St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-09
DEATH OF MIR. VANDERBILT.

bCdlA ID 1OSpCCICl VI pcISOIlS. I10
strikes down the king as he does the
peasant. His shadow falls across the
threshold of the millionaire as well as the
humble abode of the poor. Money cannot
purchase amnesty of the King of Terrors
He is the great communist who brings all
upon level. The man who yesterday con-
trolled the stock markets of continent.
and was the possessor of fortune larger
than that of earth's greatest monarchs, to-
day has only claim upon the narrow
strip of earth which is to be his tomb
The pauper who is carried out
to-day from the almshouse and
buried in the potters field is as
rich in earthly possessions as the man who
yesterday was the millionaire prince of
America. And when we come to realize
this truth we wonder why it is that men
will grasp and strive for that which brings
them nothing in the end except premature
blight.
WILLIAM Fl. VANDEBILT was famous
for his wealth. The inheritor of large
fortune from his father, the late Commodore
VANDERBILT. he had displayed remarkable
business capacity in the management of his
vast fortune. 1t requires extraordinary
ability to manage successfully such fortune
as WILLIAM Fl. VANDERBILT inherited.
Mr.. VANDERBILT not only preserved intact
the fortune which was given to him, but he
added to it. He was successful beyond
all of the great financiers of this country in
money making. His immense estate is the
monument to his business capacity. Mr..
VANDERBILT was a modest man and made
no effort at vulgar display. He was con-
tent to remain at home and quietly look
after his investments, and did not 90 off to
Europe, as some of our mushroom million
aires did. to parade his wealth in the sight
of royalty. He was charitable man, and
in his charities did not seek the applause of
men. His benefactions were dispensed
with his characteristic humility. The uni
versity at Nashville, which was founded by
his father, was the recipient of
many favors at the hand of the
son, to which no publicity was
given. 1t is known that Mr.. VANDERBILT
dispensed many of his charities through the
agency Of his friend, the Rev. Dr.. DEEMS
of the Church of the Strangers, and they
were often bestowed with so much secrecy
that even the recipients of his benefits never
knew the source from which they came
And yet, with all his wealth and generosity
of heart, it must be admitted that it is an
abnormal and unhealthy condition of affairs
in republic which permits the accumula-
ton of such princely fortunes within the
81 \ :,
upon Mr.. VANDERBILT that he availed
himself of the opportunity presented to him
to acquire marvellous wealth, but it is
stain upon the institutions of
any country that in the operation of the
various enterprises in which he was en-
gagged that he was enabled to make ten
times more than the hundreds and thou
sands of people combined who were en-
gagged, either directly or Indirectly, in oper-
ating the same enterprises.
1t would not be proper to say that Mr..
VANDERBH.T's death will be a violent
shock to the financial interests of the coun-
try, and yet there are so many enterprises
of great Importance so dependent on his
active management that there is cause for
apprehension. If there is any one to sue
coed him in the management of his vast
estate with the same ability that he pos
sessed there will be no disturbance in finan-
cial circles. In the event that there is no
one capable of taking up the work which
has so suddenly dropped from his hands,
there is no telling what complications may
follow. In this particular we have another
illustration of the danger of such immense
fortunes being accumulated in the hands of
one person.