The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-16
LUNCH WITH MRS. VANDERBILT T
How the Wealthiest Widow Spends
Her Leisure Moments

her Leisure Moments.
NEW YORK, Dec. 15.-Undoubteily Mrs.
Vanderbilt, widow OF the late William II.
Vanderbilt, is the richest woman in Amer
lea, perhaps, next to Queen Victoria, she is
the richest widow in the world. Living
almost alone save for the large staff of SER
wants which, with Mrs. Vanderbilt d her
son George, the only unmarried child, oc-
cupy the huge brown stone palace corner
of Fifth avenue and Fifty-first street.
In many respects Mrs. Vanderbilt leads q
very simple life, exactly as hundreds of
other women, who have not hundredth
part of her money. She breakfasts between
s and 9 o'clock, the meal consisting of fruit.
porridge, steak, chops or broled chicken,
warm rolls tea and coffee. George Wander
bilt breakfasts with his mother 50 that she
shall not be alone. Her luncheon is also
a comparatively simple meal, but at dinner
there is much ceremony, and there are usu-
ally guests. The diniug-room is situated on
the first floor with windows looking out on
Fifty-first street. There is an immense
fire place with carved oaken designs in bss
relief at one end of the room, opposite the
door leading from the japanese room,
which by the way, has rece tly had q bill
lard table placed in the center. The din
ing room is furnished with old oa5en furni-
ture. A buffet fills one entire side of the
room and on the other between the win
dows are large glass cabinets in which is
the finest collection of Old Sevre and other
rare porcelains. When | lunched with her
the other day the table was set for eight
neople and the service was of d eslen china
On each plate was large white linen nap
kin SO folded as t. show an embroidered
monogram about an inch and half square
of the letters w. H. V. At the four cor
ners of the table were tell, single, silver
candlestick5; with pink candles and pink
silk shades, and in front of these small silver
dishes for bon bons, sailed almonds. olives,
etc. The glassware was finely cut and
sparkled like diamonds, and on the buffet
stood other specimens of cut glass, ready
for use. tall shone like a collection of
huge gems. In the center Of she table
stood a large cut glass bowl of rare work
manship, filed with chrysanthemums from
Mrs. Vanderbilt's own conservatory, which
just now contains an immensely beautiful
display Of these autumnal flowers. Ju {
outside the dining room is a storeroom, with
safes built into the wall. II also contains
the buffers pantry. There is a balcony
with a wrought iron railing which extends
around the room, and feet from the top.
The safes on the lower range are line /
with purple velvet aud contain large pieces
of silver. There are silver punch bowls,
tankards. candlesticl1s, tureens, all exquis-
itely engraved, and of immense size. One
safe contains only immense silver trays,
and one tray especially large has tiny
railing an inch high SURF unding IT, and
large snowy handles. 1t is said to he the
largest and finest engraved piece Of silver
plate in the country. Another safe con-
tains a solid gold dinner service and tall
gold candlesticks There are few people Of
royal blood who can ex ell in their table
appointments this New York widow. In
the balcony row Of safes the smaller pieces
of silver are kept; spoons Of every kind aud
variety, ladies', knives, forks and small
dishes. They are in gold, silver and plati-
mum, One may very naturally ask what
does 50 small family as Mrs Vanderbilt
and her son George do WITH this immense
amount of silver, glass and porcelain; As
| have said, the dinner is tho one ceremoni-
Gus occasion of the day, and eac day the
butler is requested to SET tho table with an
entirely different service OF plate, glass and
china. / do not say that there arc $50 Of
these sets, but there arc enough - last for
long time before beginning over again. In
this way Mrs. Vanderbilt learns that such
OF her possessions are intact. lt seems u
great responsibility for ono man q have
charge OF all these possessions, yet the but
Ter of the family is that nan aud he is re-
qured to give bonds rs TO bis faithfulne,s.
He il is who holds the keys TO oil IN sc safes
and cabinets, and he is not olly responsible
for their safe keeping, but be isncconntable
for any breakage. Tho present butler has
ben in the family some time, and pre-
viously held the same position with Oalles
Ames, now governor Of Massachusetts.
The other apartments on this floor are
three drawingrooms Leading into each other,
on tho Fifth avenue side of the house. The
first apartment on the left Of the main en-
trance is finished ia green, and is called tho
library. 1t has a large, open fireplace, and
is In appearances a cheerful, luxurious room,
vet it Is seldom used by the family. Ii is a
gloomy place for the widow. as her hus-
band was stricken with death In this room
during the memorable conference with
Robert Garrett, who is himself worse than
dead. being confined in barred rooms at his
place ia Ringwood, New Jersey. IL Is said
that Mr.. CARROTS insanity dates from tho