Daily Republican., 1885-12-11
Mr., Vanderbilt.
THE FUNERAL or xHE LATE wM.
HI. VANDERBILT TO TAKE
PLACE TO-DAY.
INCIDENTS OF HIS LIFE.


The funeral of William Fl. Wander.
bilt was to take place to-day, and before
the REPUBLICAN reaches Its readers
this evening, his remains will have
been committed " earth to earth, dust
to dust" The press of the city OF New
York is still giving many fresh incl
dents and rem miniscences Of the deceas.
ed, among them being the following
from Chauncey M. Depew, in an inter-
view with q Philadelphia Press CORES.
|pondent
It is not just to say of Vanderbilt
that he did not create but simply per-
petuated," said Chauncey NJ. Depew
last night to the Press correspondent.
He not only doubled the wealth he
inherited, but he more than doubled the
| sy stem of railroads which his father
left him and made them greater than
they ever were before. All the con-
meeting links West of Chicago were
brought into the system through his
energy and foresight, and the develop.
was something which his father never
dreamed of.
"Then, too, he had problems to solve
of railroad wars and trunk line pools
and kindred things that his father was
never troubled with and doubt II the
old Commodore would have used 10
much diplomacy In their settlement as
w. Fl. did. One thing Is certain, II the
Commodore did not feel sure that Will
liam 81. would not be able to keep up q
steady improvement In the Vanderbilt,
roads he could not have entrusted him
with their control. He would have
gone out of the family to find some one
to put In charge of them rather than lei
: them 60 to one of his sons in whom ht
had no confidence"
"Are the stories about the harsh treat
!. /. ment he received OF his fathers handi
i ltrue?"
:! eyes" answered Mr.. Dspsw, d"
have heard the Commodore go fol
Billy as he called him, harshly ant
y upjustly. After his fathers death
though, / never heard the son complain
about it. All the hard tasks that hi
It father imposed on him simply mellow
. ed In his mind as tests to which he hae
7 been put for purpose. He came to re
y y gard them in after years as sort of pre-
paration for what was before him. H
saw that 1t was his fathers idea to trail
him IN o rough school, where he coult
II come in contract with all sorts of peopl
u on common level and enter into al
n walks of life. 1t was only during tn
last twoyearS OF bis life that theCommo
;s dore came to see the fruit Of his train
Ia ing, but when he did 30 his whole man
a ner towards him changed at once.
n William II. used to tell how hi
"a father came 10 put MIN on the Slater
Is and farm. William did not tax
t. the banking business-he neve
. liked Wall street even in later yeare-
and he wanted something else, but wa
3 afraid to ask for it. Finally, while tn
. Commodore WAS talking of the State
!, Island farm, William fourd the courag
j, !, to blurt out his wish to try farming
a 'Farming!' yelled the old man in aston
a ishment, why, Billy. you'd be hom
A. before the first day was over We'll
= let me try that first day, then,' the soi
is replied. The aptness Of this answe
- struck the Commodore as meanin
= something, and he said; Billy, war
81 some one to take care Of that grouni
a. but i'll give 1t to you, you must ear
"a your own living on 1t and not expeC
~ y anything from me; won't give you
~ id cent All right, father, l ca
o. q earn my own living, replied Williar
~ H., and he kept his word.
a About five years afterward he was !
~ n his fathers house, and the latter sal,
"a Bill, what are you doirg down on Il
island?' Making fair living !
Responded. This answer riled th
Commodore. He thought the boy ougf
~ to be extending his influence beyoI
lal the farm. Don't you know thi
3d. Staten Island isn't all the world? A
'o- you going to keep pioughing all yol
lro life? and he then proceeded to gi
ry the boy about rs hard q tongue lashi !
hs rs any one ever received.
IN. Before William II. became engag
'st to be married he went to the father al
OF teld him of his intention. He expect
Q, to be stormed at, as he was on near
eu all of his projects. Instead of that {
es. Commodore was pleased. Bill
II. said, It's the first sensible thing y
re- have spoken to me in year. Who
OF she p About the first recognition Il
re- bis father ever gave him that he b
81 any confidence In him WAS while tn
an were talking OF railroad affairs, a
n William H.spoke of q connection whi
he thought would be valuable
nd the Central. 'Bill,' think you ha
On. got some brains,' said he, but y
es, have been long while proving 1t
red me-"