The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-31
TALES OF THE TIMES.
why Cornelius Vanderbilt Ran Away
From Boarding school.

FROM bohruiuR Scnooi.
The illness Of Cornelius Vanderbilt, Sr,
has brought out some good stories about
| the railroad magnate. Most of them are
| interesting and some of them are un-
doubtedly true One Is vouched for by
Jacob Il. Van wyck, the corlage merchant,
who has been friend of Mr.. Vanderbilt
| from boyhood
In 1858 Cornelius Vanderbilt with his
brothers and sisters, was living with his
parents on the Vanderbilt farm at New
Dorp, n. Y. He had attended the little
| country school at New Dorp, and as he
was then 10 years old, his father decided
that he should be sent TO the Dutchess
County academy at Pougbkeepsie which
was conducted by William MacGeorge, an
old Scotchman. 1t was well known
school, and cousin of Cornelius was a
student there
Professor MacGcorge had daughter,
Barbara, whose husband, Mr.. Pelham,
was the head teacher. Mrs. Pelham took
a motherly interest in tho boys, and was
especially interested in their health. They
all called her Barbara She had one pro
scription for every ill and that was jalap.
One morning, just after prayers and be-
fore breakfast, Mrs. Pelham was watching
the boys as they filed into the dying room
Her eyes fell upon your Vanderbilt
Cornelius" she cried, "come here TO
me. / want To speak to you"
The older boys knew from experience
what was coming, and the low murmur
went up on all sides:
"Jalap, jalap, jalapr'
boys, stop that noise at once" cried
Mrs. Pelham. Cornelius, If you did not
feel we'll during the night, why didn't you
call me? All the boys call me If they are
i'll during the night. f'ver mind; you'll
know better when you'v been here n little
longer. It's good thing that noticed
you in time. II hadn't, you'd have been
down sick by tomorrow. Now, come with
me and i ii give you something TO make
you well again"
'But I'm not I'll, Mrs. Pelham, and 1
wasn't Ill during the night / never felt
better In my life" said young Vanderbilt
Better take it cheerfullike, Cornell, +"
came n voice from the boys "Barbara's
got 1t in for,you."
"SilenceP' commanded Mrs Pelham
With that she led young Vanderbilt away,
and he was Obliged to take his dose Of
jalap.
That afternoon there was a council Of
war in Vanderbilt's room between the
young nah himself, his cousin and young
Van Wyck, Young Vanderbilt wanted TO
know what was tho meaning of his being
told that he was ill when he wasn't and
why he had to taxi jalap. BY way of ex-
planation his cousin, who was one of the
older pupils, said:
"Oh that's nothin. Barbara does that
all tho while. Then the old man puts so
much for medical attendance in the bill.
The more ialap the more profit"
"But that's dishonest, and besides it
may be harmful She won't get any more
jalap down me. / won't take IL.
Better not get your back up" re-
marked the cousin. 'Twon't do any
good, and you'll get yourself in hot water
We all have 10 have n go at the jalap, and
SO will you"
"wcll, / won't take any more jalap
and that all there is about 1t, said young
Vanderbilt. "Ill run away first "
"Oh, Cornell, " cried young Van Wyck,
would you run awnyf Wish dared I'D
Ike 60 we'll enough"
"Corncel don't dare run away, a" said the
cousin. ellis governor'd send him back
and thon he'd get double dose Of jalap."
That remark stirred up all the latent
determination In young Vandcrbilt's ma
ture. He had made up his mind that he
would take no moro of Bnrbara's mcdi
cine. and he intended 90 hold To that rcso-
luton. He repeated his remark that he
would run away sooner than take anoth-
CT dose His cousin encouraged him.
The boys talked the matter over most of
the afternoon. aud 10 was decided that
young Vanderbilt should desert that night
IL happened 20 he stormy. After tea young
Van wyck and the would be desertor's