The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-11-15

NEW YORK, Nov Especial Core
spondence. Most of US are sufficiently
familiar with the disadvantages of wealth.
We know how the millionaire's form is
bent with care, and how the gold in his
pocket makes the silver in his hair. We
have been taught since childhood to pity
and forgive the rich, for they are not
really having good time. Our youth
and health and strength-blessings which
in popular mythology never attend the
wealthy-far more than counterbaiance
the delights of pate de fois gras and cham
payne.
1t may not be bad idea, just for va
riety, to look at the other side of the
picture, to see where wealth brings hap
piness and care is unknown. / will name
you tour men who never knew what it was
to need dollar and who are making a
brave fight to bear up under the burden of
riches. incidentally we shall see how
fashionable fads get start. and shall take
a look at one of the most interesting con-
tests in the country-to the participants,
at least.
Cornelius Vanderbilt's son, William H.,
is u years old and a student at Yale.
Meanwhile his father struggles to give his
meet on a capital of about S125, 900, 900. ].
ID. Rockefeller, son CT the Standard Oil
king, is classmate of young Vanderbilt's
In '93. The elder Rockefeller is said TO be
worth S150,0O0,0O0. These young men are
excellent friends, but neither proposes TO
let the other get ahead o. him in the mat
ter of conspicuous expenditure. They are
members of all the swell clubs and soeie-
ties. Their rooms are filled with furniture
such as Solomon in all his glory never sat
upon. They are the richest fellows who
were ever at Yale, and it is only natural
that each should be the center of an ad-
miring circle.
Perhaps it is natural, too, that rivalry
should exist between them. If they Didn't
think of it themselves there would be
plenty of suggestions from interested adj
herents. Vanderbilt soon headed one set
and Rockefeller another The rich young
men of the East gathered around the
former and those of the West around Rock
efeller, whose family comes from Ohio.
Young Vanderbllt's chief interest lies in
boating. One of his early devices for en-
tertaining his friends was the purchase of
a fine steam launch. Young Rockefeller
is rather landsman. He did not attempt
to Guido his rival on the water; but about
the time that Vanderbilt began TO be pop
ular for his steam launch, Rockefeller as
tonished the college and the town with his
horses. He kept buying handsome steeds
until his equipage was the talk of New
Haven. Then he developed a fad for dogs,
and purchased three or four st. Demands
that were miracles of beauty, and looked
intelligent enough to pass the Yale en-
trance examination without conditions.
Vanderbilt, too, invested in dogs and
horses. but the natural bent of his DISPOSE
ton was in another direction, and Rock
efeller easily kept the lead.
Then Vanderbilt made novel and we'll
considered move; he joined a church
choir. All the children of Cornelius Van
derbilt have fine voices and have developed
love for music. Alfred Vanderbilt is
famous in his set as violinist. He played
for little Joseph Hoffman some years ago
when Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt gave
musicale in the prodigy's honor. Young
William ii. sang at the same time. The
church choir business was a point on
Rockefeller, for his voice is not attuned to
melody. All the fashionable students
went to hear Vanderbilt sing in DIR. New
man Smyth's historic church, on the
Green in New Haven. Thus the young
millionaire did something towards smooth
ing the road by which a rich man enters
into the kingdom of heaven.
Rockefeller stock in Yale at this time
could have been sold short at a profit, but
he made strong effort to bring it up
again. He established standard in En-
gljsh suits of clothes, and his stunning get
ups were the marvel of the whole college.
Sunday comes only once week, but
man may dress every day, so Rockefeller
had distinct advantage in the race
against the popularity of church choirs.
Vanderbilt is not much of dresser, and
for time he nearly lost his lead on the
question of clothes. To recover the
ground he began to give a series of very
swell musical entertainments in his room.
He PLAYS banjo SO well that if anything
ever goes wrong with the Vanderbilt mill
ions, young William III. will be sure of
good living He also plays the piano adj
mirably. The musicale became great
success, and Orpheus won the palm from
Narcissus.
All last year at Yale the battle of the
prospective multi-miliionaires went on.
The fathers of the young men took an in