The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-26
Many A POOR CLERK
On Ten-a-Week Gives Himself
More Airs
THAN VANDERBILT
What Alfred, the New Head
Of the House. Is Like.
THAN THEN NEW VANDERBILT 7

I
J greatest part of the greatest fortune i
America. On this account his persoallt
and everything concerning him became
great interest to the American public.
In these columns the Sunday Journa
undertakes to crafty a proper and nat
ural curiosity.
Young Alfred Vanderbilt will be tn
head of the whole Vanderbilt family. H
will succeed to the place which has beel
occupied by his father, Cornelius; hi
grandfather, William H, and his great
grandfather, the original Cornelius Van
derbuilt.
The greater part of his fathers for
tune, variously estimated at from $125,
OOOOO0 to $500, COS, COO will belong to hin
personally, and he will have the manage
ment of the rest of it. This will doubt
less give him the control of the whole
property of the Vanderbilt family, includ
! ing his uncles, cousins, aunts and so forth
Young Vanderbilt is a very quiet young
man, who has given no evidence as yet
| of very good or very bad qualities. He
| appears to be quite sensible. There is
every reason to expect that he will make
a capable business man, which is neither
He was graduated from Yale Univer-
sity this year, although he had while
there ample opportunity to reveal his
character, tastes and ability, he was
known to fewer men than any other I'M
dergraduate. He was in no sense lead
er. He went through college with less
fuss than the son of any other rich man
in recent years
One important fact about his character
he revealed by keepink so much to him
self. This was that he was very quiet
and reserved in disposition, and that he
was studious He read a great deal.
When he was in his senior year Sc
ries of highly personal questions were
put to him as well as to the other men
in his class according to an established
Yale custom. His answers to these ques-
lions gave more insight into his tastes
and character than anybody yet pos
sessed.
He replied that horseback riding was
his favorite amusement.
Joe Jefferson was his favorite actor.
His politics were Independent Repub-
lican.
His preference for the next President
since been elected.
He preferred the brunette type of beauty
to abe blond.
His favorite novel was Henry Es-
mond."
The Yale Horoscope also took occasion
to investigate and comment upon his
character. In an editorial upon the al
legged decline of the democratic spirit at
Yale this publication said:
alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt could easily
have been one of the most unpopular men
in his class, but he will wear his Bones"
pm with the hearty approval of every man
who knows him. He is above all things
a gentleman, and never forgets to treat
his classmates as a gentleman should. If
more of the supposed big men in college
followed his example the harping about
the dN!-te of the democratic spirit in the
university would cease"
young Vanderbilt into the fierce light Of
publicity. They voted to decide what
men were most distinguished in various
honorable branches of effort-in athlet-
les, in studies and so forth.
They voted Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt
the most popular society man Of his class.
side the college as a great tribute to the
charm and social supremacy of young
Vanderbilt AS matter Of fact, it was
a piece of profound sarcasm. Young
Vanderbilt was declared the social light
of Yale because he kept out of society as
much as he possibly could.
He occupied the Vanderbilt rooms in
Vanderbilt Hall, built by Cornelius Van
derbuilt in memory of his oldest son,
William'H., who died while still an under
graduate at Yale. In the deed giving the
building to the university it was pro-
vided that these rooms should always be
at the disposal of the family should one
OF them be sent to Yale. They are large
handsome rooms, like all Of the others in
the building, and are only distinguished
by their central position.
His rooms were handsomely furnished
and the walls covered with rows of fine
and varied pictures of actresses of every
degree. The largest and finest photo
graphs were those of Julia Marlowe and
Maude Adams In his answers to the
class questions already mentioned he
said that Joseph Jefferson was his IA
vorite actor. but he forgot to add that
stiu more favored actresses. Altogether
he seems very fond of the theatre. That
IS one of his few we'll developed tastes
He had only two close friends at Yale
They were William Fitzhugh Whitehouse.
Of New York, and R F. Forrest, OF Wash
ington.
There is no doubt that horseback i'd
ing was young Vanderbilts favorite
amusement Almost every afternoon
when the weather permitted he was 10
be seen riding on the roads about New
Haven. he seemed 70 care for no other
ont door sport Very often Mr.. Forrest
and Mr.. Whitehouse were his companions
One 80 classman remarked the other
day that young Vanderbilt never put his
head cut Of his room while he was al
Yale That. Of course not literally true.
but it gives an indication OF his dispo-
sition.
He spent A great amount OF time in his
rooms and alon. While there ne was gen
eraly occupied in reading. His tastes
were catholic He studied hard and al
50 read for amusement. He bave a great
deal OF time to history. mathematics ana
science. He was also an Unsuitable rea.!-
er 81 novels and poetry.
In spite OF his retiring nature he was
elected 30 the famous Skull ard Bones
Society. This elects fifteen new members
every year from the senior class lis
election methods ara extremely dign.ied
and Fixed by immutahle laws. Those who
are eligible for election stand up in a row
Then one member Of the society IS 6ele-
gated to notify each man % lis election
The delegate gtters no word but walss
beh;nd Jhs man and punches him severely
in the back. thus making hin suddenlr