New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-17

! family as ne has been practically for three
years. As he no longer has the wise counsel of
! his brother. IT is interesting to study the man.
! BY the tacit consent Of his brothers and sisters
/ and the goodwill Of others in the family who
! share I'm the enormous fortune ne will be un-
| fettcred and free TO carry out any policy that
! his mind may suggest or his business acumen
! devise. He has become the dominant factor In
that great system Of railways that bears the
name Of Vanderbilt whose rails spread like
network across the country. whose interests are
world wide and upon whose payroll are thou
sands upon thousands Of men,
Many stories are told Of the picturesque char
acteristics OF the founder OF the great fortune.
the late "Commodore" Vanderbilt Scarcely less
odd and interesting are the stories told Of the
late william II Vanderbilt the successor Of the
"Commodore" with the advent and admins
tration Of Cornelius Vanderbilt these stories
ceased In him the railroad and the financial
world and the public at large dscerned scri-
Gus minded studious sturdy worker He was
what might have been called plodder. Ear
nest and honest and with a heart as large as
his fortune he WAS not only a shreWd, CON
scientious. careful business man, but he was
generous friend, a thoughtful benetactor ana a
philanthropist IN the broadcst sense Of the
word His administration was marked by moth
ing Of radical nature. He went along UNI
swerving and true t. his principles and his judg-
ment and thousands VIII miss him and his
Ostcntatious works of Kindness.
WILLIAM KS CHARACTERISTICS.
In William X Vanderbilt much that was pct-
urcsquc I'm the family promises to be revived.
For years ne has been Familiarity known as
"Wille X" and lnnumerable stories are told Of
his dongs. just fifty years old IS the new head
Of the house of Vanderbilt. He is clean shaven.
with hair slightly curling, firm. strong features.
expressive eyes, quick and magnetic action and
restless energy. These characteristics promise
much for those who are interested I'm original
actions and transactions of magnitude. He seems
10 have Inherited much Of the knack Of his father
and gTanlfat for quick comprehension and
firm decisive action Unlike Cornelius. he has
no love for minute details. He deli shts to deal
I'm big things When be- was nothing but man
Of pleasure h. put am amount OF energy into
his enjoyment that told Of the latent possiblli-
ties for great work. He built the house at
Fifty-lrst-st and Fifth-ave. which is one of
the shoW places Of NeN-York city. He built
the Marble House al Newport, than which there
are few finer In the country. He established a
country place at lslip Long Island. and built
an enormous, roomy. rambling house upon a.
When this burned De- was I'm Europe. but within
a short time after his return a large force ~
men were az work To- rebuild IT, He built a
yacht which be- named after his wife Later he
built the one he now has. which is one of the
finest pleasure craft IN the world. and he called
II the Valiant lie explored many parts OF the
world and made tour through Russia I'm n
private train. az time when no one outside OF
royalty was supposed 10 do such things In that
country. He never went on the turf 10 race
horses upon an extensive scale. bur h. always
took a great interest In racing and IL is said
that he only RETAINED from going on the turf
at the earnest request II his mother. He did
buy a number of brood mares and ship them
% France for hre * purposes and last year
some Of his youngsters were entered i'm French
but. -f HHfffl