The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-10-12

from the west TO une fAumuic scuuouru.
from the southern routes and ports TO
New York. The public received better
service at lower rates and New York a
new impetus I'm it's trade.
In the old days Of leadership In fnnnace
and speculation Wall street always had a
recognized king. He had a large follow
ing. and his sway was daily disputed
After innumerable victories and the ruin
Of thousands of individuals and combina-
tions he was dethroned and banlSrupted
I'm some wild panic. His successor would
take the perilous place, to pursue the
same career and meet a like fate. But
I'm Mr.. Vanderbilt this center of the risks
and values of the continent found a mas
ter whose resources were great and whose
judgment was uuerrlng. IL was equally
dangerous to follow or fight him on ac-
count of the rapidity with which he
changed his policy as he saw before others
did the gathering storm or the rainbow
OF prosperity. 'Wall street owes me ST.,
0O0, 900 a year" 1 heard him say. and until
the last he collected that and I'm some
years many millions.
I had known the commodore very well
for several years, and one day he sudden
ly asked If he could retain me as attor-
ney and counsel. l had been appointed
and confirmed United States minister to
Japan, a position of power and promi-
nence because of the opening of that
country to civilization. mo future in
politics" he said. Railroads the career
for a young man now. Don't be q fool"
He was ", and i was 80, and thus began
a confidential and personal relationship
which during the intervening 81 years
has continued unbroken and unclouded
through four generations Of his family.
The most extraordinary thing connected
with the career of this remarkable man
is that his best work and greatest
a naIn 20 nj fcb bad uf hf
had passed 20. He was worth about $40,
100000 when he had rounded the life line
of the Scripture, and he added over $50,
000, 600 to it In the next 12 years. His day
began at 9 o'clock among the horses he
loved, and then until 2 that active brain
and unerring judgment were formulating
plans covering the continent. He left
business behind in the Office at 2, and
neither profit nor loss could tempt him
to talk about 1t until the next morning.
At 8 he was spinning along behind his
trotters. seeking the excitement of a
squirt of speed with a rival team.
He received daily a bushel of begging
letters. Honest men and women, frauds,
fools and cranks-all needy and unable
to breast the waves of adversely or make
their way In the world-appealed to him.
He never answered them. IF I should
give them my whole fortune" ne said,
"one-half would go to thieves and the
OlubL nan u peDple Wibbb lolly anu I'm
providence would squander It in a week,
leaving them worse off than before"
He possessed neither sympathy nor sem
timent but had formulated a theory Of
justice and compensation summed up in
the phrase, Give a man a chance" 1t
might be very humble and a very hard
chance, but If the man would stick and
dig and climb he was worth assisting.
AS proof of the value of this principle in
true philanthrophy he would point to the
president of one of his railroads who had
started as a gateman at one of the ferries.
Unlike most self made men, he placed
the highest value upon liberal education
and emphatically lamented his own lack
of 1t. To Bishop McTyeire's plain pre-
sentation of the enormous benefit of a
university in the south he gave a hos
pitable hearing. A sound education equips
young men for broader work and greater
usefulness. Such an institution of learn
ing was in the line of his motto of help
! ing people to take care of themselves,
and he endowed Vanderbilt university
with s1,0O0O 900. If the good bishop and his
! associates, foreseeing the future, had
demonstrated the necessity of a larger
sum they would have received It.
DR.. Depew and party, consisting of
Miss Paulding, Miss Struthers, r. d,
Van Courtland and Mr.. and Mrs. H.
w. McVickar, after the ceremonies
were entertained by Chancellor Kirk
land at a reception at his residence,
attended by prominent citizens and the
Vanderbilt university staff.