The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-05

~<< HEAD Of THE WV
VANDERBILTS


VIEW YORK. Oct ss-Ai;red
Gwynne Vanderbilt. wao comes
| into the possession Of the bulk
OF the famous family fortune
and whose transfer Of s., y0a.o0
TO his elder brother Cornelius was he
mosc Interesting feature os the settlement
OF the vast estate. In the second living son
OF the LAKE Coynslfus He - tail. dark.
handsome. and - .asy-going. good-natured
and ingenious a young man as caa be
found anywhere in New York's wealthy
set The new head OF the family derives
the name OF Gwynns from ais n1cther.
whose ancestors II is SAID. are 20 be traced
clear back TO Chariemague. Alfred was
rsarsc according 10 the ideas which hts
grandfather implanted In the mind OF Cor
nes!us. Aifred's father. Among these ideas
was one that America was good enough for
the education Of the MAZE vanderbilts. Ger
neiius Vanderbilt believed that Yale was
better. or more desirable, at least. than
Heidelberg or Berlin and Alfred was &C
cor6ingly sent to Yale.
When the anable young New Yorker en-
tered the university the collegiate mscro-
scope was turned upon him 70 find out his
weak spots, but he bore the scrutiny Well
and came out of the examination entirely
satisfactory to his examiners. lie was a
youth Of good though not powerful phy-
sique, with a serene, self possess air and
quiet face. But above ali il was observed
that the immense wealth had no effect
Whatever Upon his manners These were
simple. The spontaneity with which he fell
In with his new friends and became one q
them won him high regard among the
hypercritical men Of his class His TO MS
were rather commonplace than otherwise.
and Ills dress entirely without aifectatipn-
He became popular At once.
That there is something more than trail
ton In the matter of heredity was made
plain In Vanderbilt, the college man.
throughout the four years he spent at
Yale. His far-seesng policy and his preco-
cious diplomacy changed the face Of many
college dispute and prevented many a
college ruction. and when ne left the school
lie had lost very few CT the friends he had
won In the beginning.
In his college activities Alfred Gwynne
Vanderbilt leaned "a Their 10 the athletic
than to the studious. This was odd for one
OF his race. for ne could have excelled In
study. whereas there was small hope for
one or his build being an excelling athlete.
He was especially inter, sted In the contests
Of Yale at rowing. football and baseball.
and many have been the dollars that ha
lost In backing his institutional teams a
these sports. And, too. although not
brawny. he was not backward in he prac-
tice OF the sports he so much admired
While he YVES In his senior year at Yale
Alfred met Miss Elsie French and fel IN
love with her. Miss French was In every
way pleasing to Vanderbilt, pere. She was
wealthy. younger than Alfred, and her fam
Iy rything that could be desired. Once
that his mind was set upon his hYs; love,
the future millionaire impulsiveiy dsmand q
10 be married out OF hand. THIS was a
family trait, but Cornelius Vanderbilt, while
approving unqua!iaedly the choice Of MS
son, reasoned with him calmly ard exiract-
ed a promise that he would not marry un-
I'll he had made tour of the world. To
this exaction Alfred. more plant than his
brother. consented. If somewhat reluctant
ly. lie was In the very act Of performing
this promise TO his father when that faith
er's death recalled him from the Orient.
AS soon as he came out Of tho university
Alfred. with his sweetheart stiu IN his
mind, began TO prepare for the trip. at the
end Of which che would await him TO be
made his bride. The party which accom-
panied the young man on his travels vas
made up Of Ernest lselin. w. +. Burden.
W. +. Whitehouse and Douglas Cochrane.
all friends and congenfal companions. They
left New York on J3ly 6 last, and, after
visiting the Pacific slope ard the Alaskan
glaciers, went to Japan. where they were
interrupted on their course by the news Of
Cornelius Vanderb!lts death.
Alfred Vanderbilt's afilanced Is only eish-
teen years old, and very pretty and viva
eIous. She is the daughter Of the late
Francis Ornund French, president OF the
Mani attain Trust Company, and viii have
IN her own right. when she becomes OF
age. a fortune 81 about Sseo.0oe no mean
dover to bring even 10 The heir OF the
Vanderbilt riches.
Cornelius Vanderbilt. decidedly objects 20
Senator Chauncey n D-p>w's explanation
that Alfred GwyDne Narderbu,'s gif. OF
So go 90 TO Cornelius was due II t~otheriy
affection. The settlement Il Is stated pre-
Guides any possibility % a contest over the
will ~ the eldest surviving son. the only
member % the family who had sny ground
for complaint Mr.. EanderN.lt's qua & 1
words clearly indicate that he had retain. 4
lawyers 10 carry the matter irto court ana
that he vas perfectly willing 10 institute a
contest unless gha chief hsir cnmprou, ised
T. was rot an emicaais arrs ngernent be
tween brothers. hut a serious discussion
between lawyers representing the CLASH
ing interests Alfred Vanderbilt, expresses
a willingness - pay the nTu0unt demanded
o,.t II ,he vast TesidIary estate. one-aalf Of
which Will come 20 hirn absolutely whan
ne reaches TIE aga or thirty. the other balt
aye years later. The necessary legal pap
ers were drawn and all opposition ceased