The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-13

train' He had the greatest confidence In MS
ability TO keep engagements that he made In
this way. and he very seldom failed to DO 30.
He would travel for days and weeks In speciai
car over the railroads on which he was inter-
ssted. On these trips he would have time
table m AIDE up for the special train and M the
time ct which the train was to arrive AZ sNery
place to DO visited With such habits OF pune
tuality himself Mi. Vanderbilt had no patience
with those who were tardy In keeping appoint
ments.
For great many years occupied an once
adjoining Mr.. yanderbilt's and the door was
never closed between the two. He was man
who loved work for works sake. IL was MS
habit to como to his office at0 O'Clock In the
morning and work there until " o'clock In
the evening. Work seemed To be his recrea-
ton. He would transact what business there
was to do. attend TO all the matters relating TO
tho various philanthropic and charitable
enterprises In which he was Interested
and finally clear up his desk. AS soon
as he had done 40 he would come
into my office and fairly bog for work
10 do He never seemed to tire OF II. and think
there can be no question but that his devotion
to work slapped his strength and fastened his
death.
THE full extent OF Mr.. Vanderbilt's charity
may never be known. l knew most OF his
affairs. To me the calls which were made uron
him. and the liberal responses were revela-
ton. MIR. Vanderbilt set aside a certain part OF
his income. the proportion which he thought
it was his duty to give. and dispensed 1t in
charity through certain channels In addition to
this he was in constant receipt appeals for aid
from all manner OF persons and organizations.
All OF these appeals were inspected by his sec
rotary and then passed on to Mr. Vanderbilt
himself He read every one OF them. II the
case appealed to him he order that II be in
vestigated II II was a worthy case lie re-
sponded promptly and literally At the same
time he was very careful to aid no un-
worthy person. and | do not think that
frauds succeeded In obtaining money
Vanderbilt dispensed In this way will
never be known What he gave
through regular channels was only a small
portion OF the total. Mr.. Vanderbilt made n
great deal OF money himself. think am sale
when l say that most OF this was given away In
the aid OF worthy causes unostentatiousl He
was always very much annoyed whom his
benefcence was referred to or became known.
Mr.. Vanderbilt was fully prepared for death
Ever since the first stroke OF paralysis in 1896
he has realized that he might suffer asecond at
any time and that his death might come very
suddenly. He prepared himself spiritually
and m materially"
The Rev. DR.. David H. Greer Of St Barthol-
omew's Church. OF which blr Vanderbilt was
member arrived last evening from his sum-
mer home at East Hampton, l.. l.. and went
i'm m ed lately to the Vanderbilt house where he
remained for an hour. Mr. Vanderbilt"
he said afterward. was one OF the best
all-round men have ever known.
He was faithful and conscientious to
to the last degree in performing his du-
ties and meeting his responsibilities, and
have no doubt that his painstaking
conscient iousness In his life work created the
burden which he found too heavy to bear. He
had all the vriity and strength OF manly
man. and also the sweetness and grace OF
woman. He had the faculty OF making per-
sonal friendships among those who had never
seen him or met him. The public did not
know OF all his charities and never will know"