The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1896-10-31
A LIFE ROMANCE,
DIR. w. SEWARD WEBB NAV RE
A UNITED STATES SENATOR.
Career Of a Man Who by n lAin,l Act
Sprang From II Penniless
Inferno Into Great
Wealth.


Times. Herald, is Of Importance chiefly
for the reason that it is step toward
higher honors for the millionaire rail-
road and palace cur magnet. It is al.
ready said that DR.. Webb's friends are
shaping his affairs in order to send
him to the Senate Of the United States
from Vermont. His friends in New
York predict brilliant career for him
in National politics, and his neighbors
in Vermont are pleased to tind.a man
of DR.. Wcbb's great financial import
ance taking al interest in practical
government.
Never was tho story Of Aladdin's
lamp SO perfectly reduced to the con-
crete as in the life and adventures of
DR.. Webb. At one coup he was lifted
from the position of q pcnniless in.
terne in hospital to that Of the bus
band of one OF the richest Of the Van
! derbilt heiresses. The magic OF the
| Vanderbilt millions touched him and
| he bloomed into director OF the New
York Central Railroad, the President
OF the Wagner Palace Car Company
and one of the leading powers in the
/ Nations world OF wealth. This story
of his rise and greatness 10 prettier
than any romance Of the loves of the
sons and daughters of New York's
millionaire families. In 1880 he was
attached to the Vanderbilt clinic IN
St. Luke's Hospital, and was in charge
OF the surgical patients Of that instltu-
tion. 10 this clinic Miss Lila Van
derbilt, the youngest daughter Of Will
lam H. Vanderbilt was constant Wis
ltor. One day little girl was brought
into the hospital with broken leg.
The inferno had S, soft heart and
sympathetic nature and the sweet face
of the child attracted him. He was
always by her bedside and watched
the case with solicitude that touched
the child heart of the patient. The
girl began to love him and spoke of
him to Miss Vanderbilt in terms of
extravaganza that aroused the young
woman's interest. So, too, had she
spoken to the doctor of the "kind
young lady" who had so often visited
her. One day the little patient re-
lapsed. The case was critical, and the
doctor, alarmed for her life, watched
at her bedside for hours. While the
doctor was thus engaged Mics Wander
bilt entered the room and approached
the bed. She saw the handsome young
man and looked inquiringly toward
the little girl. The patient smiled.
"This is the kind DOCTOR" she ex.
planned, "and this is the kind young
lady"
Miss Vanderbilt extended her hand
and clasped the hand OF the man who
was to become her husband.
Thus it was that kind heart opened
the door OF honor, fortune and golden
success to Seward Webb. BE did not
long remain an inferno in the hospi-
tai. 10 be one OF the Vanderbitts
means to be part OF the great rail
road system Owned by the family.
Webb had studied medicine. Hc must
now study railroading, for Miss Van
derbilt loved him. A firm-Worden
Il Webb-was created for him and
3 opened business in Wall street. The
a match was happy one, and was ap
+ proved by Mr.. Vanderbilt. How sub
4 stantially it was approved was made
= known when, on the day Of the wed
:. ding, the couple were presented will
the stately house at $50 Fifth avenue
ia When the older Vanderbilt died Mrs
Il Webb inherited s15.000.000. Mean
~ while, the young doctor, preferrin{
q railroads to medicine, had progressed
- in the craft of Wall street, and had
stepped into the position which hi
~ wife's wealth entitled him to.
4 The DOCTORS personality aud fam
lily history were pleasing to the Van
i derbilts. His father was James Wat
4 son Webb, proprietor OF the Courie
y and Journal OF Tarrytown, and an i'm
!, portant man in his day. When Sew
II ard was a boy his father was mad
N United States Minister to Brazil, an
10 it wns there the doctor received hi
- early education. Deciding to adop
70 medicine as o profession the youn
e man went to Paris, and there wa
~ graduated in tho art. !he eide
4 Webb's father, or the doctors sranc
father, WIS General Webb, who figure
T. conspicuous]y in the war Of the KEY
~ olut,on as The aide.de camp OF Wasl
- 1ncton. lie at one time was con
~ mander of famous old Fort Dearborn
N on the present site OF the city {
r. Chicago.
-. Some years after his acquisition
ia tho Vanderbilt millions, DR.. Web
~ decided to have the finest private e.
m tate in the world. This property
- now the pride of Vermonters. She
ho bourne Farms is the equal Of any e
n tate in England, Germany or Franc
\ It consists of 5000 acres Of rollir
a land, lying on an average of 800 fe
IN above the level OF Lake Champlai
80 Woods and orchards cover about g
L.