Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-11
SAVANNAH MORNING NEWS: FRIDAY. DECEMBER II, 1885

were imported from Paris at cost of
500, 600. Mrs. Vanderbilt's boudoir suite
Of rooms has cut glass furniture and deco
rstons. The bed cost $4,000.
In all 200 very costly paintings are
contained in the two main galleries and
elsewhere. Mr.. Vanderbilts portrait, by
Meissonier, hangs near MilleGs great
masterpiece, 1.-THE SOwer." together with
some of the finest examples OF DE Neu-
vile, Gerome, Fortuny, Meissonier, Land
seer, Millais, Rosa BOnheur, Detaille.
Corot, Jazet, Alvarez, Millet, Delacroix,
Munkaczy, Daubigny, Fromentin, JAG
que, Turner, Vibert, Bouguereau, Zama-
co.'s, and many other prominent foreign
artists. Meissonier's statuette of himself,
in bronze. presented by him to Mr.. Van
derbllt, when the latter and Mr.. Samuel
I. Avery were entertained at a breakfast
in his studio near the Avenue de Nilliers,
is conspicuous and interesting object
upon table in the older gallery. Mr..
Vanderbil1s Turner is one of the italian
series, and a wonderful work Of t,while
his principal Meissonier, "The Council of
War;" is undoubtedly the best example of
that artist in this country, not even ex-
ceptlng Mrs. Stewards 1891"
PASSED ON THE ROAD.
A gentleman, who was riding on Har-
ACih ldu0 WIN MI Wullt OHC
old Commodore was still alive, tells an
interesting story about them. The gen.
tleman and Mr.. Vanderbilt were sitting
behind pair OF very speedy horses, which
whlrled the wheels OF the light road
wagon so swiftly around that they ate up
the distance between themselves and
whatever wheels were ahead OF them. AS
each vehicle was left behind Mr.. Wander
bilps smile of pleasure grew broader,
until it became evident to any one who
saw his face that he was thoroughly en-
j0ying himself.
| While the friends rode and enjoyed
their fight over the hard and level road
without talking, for Mr.. Vanderbilt was
putting forth all his strength on the reins
and the friend was clutching the side OF
the wagon to keep his equilibrium, the
sound of ho0f taps approaching from be-
| hind grew clearer and clearer. That was
new sensation to the railroad king.
Metaphorically he pricked up his ears
and actually he cooked his head on one
side and looked grave and listened.
Louder and louder and nearer and nearer
came the hoof beats.
''C-Lc-c-k," said Mr.. Vanderbilt to his
horses, and he smiled as he made the
noise, for Instantly they started ahead
faster than before, and left the approach
! ing hoofs sinking backward-but no,
thump-thump, thump-thump came the
sounds nearer and nearer. The million
aire looked anxious. There was no doubt
that team OF fast horses and driver
with great deal of pride in them were
coming along behind. But Mr.. Wander
bilt smiled as he thought of the advantage
! it was in his power to take
over almost any driver living. If
the magic of his O'clock" had failed
he still had his whip, and touch of that
would urge his flyers to leave almost any
other horses out of sight and cOnsidera-
ton. The foot beats Of the other team
sounded nearer and nearer, so out came
the whip and down fell its lash with a
| flick, flick on the neck of each horse.
! What followed was described as being
| like the sudden frightening OF closed
telescope, so suddenly and far did the
startled team leap ahead, but it was no
use. Thump-thump, thump-thump came
the still approaching horses, and present.
| ly, as Mr.. Vanderbilt sat frowning and
biting his lips, their heads were up to
the tails of his steeds, and in an instant
| he was being passed. He looked out OF
the side OF his eyes to see his rival, and
suddenly heaved sigh of relief.
EWhy, it's fatherl" said he.
1t was the old Commodore, bumped up
behind Mountain Boy and Mountain
Girl, and smiling broadly.
''GoOd road team you've got there,
Bill" said he; "but you need another
pair, if you're going racing"
SOME OF HIS BENEFACTIoN9.
In 1880 Mr.. Vanderbilt gave 100000 to
build a theological hall for Vanderbilt
| University, to which the old Commodore
had given $1,000,000. In 1884 he gave
$500, 900 to the College OF Physicians and
! Surgeons in New York. The loan Of $780,
! 600 to Gen. Grant and the sequel are too
fresh to need recalling.
When Lieut.. Com. Gorringe found that
the expense of bringing over the Obelisk
was $50, 000-$50, 900 more than he had
contracted to transport 1t for-Mr. Van
derbilt paid the extra $4,000, and added
! 10000 OF his own motion.
| Mr.. Vanderbilt was like his father in
using money. He gave or withheld, as
| the fancy seized him. When the great
railroad strikes of 1877 occurred the en-
ployes Of the New York Central received
| 100000 for refusing to join the strikers.
! But his gifts were voluntary acts, and he
/ seldom gave when solicited to give.
TIRED OF RAILROAD MANAGEMENT.
Early in 1888 MIR. Vanderbilt began to
| intimate to his friends that railroad man.
agement had no longer any charms for
! him. On May 4, 1885, he resigned the
Presidency OF the Central, the Lake
Shore, and the Michigan Central. Cor
nelIus was made Chairman Of the Gen.
iral's Board of Directors, and William
X. filled a similar position In the Lake
Shore Board. MIR. Vanderbilt, however,
remained member Of the Board of Direc-
tors In each company.
Rarely seen in the street, although a
power In Wall street, tits very doubtful
il Mr.. Vanderbilt has exercised that
power to any great extent Of late. Ii is
generally believed that he bought largely
OF the trunk line securities last spring,
when the settlement Of the then existing
| railroad discussions was undertaken by
leading capitalists in this country and
Europe. The belief is also strong that the
speculative line he took up at that time
has since been disposed Of. In corrobora-
ton of this view the fact mas been
noted for some time that the deposits in
institutions with which he was connected
and through which he did his banking
business, notably the Chemical bank and
the Union Trust Company, have been in
creasing very largely. Mr.. Vanderbilt's
| last large operation in the street about
which anything is definitely known was
made about year and half ago, when
he took up from several brokers the large
amount OF stocks that some Of his sons
had acquired and were unable, owing to
the shrinkage in values, to carry any
/ ~ ~. Uanda-htIt vgsitod Wall otraat