The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1886-01-28
VANDERBILT.
His Widow and Daughters and the Wives
Of the Sons.

/ widow and daughters and the wives Ot
his sons. the latter of whom now in
hcrit wealth that makes them more
powerful than the majority Of the
crowned heads of Europe.
Mrs. W. II. Vanderbilt. the widow.
while not a small woman. is still rather
slight OF figure, has dark hair. as Vet
hardly tinged with gray, dark hazel
ewes, and very sweet and refined ex-
preston. Thoroughly domestic III her
| tastes and devoted 10 her husband, chill
dren, and grandchildren. she has never
cared for society and it has been only
on account of her youngest daughter.
Miss Leila. now Mrs. Seward Webb
that she has entertained al all during
the last five years. She is exceedingly
simple in her mode of life, rising early
breakfa5ting with her family, and then
devoting several hours to her household
duties, afterwards visiting her grand
children or having them brought TO see
her. In the afternoon she generally
drives in the park, accompanied by one
of her daughters or her son George, and,
after a quiet family dinner, chats with
her family and then Tetires. She is very
regular in her attendance at church and
very faithful to her church duties. One
beautiful trait of her character is her
constancy to her friends. She has an
especial affection for the friends OF her
early married life. and at the receptions
she has held during the winter cards
have been as regularly sent to her old
| Staten Island acquaintance. many of
them farmers. as to her more fashion
! a0le city friends. She has ALWAYS made
/ haIs H.4fx- 70 fhar La. -,
relatives who were in poor circumstances
J should be well remembered On every
| festal occasion. Her own Immediate
relatives are all i'll comfortable circum-
stances. While Mis-. Vanderbilt nama
does not appear prominently ' in the lists
| of managers of the leading charities. Vel
She contributes largely 10 them in a very
/ quiet manner. always accompanying.
such contributions with the request thar
her name be not mentioned. While her
! circle of formal acquaintanceS is ncceS-
| Sarily Il large one. yer comparatively
few persons know her Intimately. bur
these speak OF her in the highest terms
a> an exemplary wife. mother. and
! woman.
THE HEAD OF THE FAMILY.
Alr~. Cornelius Vanderbilt. who will
|
| family. WAS Miss Alice Gwinn, a Young
| lady who. with her sister. occupied Il
! prominent position in Cincinnati society
| previous 10 her marriage. Mrs. Wander
| bilt is very petite. with rather pretty
but not exactly handsome features She
is also exceedingly domestic i'll her
tastes. and devoted to her family of
boys. but. until she Went into mourning
! last winter for Il relative. was present
AT all the larger balls of the winter SEA
son. Unaffected and simple in manner
she yet has much quiet dignity. She
has the best taste in dress of anV of the
women in the Vanderbilt family. Some
of her ball costumes worn in late years
were remarkably effective and hand
some. She enters into all her husband )
charitable work with the most hearty
| goodwill. Her residence al the corner
| of Fifty-seventh street and Fifth avenue
| is one of the mOst artistically decorated
houses in the city, largely the result OF
Mrs. Vanderbilt's taste and direction.
WILLIAM X. ) WIFE.
\ very different type of woman from
| her mother-in-law and sister-in-law is
| Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, the wife of
| the second son. She was married to
Mr.. Vanderbilt in 1876, and was former
" Miss Alvah Smith, daughter of Mr.
Smith of Mobile, who lived with his
| iamilv many years in Paris. She and
her sisters. Miss Amidie. Miss Jennie,
now Mrs. Fernando Yznaga, and Miss
Mamie Smith. now in Paris, were promi-
nent bellies in New York society She
is tall and slight, neither blonde nor
brunette, her hair slightly grayish. al
though still young woman. She is
gifted with very fine conversational
powers, being quick in repartee and
sarcastic ut times, which has had rather
the tendency TO make her somewhat
feared in society. to which she is de
voted She felt her husbands financial
reverses, which made it necessary foi
her to retire for time from their lead
ing position, very keenly. Her intimacy
with Lady Vaudeville, formerly Mis-
Consuela Yznaga, has been OF long
standing, resulting in the latter making
her visit Of year lately, during which
time, at Lady Mandeville's suggestion
her famous fancy-dress ball was given.
Mrs Vanderbilt dresses chiefly III black,
which best adorns her face and figure
She has three children, is good hostess
and delights III entertaining. She i:
fond of admiration, and is i'll fact Z
thorough woman uf the world in every
particular.
MRS. FREDERICK ".
Mrs. Frederick ". Vanderbilt. The
wife of the third son. is the youngest ol
the daughters-in-laW. She was a Mis-;
Anthony Of Rhode Island, a relative ot
the late Senator Anthony. She first
married nephew of William H Van
derbilt. Mr. William Terrence, from
whom she obtained a divorce on tht
ground OF desertioD, after brief welded
life of six months, and a year aftel
married Mr. Frederick Vanderbilt, much
against the wishes of his father and
mother, who were not reconciled fol
some time to the match. They. how
ever. grew TO be very fond OF Mrs. Van
dcrbilt. and three Years ago. At the com
pletion of the Fifth avenue palace. the
now dead millionaire presented The
Young couple with his former residence
at Fifth avenue and Fortieth street
Mrs. Frederick Vanderbilt is fond o
society bur her husband : aversion Il
il does not permit her 10 go ont 10 any
extent.
THE DEAD MAN DACGHIERS.
The eldest OF Mr.. Vanderbilt dau9h
ters is Mrs. Elliott F. Shepard. formerly
Miss Margaret Vanderbilt. She is tall anC
dark, and. while not handsome, has.
very sweet face She has large family
and inherits her mothers domestic
tastes, going into society very little ex
cept 10 dinners. which her husband
professional position makes necessary
She dresses quietly and in good taste.
Mrs. William ID. Sloane. formerly
Miss Emily Vanderbilt. now the wife o
one of the members OF the large carpe
firm. lives with her husband and family
in the upper one ri the two Fifth avenu'
palaces. She was married about lively,
years ago. and is very happy in her do
mestic relations. having several yOm1
children to whom she is very devoted
She is tall and frail-looking, with ligh
hair, slightly reddish in tinge. Mrs
Sloane'< chief diversion is the opera
and she may be seen in her fathers bo,
AT the Metropolitan Opera-House almos
every night of the season.
A brunette. and of medium hight, i