The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-22
A MODEST MILLIONAIRE.
George Vanderbilt Ia Retiring. q Book
worm and n Woman Halter.

George vanderbilt La Hetiring, o BOOK
worm and Woman Halter.
George Vanderbilt Is oneofnature's queer
freaks. He Is the least known of any OF the
wealthy men Of Now York. He
must be worth at least S35, 100000, but he
Nigh walk the length OF the entire city
without being recognized by half dozen
persons He has never been prominent in
any public movement. He has never at
tended public function where crowds OF
people congregate, and when he goes to the
theater or to the opera he hides himself in
the rear Of q box.
Young Vanderbilt has mnny fads. First
Of all, he ia bookworm and Is in a way
woman Halter. He seems to have a great re-
gard for women in the aggregate, but u
great deal of love for hismother In particu-
lar. He spends much Of his time in her so
ciety, and it may be truthfully said thai
the pair are on the most ahectionate terms.
He is essentially mothers boy" He Is
the only unmarried grandson of old Com
modore Vanderbilt.
Formerly he was rated as being, next to
John Jacob Astor, the wealthiest young
bachelor in the United States, having
81 900, 600 in his own right and control for
every past year of his life. Now, as John
Jacob Aston is husband and n father,
George Vanderbilt stands at the head OF
his class alone.
: In the society columns, and once in I
while, too, in the general news and police
reports of the New York newspapers, 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 i.
known occurred but short time ago moi
far from that part of town where the splen
did Vanderbilt mansion stands 1t was II
the shop of bookseller who makes (
speciality of selling rare and curious books
On this occasion there were half dozet
bookworms examining the shelves. while !
young salesman looked out at the passini
show. He saw young man come in, bu
paid no attention to him. 1t is the fashion
for men to come and go in such shops TO
hours without purchasing.
This young man was somewhat abov'
the medium height, but not robust. Hi
face was pale, his eyes and hair were dark
and he looked not oyerstrong. Ho wa
plainly dressed in fairly well fitting busi
ness suit, and looking at him casually yoi
might put him down as a well paid clerl
or business man in average circum
stances.
The newcomer pulled book after bool
down from the shelves until finally he haI
lpened on one that seemed to hold his after
ton as the others had not. He examine
its dull looking binding, and for that mat
ter the whole volume, with the air Of u cor
noisseur and finally beckoned to the sale.
man and inquired the price Of the boob
The salesman consulted the catalogue an
: gave the information.
"a little steep for YOU" he volunteers
again, looking ut the would be purchaser
plain attire.
t, Perhaps So" said tho prospective GU
toner, with rather u queer smile. "HeI
is my card. viii you put the book asid
until your employer comes in and ask hiI
to send it to my houseS He will know I'll
address"
So saying the young man walked on
+ The salesman tossed the card upon his DIES
u without even looking Mt it.
Pretty cool that" he said, with a laugl
"Must take me for n new hand"
"You had better look at that card, your
+ man." advised an elderly bookworm wi
. stood near
"Whys' asked the salesman.
Look at the card" was the terse r
Spouse, and the salesman looked at it. G
, the card in plain script was the nam
George w. Vanderbilt"
i The book was kept, and the salesman sti
talks of his adventure with Vanderbilt
=, New York Herald.