughbreds, and he
took no greater delight than driving
them. Oflate years Mr.. Vanderbilt went
to Europe every spring and generally re-
turned after stay of a week or two in
England and France. He then went to
saratoga and spent the summer at one oil
The great hotels there, where he was fol-
loved by his few men friends. He played
good game OF whist and was more than
ordinarily fond of the more exciting game
said to be exceedingly lucky
On his last trip to Europe
ne won the pool on the run of the ship on
I'VE days out OF seven. Mr.. VanderbilVs
art collection is one of the finest in the
country. His gallery, which has lately
been extended to accommodate the pur'
ehases he made on his European trips,
was in the rear OF his house. At certain
seasons his habit was to allow the public
10 see his pictures, and he issued tickets
% all respectable persons on application.
his paintings number about 100, nearly
Ill by leading foreign artists.
THE GALLERY.
The gallery is large, square room with
balcony on the east side communicating
with the mansion, and on the north sicel'
siso balcony and a smaller gallery. IN
me main room is De NeVille's Gle Bour
get" which is in portable frame alc
stands before and conceals an immem'
fireplace. Other noted pictures ar
landseer's "After the Chase" and &c
omes Sword Dance" Viberts amusin
Committee on Moral Books," which II
Presents two priests enjoying a feast 2
corrupt literature; Villigas' 9Th
Christening" and Millais' "Bride of Lam
mermoor." Mr.. Vanderbilts latest Me-
soner was painted to order at cost
1900, and It Ia said TO be by no mean
,ae most expensive IN the collection. M
enderbilt's family consists OF his VIII
VINO was Miss Nissan, whom he ma
ieu IN 1871, and eight children. Corneliu
lle elder son, was left S5,000,00O by h
grandfather, the Commodore, who's
layorite he was. He liv,
ID an elegant house on FIT
aNenue. Willie X, the secon
ION lives in beautiful house opposite b
elaners. He is the fortunate possessor
fo'VOOOOO in his own right. he MARI.
vhe OF the celebrated TznaRa girls, WI
we're noted for their beauty. He Is vel
social, and two winters ago gave fan'
eIess ball which was the talk OF the tow
AZ this ball was danced the minuet by
party Of men and girls dressed In VIII
atln from head 20 foot, with powder
neir and pearl ornaments, calling the,
eYes Dresden china, and, by the light
ngghureds Of wax candles, looking rea
nAe company OF animated Dresq
Una shepherds and shepherdesses. p
tneet OF the cleaning figures. from VIE
gt5ntlous gowns the candles struck VIZ
suts, movingslowly In the stately daps
90 unique and beautiful that ~
osk was charmed, and aspiring yOls
, saq maidens learned the old dance. lii
~ Introduction TO modern ball-roOmels
hol quite been achieved. On pc
'Neet It IL said Willie A.