The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-08
VANDERBILT'S POSTBAG.
HE FOUND TOO BEGGING LETTERS
INIrIN ONE DAY.
B rims style of Mendicancy-"Art" a

B rims Style of Mendicsncy-"Art" a
Ready Excuse-"Brass" a Safeguard.
Oriental Railways titles for sale.
From the Nelo York Recorder.
Twenty thousand Americans have BEEN
touring Germany and Italy this season, and
the amount of money exacted from their
pockets by the professional beggars Of these
countries is very considerable. Especially
in Germany has the impression gained
ground that Americans are disposed to be
recklessly liberal, and the native douceur
hunters, therefore, watch for the arrival of
well-kuown yankee Cresuses," as they
call them, with the same shark-like greed
that is displayed by the curio sellers of
Athens and Rome.
/ stopped at the Hotel de Rome in Berlin
in October last during the period when
William X. Vanderbilt was occupying the
so-cailed royal apartments Of the hos
telry, and was saved from being bounded to
death by professional aims seekers only by
his imperturbable sense of humor.
ayailed myself Of Mr.. Vanderbilt's in
vitation ito view the procession" in his
temporary library on Dot. o. The mail,
accumulated from the three early deliver
les, was carried in at IL O'Clock by two
porters in wicker laundry basket. We
turned it out upon a small table and made
an attempt at sorting the multitude Of let
ters, parcels and newspapers In the lot
We found at least 100 letters postmarked
Denmark, and twice as many from Sweden
and Nor way
Il have just returned from tour OF these
countries" said MIR. Vanderbilt, land il
appears that the ladies and gentlemen. and,
perchance, the babies, who missed working
me in their own country are now making
up for lost time
The majority of the missives were in the
Scandinavian tongue. a few in faultIess,
and many in bad, English of the Ollendorf
pattern. The writers desired the
American Crossus TO procure for them a
thousand and one things, mostly money,
and every one of them seemed to labor I'M
der the misapprehension that he or she was
the only one who had evolved the great
scheme OF appealing to a Vanderbilt,
whom, as one female correspondent ex-
pressed herself God sent to Denmark es-
peclally to bring her relief"
dc DO you ever attempt answering any of
these lettersP' l asked Mr.. Vanderbilt.
Well," said the millionaire, meditat-
l7ey, mot all Of them are committed to the
waste basket. Those written in q civilized
Iongue-I mean tongue understood by
myself, English, French or German-are
read, and sometimes reply is sent. We
Npen every letter coming In"
AT this moment page entered with the
card of a rich Berlin jeweler, who, how
ever did not await his supposed victims
pleasure, but followed in the boys train
when the latter inadvertently left the door
slar
The intruder was an elderly man, with an
intelligent face, and attired in faultless
evening dress, the fashion prescribed by
European etiquette for visits to potentates
ambassadors aud other high dignitaries, ir-
respective Of the hour or season.
Mr. Vanderbilt was surprised, but not
overwhelmed, by the jewelers. evident at
Tempt at continental complaisance. He
listened to his tale of the greatest ruby on
esrta, which the dealer was willing to dis
pose OF at sacrifice, with courteous air.
sno then offered him one-tenth Of the price
demanded
! have five stones of exactly the same
dimensions and coloring," said be, land
am willing to complete the half dozen at a
Ia,L figure, You may send me your answer
within two hours. Good morning."
may add right here that the answer ar
rived eighty minutes before the prescribed
Time had elapsed. 1t Yves in the affirmative.
Meanwhile the mail had been assorted