The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-03
MRS. yaNDERBILT's home.


How the Richest Wonan in America
Passes her Leisure Time.
New York Correspondence OF the Phli'
adelphia Times
Mrs. Vanderbilt, the widow OF Will
liam Il. Vanderbilt, is the richest
woman in America. Next to Queen
Victoria, she is tie richest woman IN
the world. She and her SOD George,
the only unmarried child, with large
staff of servants, occupy the huge
brown-stone palace at the corner OF
5th avenue and 5lst street.
In many respects Mrs. Vanderbilt
leads very simple life, exactly as
hundreds of other women who nave
not hundredth part Of her money.
She breakfasts between Sand O'Clock,
the meal consisting Of fruit, porridge'
steak, chops, or broiled chicken, warm
rolls, tea and coffee. George Wander
bilt breakfasts with his mother, so that
she shall not be alone. Her luncheon
is also D comparatively simple meal,
but at dinner there is much ceremony,
and there are usually guests. The
dining room is situated on the first
floor, with windows looking out on 5lst
street. There is an immense fireplace
with carved oaken designs in bas-relie'
at one end Of the room, opposite the
door leading from the japanese room,
which has recently had billiard table
placed IN the centre. The dining room
is furnished with all oaken furniture.
A buffet fills one entire side Of the
room, and on the other, between the
window, are large glass cabinets, III
which is the finest collection OF old
Sevres and other rare porcelain.
When T lunchsd with her the other
day the table was set for eight people
and the service was of Dresden china.
On each plate was large white nap
kin so folded as to show an embroidered
monogram about an inch and 3 half
square Of the letters W. II. Y. At the
four corners of the table were tall sin
gle silver candlesticks, with pink can
dies and pink silk shades, and in front
of these small silver dishes for bonbons,
salted almonds, olives, &C. The glass
ware was finely cut and sparkled like
diamonds, and on the buffet stood
other specimens of cut glass ready for
use. It all shone like collection Of
huge gems. In the centre Of the table
stood large cut-glass bowl of rare
workmanship filed with .chrysanthe-
nuns from Mrs. Vanderbilt's own
conservatory, which just now contains
an immensely beautiful display Of
these autumnal flowers.
Just outside the dining room is a
store room, with safes built into the
wall. It also contains the buffers pam
try. There is a balcony, with wrought
iron railing, which extends around
the room and five feet from the top.
The safes on the lower range are lined
with purple velvet and contain large
pieces of fsilver. There are silver punch
bowls, tankards,.. ..candlesticks, tureens,
au exquisitely engraved and Of i'm
mense size. One safe contains only
immense silver trays, and one tray
especially large, has tiny railing an
inch high surrounding it and large
snowy handles. 1t is said to be the
largest and finest engraved piece Of
silver plate in the country. Another
safe contains a solid gold dinner SER
vice and tall gold candlesticks. There
are few people of royal blood who can
excel in their table appointments this
New York widow. In the balcony
row Of safes the smaller pieces Of sill
yer are kept spoons Of every kind and
variety, ladies, knives, forks and small
dishes. They are in gold, silver and
plantinum.
One may very naturally ask what
does so small family as Mrs. Wander
Sbilt and her son George do with this
Immense amount of silver, glass and
porcelain? AS I have said, the dinner
lis the one ceremonious occasion Of the
sday, and each day the butler is reques-
TIED to set the table with entirely dife-
rent service of plate, glass and china. L
do not say that there are 365 OF these
sets, but there are enough to last for q
long time before beginning over again.
In this way Mrs. Vanderbilt learns
that such of her possessions are intact.
It seems great responsibility for one
man to have charge Of all these posses
sions, yet the butler of the family is
that man and. he is required to give
bonds as to his faithfulness. He it is
who holds the keys to all these safes
and cabinets, and heis not only respon-
sible for their safe keeping, but he is
accountable for any breakage. The
present butler has been in the family
some time and previously held the
same position with Oaket Ames, now
Governor of Massachusetts.
RTIZZARD IN TIE NORTHWEST.
Severe Snow Storms Accompanied oy
Heavy Gales.