Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-12-12
Personal Character
isfiCS
HIS PAsslos FOR Houses.

The last few years of Mr.. Vanderbilt's life
we're devoted almost entirely to the pursuit
of health. Though man apparently Of pow
erful frame, he had far less strength than his
father, who, after he had passed four score
wears made an eight months battle against
frightful complication of diseases before ne
succumbed Mr.. Vanderbilt for several
years made an annual ocean voyage solely for
the benefit of his health. sometimes spending
onlv as much time in Europe as was required
by the steamer to discharge the old and take
in q new cargo. His resources for entertain
ment and amusement outside of business
hours were not varied or extensive. Club
life lost its attractions for him early. and
though he was fond of pleasant company he
did not devote himself to society In the
life of the Commodore he would frequently
make one of the familiar party of eucher and
whist PLAYERS at Saratoga, but the habit did
not grow on him. His summers he spent
partly at Sharon Springs and partly at Sara
tcga, usually going from the first place to the
second. His strong passion was for horses,
and it was only when he was on the road be-
hind team of swift trotters o. in the midst
Of group Of horsmen that full undlsguised
view could be had of one side of his charact-
er. There was an inspiration to him IN the
pull of the reins, and the handsomest
picture he ever presented was when ne was
driving Maud S or his trotting team Aldine
and Early Rose through a brisk breeze that
sent his whiskers flying back of his head.
brought out flush on his good humored and
broad Dutch face, and put CHEEKY tone into
the voice that usually came out sluggishly
The love Of horses was an inherited trait. Land
one Of the strongest that came to him from
his father Before he built his palace in
Fiith-ave he built his stable at Fifty-second
St and Madson-aye. 1t cost $3.50, 900 with
out the land and its walls, floors, ceilings
and stalls are all finished in polished
cherry, ash and black walnut Besides
the family horses. he kept there Maud s., the
trotting mare for which in 1879 he paid S20,
900. Aldine, Early Rose, Leander, Lysander,
Bay Dick, Small Hopes and Charles Dickens.
all animals with excellent records. He took
his horses with him to the watering places,
and there kept uD the same habit as in the
city of drive of two hours or more every
afternoon. In 1877 he went to England
chiefly to see the Derby, and on returning
said that the sight of 100000 people looking
at a horse-race was itself worth a trip to
Europe. When obliged to be IN Europe dur
ing the trotting season he kept the offices of
his confidential employees flooded with cable
grams inquirng about his horses. When ST.
Julien and Maud S. trotted at Rochester he
was in Europe and cabled instructions to his
general auditor to proceed to Rochester and
report the details of the race to him by wire.
special car went to Rochester filed with
his friends and cable dispatches were sent to
Mr. Vandarhilt after every heat.
On October II, 1888. Mr. Vanderbllt's love
for horses came near bringing about his
death. He was driving Maud S. rapidly
around the track at Fleetwood Park when he
came in collision with a suky going in the
opposite direction. Mr.. Vanderbilt was
thrown violently to the ground and for time
remained seDseless. Friends rushed to his
assistance and he was carried still uncon-
scious to the clubhouse. Fears were then
entertained that serious injuries had been
done him. but his naturally strong constitu-
ton carried him safely through the difficulty
He was severely shocked, but suffered no
serious harm. His first question on recover
ing consciousness was whether the mare was
hurt.