The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-20
vANDERBILTs HARD TASK.
Head of the Great Family Learning
10 Write His Name.
From the New Orleans Picayune.

AASeANA "a e"S UEeAt HbmtAy Learning
20 Write His Name.
From the New Orleans Picayune.
A man who is worth 800. 900 ana con-
trolls more than 500. 100000. yet cannot
write his own name. is something of an
oddly. But this Is precisely the position
that Cornelius Vanderbilt. head Of the
most powerful family In tho country, is
in Moreover. he Is now learning to write
and for that purpose has been laboring
with pen and paper just as studIously as
the very small boy IN school-room.
Mr.. Vanderbilt lost his ability to write
when he was stricken with paralysis last
summer. AS all the world knows, his af-
iiiction was brought about by worrying
over the engagement of his son, Cornelius,
Jr.. to Miss Grace Wilson. II was while
arguing with the boy that the tiny clot of
blood settled on his brain, producing the
paralysis which almost cost him his life
This happened nearly Ave months ago
Since then Miss Wilson has become Mrs.
Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.. and the eldest
daughter Of the afflicted millionaire has
become Mrs. Harold Payne Whitney.
These domestic excitements, together
with the recent death of his mother, have
retarded his recovery seriously, and to-
day he is far from being a well man, al
lAAOubH uc mas as tuuCn prOgfeSS
could reasonably be expected
For several months he gave no atten-
ton whatever to BUSINESS matters, but
about two months ago. when he was still
at his Newport palace, 1.-THE Breakers"
It became necessary to attend to certain
financial affairs. He is practically In con-
troll Of the fortunes Of all his sisters and
brothers, as well as his own, and there
are certain matters in relation to the man
agement of this wealth which devolve per-
sonally upon him. He must either per-
form those duties, or the intricate ma
chdnery which keeps the Vanderbilt mil
lions In motion must be completely altered
One Of the first requisites, OF course,
was his signature TO various documents
This Cornelius Vanderbilt was unable to
perform. The paralysis had attacked his
right side, and to-day his right arm and
hand are practically useless. A misfor-
tune of this kind might have unnerved
some men, but Mr.. Vanderbilt was unwiI-
ling to give up the struggle and retire
from the business world to live a quIes-
cent life amid the Injuries Of his wealth
Chauncey Depew was with him at THE
Breakers" when he made the attempt to
write his name and failed. Turning to
his chief adviser. Mr.. Vanderbilt said:
1T seems, Depew, that / can't write
with my right hand, but my left side is
good and strong. Other men have learned
TO write with their left hands. and 1 viii
have to do IT,"
That same day his private secretary
was sent out to hire the best Instructor
of penmanship in Newport He was d.
rected TO hunt up Col. John r. Leslie,
head master Of the Rogers High School,
and when that gentleman was Informed
that his professional services were needed
to teach Mr.. Vanderbilt how to write he
was naturally surprised.
Tl1tf the Ioaaona haUau fhA newt dau ana
for two hours each day thereafter the mill
lionaire pupil received the same instruc-
lions that had been given him forty-odd
years ago when he was a small boy living
Ia q very modest home in the downtown
section of New York.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was not content to write
his signature with facility; he wanted to
be able to write letters, and write them
rapidly. too. So Col. Leslie put him
through a complete course. Copy-books
with various commendabie words family
outlined were furnished him, and he
traced the letters as carefully as the
small boy around examination time. He
was shown how TO hold the pen 80 that
the end of the holder pointed towards his
left shoulder. He practiced making strings
Of the letter D for half an hour at time,
and then made a long succession of loops
ranging from a big one down 10 a very
small one. lie was progressing finely
when the death or Mrs. w. IA. vanderbilt
occurred. and then be came TO New York
to attend the funeral
Since his return to his Fifth avenue
home he has practiced penmanship daily,
but without the supervision Of an in
structor Now he is able to sign checks
and other documents, and IT would almost
require the eye Of an expert TO detect
any difference between his left-handed
signatures and those executed by his right
hand prior 20 his Illness
The physicians are hopeful that In time
Mr. Vanderbilt will recover the use Of his
right side. but even al the best this will
be a matter Of considerable time.
Next to George w. Vanderbilt. Mr..
Ransom, the United States minister TO
Mexico, Is said to be the largest land
owner In North Carolina. He recently
returned from Mexico on leave OF alb
senee, and is now on his Roanoke planta-