The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-08-31
THE vAspERBILr QUARREL.

The quarrel between William K. Van
derbilt and his wife would excite no re-
mark we're it not tor the fact that the
recreant husband Is a very rich man. II
il was some poor Darby who bad been un-
faithful to his Joan the press would
esteem it of no consequences, for unhappy
marriages are too common In all grades of
humanity TO excite any great social sensa-
ton. Mr. Vanderbilt Is n very ricn man,
aud society always manifests feverish
Kind OF delight when the dirty linen of
great wealth is exposed to the gaze of the
public
There does not seem to be any good
reason for surprise when very rich and
very idle man makes bad husband; the
only wonder is that very rich and very
idle man does not always make bad hus-
band. Given enormous wealth TO pay for
costly seifIndulgence. and given a state of
absolute idleness and there is exactly the
situation set forth in the old proverb that
"Sslan finds some mischief still for idle
hands to do" The surprising thing Is not
that very rich and very idle. pleasure
loving man should lead dssolute life.
for such men, so long as they retain their
bodily health. generally do lead dissolute
lives; the surprising thing is that Mr.
Vanderbilt should have been so vulgar and
hearfless as 20 make his inddelity so ex-
travagantiy conspicuous as TO force his
wife TO take notice of IL and seek public
relief from the shame of further recog-
milton of him as her husband.
A merely weak man might have been
guilty of lapse OF marital fidelity, but q
husband who would ostentstiously place
the servants Of his mistress In his livery
and decorate her carriage with the same
bearings which distinguished the equipage
of his wife and family must be a very
heartless man, who intended 20 infict q
studied public insult upon the mother of
his children This reckless, open indie
cency on the part of Mr.. Vanderbilt is the
only thing that distins pushes ii from the
marital inhdelity that is so common
among very rich and very idle men.
very idle man is always seeking 20 kill
time through excitement and amusement,
and of course If he is rich he turns to the
turf, the gambling table, the bottle and the
demi-monds to Oil up the round of his ex-
istenee. Cards and horses I'LL up his seri-
Gus moments: wine. women aud song
occupy his lighter hours. A very indolent
man who is not rich is obliged to resort to
his criminal wits 10 get money without
work TO spend in dissipation. so he be-
comes a skin gambler, swindler, a
sponge, iorger. a thief. or medical
qaaek. The idleness in Mr.. Vanderbilt
has dragged him down into dis
solute life: he can afford 10 pay
| for his gross seii-indulgenee. so he escapes
all temptation to wander into the dark
and dusty domain of the very INDECENT
man. who loves the flesh pots of Egypt as
fondly as Mr. Vanderbilt. but lacking the
money TO pay for them, resorts to his
criminal wits in order 10 get money with
out work where~ith to pay for his vulgar
pleasures. The idle rich die Of dissipation
without yentnr!ng upon the road that
ends in the penitentiary, while the incor-
rightly indolent. who are not rich, generally
work their criminal wits 10 get money
without work to pay for their vices, and
not seldom end their days in a felon's
cell.
The differences between industry and
! idleness is ssrikingly illustrated in the
fate of the Vandsrb4lts. The great Com
modore was not q man Of tenderness,
benevolenes or humanity. but be was a
man who from his youth to old age was of
indomltabls energy and tireless indus
try; he wAs as ambitious, as restless; a.
indefatigzble as Napoleon, and while. ike
Napoleon. be was fal Of great defects Of
| character, he had no time or taste for the
uathrif;y vices lie WAS abssemioas in
eating and drinking. and after his
| tell was over he had no recrsa-
uoa outside driving a nne horse
and playing whist couple hours
in the evening. His son Cornelius
either the disposition TO work or the
capacity 20 work 10 any parpose. snd vas
/ ali his days votAry OF he gambling table.
/ William Ii. Vanderbilt. who succeeded
the great Commodore, Vas = very able. in
/ daSsrious mAns 81 amiahle. benevolent
| temper and unhlemisasd domestic life.
| HIS seas. Cornelius and William X. Van
dsrs.iI are beth men og superior ability.
| Cornelius Is easy man, a benevolent
| man. . domestic man. bat william X.
| Nan3erbslt seems 60 bare detsriorate4 from
his excs.lent early promise because
be has chosen 60 Re al idle
| pleasure Loving anA pleasure seeking
man. The oaly wonder IS that sueh
gsfs. Joined - the vast wealth which pae
mitss1 hln 10 persist IN ~ has n0i
wrecked hss domestic happiness long age
0saFgs Naaasrbllt loves souAd books and
bis Intellectual and literary tastes hsvs
keeps Aim fFsm dsgsnsFaians through -.
aoleees.
Ias G.og2l II lhs ss0sy " MILAN i.