The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-10-03
A MODEST
George vnEdcrbilt Is Retiring. q Book
worm and N Woman Halter.

George Vanderbilt is one Of natures quee
freaks. He is the least known OF any OF tn
enormously wealthy men of New York. HI
must be worth at least $S5, Qoo,0 0o, but III
might walk the length of the entire city
without being recognized by half n dozer
persons. He has never been prominent II
any public movement. He has never at
tended a public function where crowds o.
people congregate, and when he goes to Tho
theater or to the opera he hides himself Ii
the rear of a box.
Young Vanderbilt has many fads. First
of all, he Is a bookworm and is in a way a
woman hater. He seems to have n great Ne
gard for women in the aggregate, but a
great deal of love for his smother in particu-
lar. He spends much Of his time in her so
ciety, and it may be truthfully said that
the pair are on the most atfectionatet terms.
He is essentially a "mothcr's boy" He is
the only unmarried grandson of old Com
modore Vanderbilt.
Formerly he was rated as being, next to
John Jacob Astor, tho wealthiest young
bachelor in the United States, having
81 ,OO0, COO in his own right and control for
every past year of his life. Now, as John
Jacob Astor is a husband and a father,
George Vanderbilt stands at the head Of
his class alone.
In the society columns, and once In a
while, too, in the general news and police
reports of the New York spa you
can read much OF other young men Of
wealth, but there is hardly ever any men
ton made of this scion of the house of Van
derbilt.
An amusing instance Of how little he Is
known occurred but a short time ago not
far from that part Of town where thesplcn-
did Vanderbilt mansion stands. 1t wa in
the shop Of u bookseller who makes a
speciality Of selling rare and curious books.
On this occasion there were half n dozen
bookworms examining the shelves, while ~
young salesman looked out at tho passing
show. He saw a young man come in, but
paid no attention to him.. 1t is the fashion
for men to come and go in such shops for
hours without purchasing.
This young mar was somewhat above
the medium height, but not robust. His
face was pale, his eyes and hair were dark,
and he looked not overstrong. He was
plainly dressed in Il fairly well fitting bust
ness suit. and looking ut him casually you
might put him down as n well paid clerk
or n business man in average circum-
stances.
The newcomer pulled book after book
-" Iiotil WV ShViN CO 1 itiNAl Ac htP-
pened on one that seemedt to hold his atten-
ton as the others had not. He examined
its dull looking binding, and for that mat
ter the whole volume, with the air of a con-
n%oisseur and finally beckoned to the sales
man and inquired the price of the book.
The salesman consulted the catalogue and
gave the information.
"A little steep for YOU" he volunteered
again, looking at the would be purchasers
plain attire.
Perhaps So" said tho prospective Gus
toner, with rather q queer smile. Here
is my card. Will you put the book aside
until your employer comes in and ask him
to send it to my house? He will know tho
address,
So saying the young man walked out.
The salesman tossed the card upon his desk
without even looking at it. /
pretty cool that" he said, with alaugh.
"Must take me for a new hand"
"Iou had better look at that card, young
man. advised an elderly bookworm who
stood near.
"Why?' asked the salesman.
Look at the card" was the terse re-
Spouse, and the salesman looked at it. On
the card in plain script was the name,
George w Vanderbilt"
The book was kept, and the salesman still
talks of his adventure with a Vanderbilt
Now York Herald.