The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1885-06-09
vANDERBILT's HOME LIFE.
What the Richest Man In America
Eats.
N. Y. Cook

"Since my boyhood," said Mr.. Will.
lam Fl. Vanderbilt. II have been &C.
cus'omed to plain, wholesome living.
To my style OF living and regular habits
| attribute my uniformly good health. I
have my ills and aches like other men.
but I am free from spells OF sickness.
have tried to think that II there is one
thing that suited my palate more than
another l do not believe there Is. Nv
appetite, as rule, keeps so good that
can eat one thing with quite as much
relish as another. / was brought up on
a farm, you know, and / must confess
au honest liking Tor good roast beef and
roast mutton. do not like either too
we'll done or too rare, for | believe in
either state they are indigestible. I want
them brown, rich and juicy, and with
them ! like to have served potatoes,
white and floury. Above all desire my
food prepared and served plainly. Grease,
spices and rich favored condiments are
not suited to me, and / do not believe
they are 10 any person. / have an idea
OF nv own in this respect and am con
viDced it Is correct It's that accustom-
ing one's-self to spiced gravies aud rel
ishes and other things that taste hor-
riblv ct first is simply the cultivation Of
a vitiated taste ! have observed the
absence Of clear complexious snd bright.
sparkling eyes 10 persons accustomed to
high living. The rosy color aud clear
eyes and buoyant spirits OF persons who
live plainly, but well withal, convinces
-me that the simple, bountiful way OF
living Is best"
Mr.. Vanderbilt talked Of his mode Of
life with as much interest as he ever
talked OF moBey, stocks or railroads. 1t
is true that Mr.. Vanderbilt lives 10 mag
ui6cence. but he lives sensibly. He CAL
culates to retire at 10 o'clock at night,
and he rarely misses going to bed at
that time. He is called at Z 80 in the
morning, aud at s 80 is at breakfast with
his whole family. He. usually spends
The morning at home. Sometimes be
goes out before lunch and sometimes not
until after lunch. When the weather
will admit he goes ont 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 It be lies down in his library for a
naps which lasts until the dinner hour
He arises refreshed and sits down to his
evening meal as much to enjoy the con-
versation with his family, 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
sometimes after bis dinner, Sometimes.
however. he does not drink at all.
Mr.. Vanderbilt is an extremely alb
stemious man 10 every way. He never
uses liquor in any form. 1t he IS in
company where he IS compelled to take
wine he will simply raise the glass TO bis
lips. 10 the first place be has no taste
for liquor, and in the second place his
physical composition will not admit Of
indulgence in any form. On account Of
a slight affec ION OF the muscles OF bis
face. persons unfamiliar With his habits
might think that he allowed himself to
gratily taste for wine. 1t is not go.
When be requires beverage be calls for
lemonade, and he likes to have The lemon
juice iresh pressed from the fruit. He
used to be addicted to the nse OF to-
bacco, but for thirty years has not
touched the weed Mr.. Vanderbilt is
extremely careful OF bis health, and looks
to his eating as much as anything else
to keep 1t good.