The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-04
ECHOES ABOUT vANDERB1Lr.
Short Stories and Incidents from the Life OF
the Dead Money King.


NJ G.. Humphreys, In Chicago News.
Vanderhitiana is by no means exhausted. In
addition to the general feeling that there is a
particular irony in the fate which summarily
carries so phenomenally rich man off to a re-
gion where his vast wealth avails him nothing,
to hundreds of people during the holidays his
death will seem particular grievance. Wardell,
the family servant who has been in the Wander
bilt service forty years. and to whom the Com
modore left $40 600 and his son $40 000 says that
every Christmas Mr. Vanderbilt drew from the
bank $50000 which he himself put in envelopes
in sums varying from $50 to $780, and that for
two or three days Wariell occupied in dis
tributipg these envelopes in this city and along
the Hudson The old servant is the same au-
thority for the statements that Mr.. Vanderbilt
supported twenty Eve families, giving to each
from $500 to S. 500, according to the circum-
stances to which they were accustomed.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Vanderbilt greatly
enjoyed the luxury of giving Although he was
a rich man before his fathers death, he was
obliged, at least in appearance, to be economical
although many of these pensioners of whom
write received his benefits during that time. The
Commodore kept a sharp eye over his expendi-
lures. One morning reading in an account of a
picture sale that an Eastman johnson had fallen
to w. II. Vanderbilt for 81, 500, he called his at
tention to it. Whats this-what's this, Bill?'
"All mistake, father" said his son. 1T should
be $3.50 That's my limit
But while Mr.. Vanderbilt was generous man,
and his generosity was hampered by fear of APP
pearing ostentatious, he resisted being imposed
on with that heroism only rich man can afford.
In Paris with his physician, son, valet, he was
domiciled in fine suite of apartments
in the Hotel Splendide. To guard
against imposition when there was such
fine chance for it and among people who know
how to avail themselves of such opportunities,
Dir. Vanderbilt determined to see and pay his
bill every evening So it came The first thing
that attracted his attention was 160 francs for
hnu opfn do uoEor 20
eight candelabra, each burning twenty pink
candles. adjoining the chimney pieces of each
room. Mr. Vanderbilt drew his pencil through
this imposing item. Didn't order them; won't
pay for them"
The next thing was 20 francs for brandy. which
drew from him loud EXPLANATIONS,
Didn't order it; never drink it; what do they
meanp
This was ascertained to be a small flask Of
cognac. sent up with the coffee, but which
his pencil through that Then he sad '"Tell
them I'll pay the bill in that fashion, but I'll
60 to law before I'll pay for the pink candles and
brandy"
many matters and thouehtfulness that man
so occupied with affairs might not be expected
to show. Coming home from Europe. he drove
from the dock to the house OF an acquaintance
at o'clock in the morning that ne might tell
her of the health of her husband who had been
with him, and whom he had left on the other
side. and this before he had had his breakfast or
met his own family.
1t is we'll known that Mr.. Vanderbilt had made
previous will and that the bulk of the property
was left to Cornelius, even as he tWilliam) had
received it. This change in Mr.. Vanderbilts in
tention was occasioned by the speculation of his
sons while he was in Europe. Mr.. Vanderbilt
told friend of mine that he found that VIM.
K. had lost $6, 900 and Cornelius ST. ,000 900,
and that he was obliged to cable an order TO sell
$40. 900. 900 bonds to rescue them and their ny
pothecated homes. These, when freed Mr.. Van
derbilt retained in his own possession and allot-
ted to his erring sons an allowance of $50, 900 a
year each. The last will, it will be observed,
makes more even disposition of the property
and places the greater amount in trust
Mr.. Vanderbt's health, as it is known, had
been failing for some time For year he has
not been able to close his hands, which prevented
him from enjoying one of his greatest pleasures
driving. He had also been accustomed to
sitting in a haf-dazed state a condition that
greatly disturbed his family. But his daughter
had recently told friend that her father had
greatly improved in that resr6+ A physician
tells me that there was no doubt but that he was
afflicted with softening of the brain in its earlier
stages, and that if he had been poorer man he
would probably have lived longer. There was
not week that his life was not threatened, and
old Wardell says that in every instance he went
to the place appointed and never yet en-
countered any of the proposed assailants.