The true northerner., 1897-10-12

the adjustment or expenses 10 the most
rigid economy compatible with the highest
efficiency, there Is easily q difference OF
millions of dollars In the yearly results as
between an ordinary official and one OF
first class executive mind. Though pre-
vious experience had accustomed him TO
low salaried officials. he was the first TO
grasp the fact that compensation, however
great, was comparatively small II IL drew
into the service the men capable of wisely
handling his railroads.
Only an iron constitution could have
survived the ceaseless activity and sleep
less work of the commodore until he had
won his fortune Only an equipoised and
self mastered philosopher could have after
ward adjusted TO such rigid rules labor and
refreshment business and recreation. AL
most all who have been spared 10 the
psalmist's limit of threescore and ten re-
tire and vegetate, or, II they embark in
new ventures, find their judgments i'm
paired and soon lose the accumulations OF
q lifetime. The commodore discovered
that only those who had resources In many
fields Of easy and congenial occupation can
safely change the habits of lifetime.
His Vigorous Old Age.
The most extraordinary thing connected
with the career Of this remarkable man IL
that his best work and greatest achieve
ments were accomplished after he had
passed 40. He was worth about SEQ, ,000,
600 when he had rounded the life line of
the Scripture, and he added over $50, 000,-
600 TO IL In the next 12 years. His day
began at 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 nei-
ther profit nor loss could tempt him to talk
about 1t until the next morning. AT he
was spinning along behind his trotters
seeking the excitement of a squirt of speed
with a rival team. The rhythmic move
ments of these intelligent and highh
trained thoroughbreds as they seemed 10
tread on ether and fly through the air gave
him exquisite pleasure. AS they passed
and distanced horses famed for triumphs
on many courses and brought on to beat
him this strikingly handsome and appar-
emily stolid old man was keenly enjoying
that victory in competition which had been
the handspring OF his career. The light
ninglike evolutions of his mind working
in harmony with and excited to action by
both the speed and dangers of the race
brought to perfection, before he dropped
the reins upon these painting partners OF
his thoughts, many a scheme which routed
his enemies or revolutionized Wall street.
He received daily bushel Of begging
letters. The man whose invention could
be bought and millions made with few
thousands, the farmer whose mortgage
was past due, and who, If the mortgages
were lifted, could pay the principal to HE
rescuer, though he could not meet the in
terest on it to the mortgage the woman
whose husband was straying away, but
who could hold him to happy home II
she could buy the vine clad cottage
around the corner, the old man whose
sands Of life had nearly run out, and the
young one who needed only little capital
to become a capitalist, the church or col
lege hopelessly In debt, the girl whose fu
ture happiness would be wrecked unless
she could have trousseau for marriage
and furniture for housekeeping, honest
men and women, frauds, fools and cranks
all needy and unable to breast the waves
J of adversity or make their way In the
/ world-appealed to him. He never an
/ swered them. IF should give them my
whole fortune, he said, "one-half would
go TO thieves and the other half to peopit
whose folly and improvidence would
|
off than before" He possessed neither
sympathy nor sentiment, but had formu
lated theory of justice and compensation
summed up in the phrase, 'Give a man 9
chance" 1t might be a very humble and
very hard chance, but If the man would
stick and dig and climb he was worth as
sisting AS proof of the value of this prin
ciple in true philanthropy he would point
to the president of one of his railroad:
who had started as gateman at one o
his ferries.
Cathedrals and grand churches did no
impress him. His mind always reverted
to the little Moravian meeting house
where his mother worshiped. She was tn,
one ever fresh and tender memory never
touched by time or lost in his years of bit
ter strife. Every one have ever met whC
had made and sustained great success.
ascribed 1t all to the impelling infuenc,
and restraining hand of a sainted mother
He went one Sunday to the Church Of ths
Strangers and saw congregation mad.
up of the clerks, statesmen, bookkeeper,
and porters I'm the big wholesale stores Of
the fellows who are help
ing themselves, F" he said-and sent th,
pastor, DIR. Deems, $50, ZOO.
The University Endowment.
Unlike most self made men, he placed
the highest value upon liberal education
and emphatically lamented his own lack
Of 1t. While an uncompromising friend OF
the Union during the civil war, he was
deeply interested In harmonizing the sec
tions and developing the south when II
was over. To Bishop McTyeire's plair
presentation of the enormous benefit of Q
university in the south he gave a hospi
table hearing. A sound education equipt
young men for broader work and greater
usefulness. Such an institution of learn
ing was in the line of his motto of helping
people TO take care OF themselves, and hi
endowed Vanderbilt university with 81 >,
100000 If the good bishop and his asso
ciates, foreseeing the future, had demon
strated the necessity for larger sum, they
would have received it,
The period of the active life of Cornelius
Vanderbilt was the era of revolution and
evolution In our national history The
civil war and rapidly succeeding inven
tions and discoveries called for men OF
great original genius and courage and
gave them unexampled opportunities. II
produced In war Grant and Lee; In states
manship, Lincoln; in the pulpit, Henry
Ward Beecher; in journalism, Horace