New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-09
personal TRAITS AND HABITS.

IEkSNNAls TRAILS AMI lADiIN'
The last few years of MIR. NanderOiltS life
we're devoted almost entirely to he pursuit OF health
Though man apparently OF powerful frame. h had rir
strength chan In, father who. after he had rasSed
four score years made eight months battle against
nIghtul complication OF diseases before hs succuhOed
Mr. Vanderbilt for several years made an annual ocean
voyage solely for the benefit of his health sometimes
spending Only much tine in Europe rs vas required
by tho steamer "a discharge the obi and take IN new
cargo IN. resources entertainment and amusement
outside business hours not varied or extensive
Cub Ire lost its attractions for lin early. and though he
v fond OF lc,saut conn any he did devote himself
To- society. In the lifetime OF the Commodore he would
frequently make Of to familiar party OF euchre and
whist players at Saratoga. Out the habit lid not grow on
hun His summers ho spent partly at Sharon springs
and partly saratoga usually gOn. from the nrst place
10 second His strong passion was for horses and IL
was only when lhe road Oedind team Of swift
troters the MIDST OF group OF hOrseinen that
full. undi-gued view could 10 had OF one side OF his
character. There inspiration to him IN the pull
of tho rclns and tbs handsumcst picture he ever pre-
sented was when lie driving Maud his tro'tins
team Aldne and Early Rose through brisk breeze that
sent his whiskers flying back of his head, brought out
a iu,h his good humorc aud broad Dutch lace ana
put cbcery INTO the voice that usually came out
somewhat slugeishly The love OF horses was an iu
herted trait and OF tho strongest that ,ame TO HIM
from hi, father Before built his palace In titn ave.
he built his stable Flty second-st and Madison ave.
II cost 100000 without the Iaud, aud ITS walls,
huors ceilings aud stalls are all finished III
polished cherry, ash ana black walnut. Besides
tho family horses, he kept there Maud =,
the trOttiug mare which ia 1879 he paid $50. co.,
Adlne Early Rose. Lcander. Lyslnder Bay Dick. Small
Hopes and Charles Dickens all animal, with excellent
records lie took his horses with hu TO the Watering
places anu Ihcro Kept up the habit in the cly
of drive OF two hours or more every afternoon In
1877 lie went to En- gland chiefly the Derby, ana
| gtuI h1f fhA
people looking hOrse-raco itself worth Il tlp
10 Europe. Whom Obliged to be- IN Europe during
the rotng kept offices OF his confidential
employees Hooded with cabl cgrdms inqung ABOUT us
horses. When ST Julien Muud- trotted at Rochester
ho WAS in Europe and cabled instructions TO MS
general auditor proceed Rochester anh report lue
details Of the to him by wire. sreclaI car went
to Rochester ned his friends and cable dl'p'tches
were sent TO Mr. Vanderbilt after every hea''
On October IL 1883, Mr.. Vauderbts love Tor horses
came near bringing about his death lie was driving
Maud g. rapidly around the track at Fiee'"oo1 f"iA
when no came in collision with snlkS
gony in the opposite direction. Mr.. Vanderbilt was
thrown violently to ground and FOR time remained
sensecs Friends rushed 10 his assistance and ne was
carried sH to tie CLUBHOUSE fears were
then entertained that serious injuries hal been done hln
but his naturally constitution Carried MIN sa!ey
tbrourh the difficulty He severely shocked, but
suffered no serious harm His first question on recover
! ing consciousness was whether the mare was hurt.
Mr. Vanderbilt s business habits were irregular aud
bis manner OF work cked method. lie worked with
great labor to himself and for that were only
guessed ut by or the nearest MIN lie did vast
amount OF crudgery which executive officers ordinarily
assign to clerks. He was accustomed 10 write
| his own business letters and open aud read his own
| busnoss correspondence. thodgn surrounded by men
who had attested her fidelity to his interests through