The National tribune., 1885-12-17
THE DEATH OF VIM. HI. VANDERBILT


insignificant.
THE DEATH OF VIM. HI. VANDERBILT.
The sudden death of the richest man in
the world in what is usually supposed to be
the prime of mans usefulness, has not
produced the sensation that might have been
expected from such an event
Undoubtedly, wealth is a most potent fac
tor in our civilization but, after all, it has
very narrow limits, as Mr.. Vanderbilt's case
demonstrates Here was man who owned
property of a value nearly approaching that
in the whole 13 Colonies at the time of the
Revolution. He exercised more real power
than many of the second and third-cla
Kings of Europe. That is, he could enter
more directly into the lives and fortunes of
more men than can the Kings of Spain, Of
Holland, of Greece Denmark, Norway or
Sweden. Probably he could make or mar
more mems fortunes than any monarch in
the world outside of the Car of Russia For
example, there are nearly a quarter of a mil
lion men employed on the various roads that
he controlled. He could advance the cheap
est mans salary to a magnificent income, or
dismiss him altogether from his employ
ment, at his own caprice. There was strip
of about 400 miles long in the heart of the
State Of New York, and as rich country as
there is in the world, through which the New
York Central Road passes, and is its great
commercial artery. Mr.. Vanderbilt, by
charging one merchant OF manufacturer more
freight than another, could bankrupt him;
by charging one less than another, could
make him millionaire. These are exhi-
bitions of power that as we have said,
are not possible in extent or kind to any
monarch in the world, except the Autocrat
of All the Russias.
Mr. Vanderbilt's home and surroundings
were of royal magnifcence No King in the
world was better lodged or fed or served
than he, and one would think the social
power attendant upon this would be enor-
nous. But for all this he occupied relatively
inferior place in our society. He was re-
garded as type of wealth pure and simple,
and received no other distinction than his
money could buy or compel for him. He
eager to eat his dinners, and for financial
reasons seem to be on intimate footing with
him, but there were circles of society open
to men who had not the income of one of
his lower subordinates which he could not
by any possibility enter 1t was noted that
his name does not appear in the cyclopGdias
or any other publication devoted to sketches
of men of power and influence in the world.
A man who has written successful book or
who led q victorious expedition or in
vented useful machine, is mentioned,
where the man whose wealth is estimated to
be hundreds of millions did not get a line.
While not distinguished for goodness, Mr..
Vanderbilt was not in any sense bad man.
He gave considerable to charity, and showed |
more of public spirit than is
usual among the New York money kings |
He spent 100000 to bring Cleopatra's |
Needle to New York and ornament Central
Park with it, and he acted with generosity |
towards Gen. Grant in that hero's hour of
distress. He never used his immense power
to oppress individuals or wreck corporations,
as his fellow money kings are very fond of
doing, and he lived the life of plain, rather
dull, average American citizen, with no
striking virtues and no unseemly vices. He
might have been much better man than
he was, but the chances are that man with
his opportunities would have been infinitely
worse