New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-10
PERSONAL TRAITS AND PECULIARIrlES.
QUICK AS A FLASH AND HARD TO HOODWINKED


A close personal friend and trusted adviser
OF the dead railroad IN lgnlte said yesterday
"Mr. Vanderbilt not what might be cailol an an
ecotl man. aud comparatively little In tho way OF that
kind of incident can told about him Ito was fond OF
Jokes and full OF humor, but he seldom told
story himself. But ho always saw through u
man who was trying to Impose on him as
quick as fash and he took great enjoyment in leading
on such man without letting him know that hls game
was understood. lie was the most dicdlt man IN tho
world to deceive by either plausible MEASUREMENT or
false statement Every man in his position IS con.
stanty being ma 10 the victim OF contd games that
are played by respectable and reputable people
but he seemed to have instructive understanding Of
such things at once. with him, with Others In Ike
position two men OF tina same mind with purpose To
accomplish where they expected him either To advance
them money pay them largely for abandoning
proposed scheme. would often talk up the merits or
dangers Of the project In his presence. He compre-
hended like a fash what such people were up 10. and
sometimes turned the tables them to make them
ridcuous and At other times let them 90 without
suspicion that thoy had not hoodwinked him. aud then
with his friends .woud enjoy himself At thcir expense
In some Of great suits th winch he connected
some Of the lawyers often would discuss a. between
themselves but IN his presence matter OF curious
history. the large fees that had been paid
In other similar to tho counsel. Mr.. Van
derbt while being instructed by this valuable informa-
ton, w"uid Indicate to some trioud sitting near how
kccnly Dee Hgpg'o .dtcd tho situation.
mi V.udrfhil, took the deepest interest in politics.
but belonged to 40 party. Having selected the candi-
dates Of either party whom lie Thought tho best men,
frS men 81 more Than he an IN ms Wy 10 promote
.hcr sncc"ss IT, such cases he was extremely liberal N
HE CUTS the campaign funds. he never cared mach
what a mans we've public questions or those
IN winch lie Wa '"h,:ry a"''I,,yii nc we. .
what he called square man. lie hAI theory lthat
Ao lived up Tor mat 0! man vas uhItH'"o OF corrupt
matter DO" favorable lie .h' hc tn h uier' - he
tNr. VauderhU wou!l Doe nu. % h' FIST " ilur. aud
that man VINO wa honest AMI Aad cDdr'sr' wren ne
felt the RESPONSIBILITIES ul al Official pusii'. would
s,,1' ~, ~, n, rs ." = III , i,. iv o,hi.
bI-l interests hh" N'll CONF '' '-' I'D W Nv
side. Inc result was that hc Frequently asiou'Acl h'
3ut in almost every instance tAc result showed tht his
MI Vnai.rniit ,ed above an rhlng, ia tho world
law suit he frequently said thar be woud pay amy
claim That va lic,rnttd " ~" ,.."N was ing 10 81
Thought really owed a. lie intensely enjoyed GOOD
story ana while nc rarely told Lims~f 10 tAe
story o. Lim. Ile l'd WY however OF
stating in an inctFe Wy. with sharp snap
per at uc end. .ui.crou, situation. gooi-
uI,usta.y aftn-i some .t,"a. or ot.ci"'5y Oh hi,
give away mou.y without thinking OF g. uprar,u' y. IN
va interested or friend D1i h womb ghl Over ihr
smallest matter where ht thought mat Doc was being
pose To- have any man tAluA that AN fool o. can Dc
In me summer Of 1888 SIR. Vanderbilt ,peut two
weeks 10 the Gcu House, 10 tAr 100; ~ Mount washing
fany.u.l devoted The r'ltrr part ot the .oag
days iu driving around among th' hills with th"u II
Bates and Eo@doin COLLEGES - walters during the
simmer season. Mr.. Vanderbilt had been AT tu" Glen
House Only few DAYS when De- b Kan To- make inquiries
OF iho Young concerning their college tr att cI.
pcrIcGcc-. lie a-ccraucd that tr students were. IN
most ils'Huc"-. the sons Of parents WHO wrre not
Durdrn,d with abundance or wealth and wcr" there
tore depending In large me HIrc upon their own
80 -, ,ir collie Sonr.c sycraI Of them in
formed the hnancicr that hy teaching school during
hotel, drrg thc uincl they wefr able by cN.rrl.ing
fair degree OF economy, To pay their own WY through
college ono student who Is now connected win a
that brsdcs paying his bills lie had assisted in support
ing nj. parents The Information which the railway
maguatc gained from the student waiter. 'eemed 20
please him greatly He told Charles Mlihsn, the and
lord, that he had not for a long time
puckicr lot OF young mcn than those students from
Bates and EoWdOu, who, clad IN black jackets and
white aprons, served up the excellent dishes OF The
Glen House 40 meal tine. Naeu The Two weeks stay
sr1nug the mountains To end. Mr. Vanderbilt,
before leaving hotel placed 10 tho hands OF Mr. MI
iiAeu 1000 10 bG distributed Hy him anon the stu
dct- the hotel testimonial ~ his appreciation
thirty students ~ inc hotel AZ the timo, each me
returned to III, coll g@ IN he fan
Among the anecdotes Illustrating Mr. Fanicrhilrs
grncrou, nature told OF BIS private secretary.
tho treasurer 0! tar >cw-Yoik Central Railroad,
Mr.. Fosstcr'- health was seriously affected.
but opportunity TO absent himself from business and
rccuprrair never seemed 70 come ls physicians IN
sisted "a ho must have rest Out ne kept putting Il on.
Mr. Vanderbilt had often urged Mr. ROs-itcr
10 20 away. but oven his wishes were not enou IA
To- convince him that he could AFFORD To
neglect business Just then. Finally Mr. vanderbilt tired
% the gentle arts o persuasion. ana when Mr. Ro-,itcr
WAITED the railroad king one morning he
pTiscd being presented with Two personal letter. ono
contained peremptory dscharco from Mr. Wander
tickets for passage to Liverpool On sesmcr thnt sailed
a. lew days. he was tod that he nekht take his
choice of the letters and tear up the other lie took the
voyage.