Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-16


chair as straight as q string and he wlelds
the white ivory gavel with his right hand
in dignIfed angles.
He is fine looking presiding officer. Six
feet high, and with only scholarly stoop In
his shoulders, his smooth-shaven statesman
like face makes one think of the vice presl-
dents at the beginning of our history. His
hair, we'll combed, and parted very near the
middle, is iron gray. 1t is brushed well up
from broad and rather high forehead and
its style of dressing is much the same as that
seen in the pictures of Thomas Jefferson.
Vice President Morton looks very much like
Jefferson, save that his complexion is bru-
nette, while that of Jefferson was blonde,
and his hair has been black while Jefferson's
WIS red, The Vice Presidents eyes are
blue, and when out of his chair and min
Cling in Washington society his face is Zone
vast substantial smile"
Mr.. Morton learned to smile while he was
making his fortune. He started life as a
clerk in a country store and be smiled so
pleasantly at his customers that at 20 he was
able to 90 into business for himself At 25
his country store grew too small for him and
he carried his smile into a commercial house
at Boston. 1t worked as we'll here as it did
In his birthplace, Shoreham, and it in
creased his pile to such an extent that at 80
he concluded again to smile for himself,
he then became the head of the drygoods
commission house of Morton & GrinnelI at
New York, and BY 1868 he had succeeded so
far that he was able to establish the great
banking house of Morton, Bliss & Co., with
its branch at London.
HIS SMILE PAYS DoUBLY.
There was more, however, in Mr.. Morton
than the simple smile. There were good
business brains behind his pleasant face, and
by the time he was 40 he had made for
tune. He has made more money since then
and his money has not hardened his face or
his heart His smile which paid him we'll
as a young man has continued to pay him
well as a statesman. 1t made him a success.
ful Minister to France, and it is making
him one of the most popular statesmen at
the Capital. It is, 1 think, the offspring of
his good nature rather than policy, and 1t is
worth more to him than allsihis millions. 1t
keeps him from worry and enables him to
Withstand the vexstions of Washington and
its soclety.
Vice President Morton is good dresser
He does not skimp his tailor and his coats
are Of the latest and most fashionable cuts.
He wears a statesmanlike double-breasted
frock coat and his everyday pantaloons are
of dark gray. His clothes seem to be a
part of him and he is marked figure in the
Senate, at the White House and in the
Washington drawing-rooms, He has added
much to his popularity BY the series of mag.
nifcent entertainments which he is giving
In Washington, and be does not let the in
come from his dozen odd million dollars lie
idle. He spends as well as makes, and has
large number Of men in his employ.
HIS CATTLE AND SHEEP.
Vice President Morton is a man of affairs
as we'll as a man of society. He carries on
an immense business in addition to the
work he does here in Washington. and
there are few men in the country who can
do so much while appearing 10 do SO little.
The care Of his immense property is enough
to keep one man busy, and he has a stock
farm in addition to being statesman and
banker and a society man. He has q farm
at Rhineclif known as the Eilerslie stock
farm, which contains $50 acres, and which
constitutes his country home. The Vice
President, however, makes his farm a bust
ness investment as well as place of sum-
mer rest He has 100 head of the choicest
of imported Guernsey cattle upon it. Every
one of his animals has noted record and
all were brought over from Europe at his
expense. There is hardly a COW among
them that has not won a prize as a milk
producer and butter maker and their intro
duction has done much to improve the cat
tie of New York. Mr.. Morton is also inter
ested in fine wool sheep and his flock on his
stock farm numbers so imported South
downs. He has weekly reports as to how
his cows and sheep are doing, and the Guilt
walton of the extensive estate requires con-
siderable correspondence.
A VICTIM OF THE BEGGARs.
The Vice Presidents mail amounts to an
average of 80 letters day, and these cover
all sorts of subjects His known wealth and
his generous disposition make him the OBJ
ject OF numerous beggars, and he receives
many applications for charity. Some of
these are of the most cheeky variety. and
as an instance young man from Maine
wrote few days ago asking for two Of his
best registered Guernsey COWS, and saying
that be wanted nothing but registered stock
and would like to have them shipped as a
gilt with the freight paid. The letter was
probably not answered.
There are numerous worthy applications
for charity received by the Vice President
every day, and among them are many re-
quests from young boys and girls who want
to be educated. Some of these are answered
by his secretary, but for any millionaire 10
reply TO all the demands upon him would
make HIM pauper within a year. The
President receives numerous applications
for charity, and our millionaire Senators are
beseeched for gifts every day. The most of
them, like the Vice President, do give a
great deal, but it is only after a thorough
Investigation of the facts and to such as
they know are in need.
MR.. MoRToN's HABITS.
Vice President Morton rises early and
breakfasts at $50, and then goes into his
study and works at his mail until IL or II,
when he goes to the Capitol, often walking
the mile and half between his house and
the Senate. He is employed at the Senate
all dsv. and his evenings are taken IN with
the dinners and other social requirements of
Washington. Vice President Morton is a
good horseback rider. He is fond of fine
horses and he has eight good ones in his
stables here. His riding horse is a hand
some sorrel mare, and he not infrequently
rides out on her with his daughters accom-
psnying him.
He has five girls, ranging in age from to
16 years, and all Of these are getting an
equestrian education at the riding school in
Washington. The remainder of their edu-
cation is carried on by a French governess
Rt home and by their attendance at one of
the female seminaries Of the Capital. They
have their governess constantly with them,
and Mrs. Morton with Mrs. Wanamaker