Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-16
NEW YORK LETTER.
vps yArDERBILT THg wEALTHIEsT
WIDOW IN Tgg WORLD.
"a, oais, Life 10 the Tifth-Avenue Palace
SILVER asd Art Trsasnres-asrr Most In
,erviswsd-Thinks Beer Too Weak
,c,re.pouaencc Of the Rlchmoaa Dispa'ch.l

correspondence Of the Richmond Dispa'ch.i
NV York, December IS. 1888.
Tnfouhtc llv Mrs. Vanderbilt, widow OF
laie " iItsm Vi. Nasdcrblt, Is the richest
vomsn ia America. Perhaps. rex, to Queen
Victoria. she l. The richest widow IA the
world. living almost alone save for TIE large
tsT 81 servants which, With Mrs. Wander
iit and her son george. the Only unmarried
child, occuny The huge brsunstone palace
corner Of Flfh avenue and Fifty first street.
To many respects Mrs. Vanderbilt leads a
very supple life, exactly - hundreds 81 ether
won ~ no have not bundfedtb part OF her
lnorSpE She breakfasts between s and Q
O'clock. the meal cohsis,ing Of fruit, por-
ridge. sieak. chops, or broiled chicken, warm
rolls. tea ana coffee. George Nsndcrhiit
breakfasts with his mother. 90 that she sbasl
not bee alone fler luncheon Il also COM
Yarsiivcly staple meal, but AZ dinner there
i much ceremony and there are usually
guests The dlnng-room II suuaiea on
INC Grst floor with Windows looking out on
Tiuy-Gfst street. There il 40 immense IRE
rlace wiih carved eskeD designs IN DAs re-
lief AZ one end Of The room, opposite the
door leading from TIE japanese room, which,
he The sQsV. h4s recently had a biliGfd.iablo
t.is.r1 in the centre. The dining room is
f,r,i.hed with old oaken furniture. 4 bui-
fetfI. one entire side OF the room and on
fle other between the windOwt are large
r'sss cabinets In which i' the finest collec-
ton Of old SeyIo and other rare pOrcslalns.
IrNmSG WITH HRs VANDERBILT.
when iunched with her The other day
che table was srt for EIGHT people and The
service was o. Dresden china. On each
plate was large white hnen napkin 50
fodcia - to show an embroidered monogram
shout ao inch and half square Of the let
fers vs.. H. Y. Al The four corners Of the
t.b'e were tn, single silver candle sticks.
wiIh pick candles aud pink SIX shades, an d
in front ~ these small SILVER dishes for BEN
h0rs. sailed almonds, olives, &C. The glass
ware wss finely cut and spanked Ike
diamonds. and on the bu1si stood other
specimens oi cut glass ready for use. II All
fholc Ike collection 81 huge gems. In
thr centre 90 The table stood a large cut-g lass
bowl % rSre wolsmansbio, filled with
chrsarthemum. from Mrs Ysnderbilrs ewn
conservatory. which Just BOW contains an
Immensely beautiful display Of these autumn
~ flowers. Just outside the diniRK.rOom
s. sore-r00n, with safes built into The
vail. r. also contains the buffers pantry.
There 10 balcony with wrought.iron
TafUny which extends around Tho room, aud
I've loci from tho top.
PLEASURES ~ SILVER.
The safes on ne lower rance are lined with
purple velvet and contain large pieces OF Sill
s,r There are silver punch-Oowis. tank
rfjs. cardls-slcks, tureens, an eXQuistely
.n.rsfed and Of immense size. One safe
contains only immense silver trays and one
.riy, especially large, has tiny railing m
frch hieh surrounding Il snd large, snowy
laadle.. - "a said 10 he The largest and
frrst engraved piece Of silver plate IN
fae country. Another safe contains solid
rold dlnner-serslce and tail gold candle
tr0fs Ihore are few people OF ROYAL blood
nl0 can excel iD their table appointments
tr. Ncw YORK widow. In the bal
cnv row II safes the smaller pieces
ci silver are kept; spoons ~ every Kind
end variety, ladies, knives, forks, and small
dishes. HEY are iD gold. silver, and pl'ti.
uum. One mav very naturally ask Whist
GIc. so small family as Mrs. Vanderbilt
sad Der son George DO With this immense
nmouut oi SILVER. glass. and porcelaiuy As
have said, tte diuucr is The one ceremO-
pi0us occasion Of the dsy, and each day the
butter is requested ~ sft the table with an
entirely different service OF plate, glass, and
china do not say that there are three
hundred and HXty-hye 81 these sets. but
there ar~ enough tO last for long time be.
fore ierinpiug over aeain. in Tins way Mrs.
Vanderbilt learns tLlt such o. her posses
si)rs are intact
rs IMPORTANT BUTLER
II seems a great responsibility for one man
20 have charge Of au these possessions. vet
ihe butler Of lbe family is tuat man, and he
fs required t0 give bonus az 10 his flthiul-
nes.. lie 30 is vito holds tho keys TO an these
rates and slbiucts, sud Doe Is not only re-
snousihe for their safe keeping. but be Is
s.r.untsble fOF any brtnk9gc. The pr, sent
h..lrr haa been IN tie family some time. and
previously held thc same position with oskcS
hmrs, uow Governor Of Massachusetts,.
The other apartments ON mis- 0o0r are three
lrswing.ro0m- leading into cach other on
thc Tlith.aycuuc side ofthe house. The first
aulrimcut on the lett az the main entrance Is
f1.sh~d ln green, aud q. called The library.
4. hFs large. open Fireplace, and is IN APP
Drararce cheerful. luxurious room, yet 10 ~
seldom used bY the family. 10 is gloomy
ps0o for fhe widow. o, her husband was
STRICKEN with death IN th., room during The
memorable conference with Mr.. R0her, Gar
lrit. Who is hlmseii were than dead, being
confined ln barred rooms at HE place ma
IncNood, Nj. ltissald that Mir. CARROTS
Insanity dates from the shoes lac r. ceiYed
when tis friend. william n. Vanderbilt, APP
p.rcnuy iu ili possession oi health and
Grcus,b, dropped dead before him.
D,wiNo.RooMs
The next apartment Ia the principal draw
fnr.rnom, aud 81 course c0nttius everything
fn thc way Of costly bric-0 brac Of which it
is possible 70 conceive The walls are COW
end with crushsd-strlwherry velvet caught
down hy large cOiorrd -slnss med1llions cut
t1 look hike huge ruhies emeralds, and opals.
Ihc main haH is very large. containing an
immense trc-piace, and with iis heavy
..ry.ng and Winding staircase leading 10 tie
floor above looks like part Of some medal.
ssl castle. Al objective point in thus hall Is
n'e.size portrait " Mrs Vanderbilt by oar.
rcrt itisRu excellent Likeness IN sitting
posture. the costume being a fashionable
dinner drc.s Of hiack silk relieved 10y co.
I.r-1 sHk at the throat. down Tie vest front,
10 90 the sleeves Is rich white lace.
ArrN PORTRAIT.
MIS- Vanderbilt is tall sud Slender, and
W.lr, 1cs bair ia large coil, coming high
trun DER head The front hair is parted In
ta.,enirc. aud brought down he set waves.
Ir Nbai ere called Oand0liue sCall0ps. She
I.ta quiet. i1dv.iike slr, snd Is the daughter
cfa clergyman, Mr.. kisssm, who was not
r.h man, bat one OF cultivation, who Is
erncd at al times In Mrs. Vanderbilt
tlc sleeping apartments are on The up
g.. Moor. ~ D. also sunny sitiing-rOom,
where Mrs. Vanderbilt passes her forenoonS.
Just now she is ont every forenoon buying
Christmas presents for her sons aud dsngh,
frs. and hosts ~ little grandchildren, of
whom she is yerv fond. She Eives large sums
t.phariie,. bui these she gives through other
Bond, for the most part, as she is NOT very
strong If late years. She goes into no so.
Dt., except tomake informal calls on old and
Estimate nieuls. and 20 visit at the houses OF