The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-02-12
William E. Vanderbilt Consents to Associate
with a Few Minor Political Potentates,
Including. the Sultan Of Turkey.
The Early Coming of Lent Casts a Shade
of Mild Gloom Over Society People,
Time at Their Disposal-Collsion Between
Shakespeare and the Proprieties.
specie. TO the 1naianapol.. lournas

New YORK. Feb. 1L-Since William K Van
derbilt sailed away trip around the world
little has been heard Of him. The newspapers
have not followed him up with closeness. Now
and then brief cablegram has appeared, an
nouneing that Mr.. Vanderbilt had graciously
consented to be received by the Sultan, or some
other minor potentate, who would undoubtedly
gladly exchange boots with his money guest;
that Mr.. Vanderbit spent Christmas in the Vi
cinity of the Dardanelles, and that Mrs. Van
derbilt did not forget to send a New Years
check to New York in the interests of charity.
But some of MIR. Vanderbilt's friends have been
fortunate in obtaining private advices aboat
him, and from one of these letters / obtain a
great deal of information. Mr.. Vanderbilt's ex-
periences thus far have been devoid of anything
remarkable from the point of view of the adj
venturer. He has had no encounters with
brigands, either italian or Turkish; he has not
been followed by pirates in the Mediterranean;
he has cmed dizzy mountain heights. nor
has he attempted to enter mosques in dis
guise; he has not bearded the tiger in
his lair, nor shot the sacred white elephant on
the banks of the Ganges. In fact. Mr.. Wander
bits life is, in his own opinion and that of his
friends, altogether too valuable TO risk In any
such foolhardy manner. That may do for
moneyless nobodies, but never for the biggest of
American money kings. Mr.. Vanderbilt, ac-
cordine to the best authority. has. however,
been able to enjoy himself much more to his sat
isfaction. AT present he is in Egypt, and on his
way up the Nile. He has chartered the steamer
Prince Abbas, which returned to Cairo last
week, having on board the Due de Chartres and
a party of illustrious gentlemen. Mr.. Wander
bilt was introduced TO the noble duke, and they
had pleasant time while both parties remained
in Cairo The steamer Prince Abbas is getting
to be the regular excursion boat of the Nile, for
parties who afford to pay the exceedingly
large price charged for her use. The fittings and
furnishings of the most luxurious character.
and almost equal to the magnifcence Of Mr..
Vanderbilt's own yacht. The steamer is large
one compared to the general run of vessels in
use on the Nile. and the Vanderbilt party will
not find 1t necessary to complain of cramped
quarters. The start was made few days ago.
and the ultimats destination is the first cata-
ract Stops will be made at Luxor, Carnak,
Thebes and other towns and villages on. the ssrE
trip, and possibly at some the return Mr.
Vanderbilt has written that Egypt is not
country of pleasant sights, although abounding
with things of interesting nature He found
more rags and misery IN his sightseeing in Cairo
than he before imagined possible. The
turbulent Nile, with its muddy waters aud loamy
black banks. has caused him to express surprise
at the stories of Cleopatra and her wonderful
barge. To his mind, floating the dirty waves
and watching the crocodiies as they iunpudently
f1irt their tails. is not such a delightful thing
il is alleged to have been. He admits, however,
that the moonlight and beautiful houris in pict-
uresque costume and soft music may have made
difference. Mr.. Vanderbilts Nile voyage will
last much longer than the three weeks that 1T
usually takes because he expects to be some time
in exploring the wonders of the place where he
intends to STOP He will manage to get back in
time, however, to avoid any dangers from the
annual overflow. He has taken along with him
goodly supply of choice Perfectos to prevent
infection from the iil-smelling rags that are om-
nipresent in Egypt at this time. He believes
that good tobacco smoke will drive away any
such danger, and invites his companions to puff
away his best brands all the time.
Doing the Nile has apparently attracted
great many Americans recently. MIR j. Pierre
pont Morgan. the rich banker and statesman,
bilt is now using. He was in hurry. however,
and broke the time record the trip by steam
ing night and day instead of lying-to at night
He returned to Cairo in a week and a half from
the time he started. Mr.. Ismay, of the White
Star line, also made the trip, and number of
other well-known Americans have been there
incognito.
Letters have been received in New York from
Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel B. Fearing the wealthy
society couple who took wedding trip to Japan
last fall. Mr.. Fearing is wealthy gentleman
of adventurous spirit who became tired OF
the insipid pleasures of society life in New
York. Mrs. Fearing is charming young
woman who shares her husbands love for travel,
and. as money is no object to them, they have
been enjoying themselves royalty. They left
New York on a special car with their own
servants for San Francisco. and thence travelled
by private yacht to Yokohama A beautiful
residence had been engaged for them there in
advance and had been fitted up in luxurious
manner. In the delightful climate and sur
rounded by new and curious conditions they
have managed to entertain themselves wonder
fully well. They at first intended to return in
six months, but their appetite for travel has
only been whetted by their experience and they
expect now to circle the globe before they re-
turn. Their next stop will be in India.
Society mourns the early advent of Lent this
year. 1t is generally agreed that Feb Is is a
date altogether outrageous for the suppression
of gayety in it's violent phase and the enforced
substitution of sewing bees. quiet 1uncheons.
charitable bazaars and the5 carrying of prayer
books in the afternoon. There was ti1ne when
the lenten season might be openly ignored and
church authority defied with impunity. But
society doesn't do that sort of thing now. It's
fashionable to be churchly. SO the sackcloth and
ashes metaphorically donned without a
murmur. Some young women even go so far
as to attend church two three times o day.
They may be escorted home by a differ
ent young man each time, but they
console themselves with q consciousness of
duty performed There is some talk CT q great
charity fair before Easter, to be led by such
names as Astor and Vanderbilt. but the project
has not yet taken definite shape. and may come
to nothing. Notwithstanding the widespread
popularity of lenten observances, however.
there are considerable number of wealthy
New Workers whose absurd independence of the
conventionalites has led to a charming new
departure in their set. This is departure for
Florida. Nassau. some other genial cline
few days before Ash Wednesday. and a return
to civilization few days after Easter At least
twenty families have departed within the past
week, with the sole purpose of escaping the
dullness of Lent. and many more going
But ii Lent is observed rather strictly. society
makes the most OF the gay season mp to the last
moment While the afternoon receptions and
the evening sssmall and earlysr at private houses
numerous as ever, the entertainments at
Delmonico's and the Brunswick have greatly in
creased in number. For instance. Delrnonico's
second floor is engaged for every night up to
Ash Wednesday, for balls and other social affairs
Private entertainments III public places-ad-
mission bf card only-grow in favor and save
much wear and tear on the goods and chattels