The Topeka state journal., 1899-09-12

of the Home for IncurabIes. the Col
lege of Physicians and Surgeons, the
Sloane Maternity hospital and the Hos
pital for the Relief of the Ruptured and
Crippled, and a contributor not only to
them but to many other societies and
charities He was chairman of the rail-
road branch of the Young Mems Chris
tian Association founded by him in
1877, for which he erected a most at
tractive. building on Madison avenue
at the corner of Forty fifth street, at
the expense of several hundred thou
sand dollars.
In the social life of the city he occu-
pied an eminent position. His wife was
Alice Gwynne. daughter of the late
Abraham E. GWynne, and the children
born to them have been Alice G., Will
liam H. Cornelius, Gertrude. Alfred G.
and Reginald c. and Gladys. Mrs.
Vanderbilt is a devoted mother and
gracious and charming woman, refined,
dignified and cultivated in mind and
was a worthy companion of her dis
tinguished husband.
Cornelius the son, married a daugh-
ter of r. T. Wilson, the banker, about
two years ago, and later Gertrude be-
came the wife of Harry Payne Whit
ney, son of the former secretary of the
navy, Vim. c. Whitney.
While not especially fond of the life
of clubs Mr.. Vanderbilt belonged to
many and was occasionally seen in the
houses of the metropolitan, Union,
Union League, Tuxedo, Knickerbocker,
GrOlier St. Nicholas, City, Players,
Century Riding, Country, Racquet,
Lawyers. New York Yacht West
chester Polo and Down Town clubs, of
which he was a member. He was also
a member of the St. Nicholas society
and various other social organizations.
HAPPY IN HOME LIFE
He was happiest in his home life and
contributed in the construction of his
dwelling to the splendor of the metrop-
oils.
For many years he has lived in the
house on the northwest corner of Fifth
i
latter being the most desirable side
street up town, owing to its greater
Width, the beauty of the mansions with
which it is lined and its nearness to
Central park, only two blocks away.
This house was five years ago greatly
enlarger and the yard extended through
to Fifty-eighth street, several dwell
ingS and the house of the Seventh Regi-
ulent Veteran club having been re-
moved to make way for the new pOr-
tiOns of the Vanderbilt mansion. In
its completed fOrm,it is now the largest
private residence in America. 1t is of
brick. five stories high, it's ornaments,
pincaleS, SillS and trimmings made of
light colored stone. In style it follows
the architecture of the Chateau du
Blois in France and while impressive
from its size and beauty, avoids Osten-
tatiOn and possesses an air of substan-
tlal comfort Within Mr.. Vanderbilt
spared no pains to endOW his house
with every attraction within the range
of the powers of the architect the
sculptor, the artist ana the decorator.
Carpets were woven and furniture de-
signed especially for each of the prin-
cipal rooms by a celebrated firm of
Paris Hospitality" is inscribed upon
one of the walls and perVadeS the con-
duct of the establishment. A strip of
lawn borders the Fifth avenue. side of
the mansion and a garden and an i'm
pressive carriage porch adorns the
Fifty-eighth street. front.
THE COMMODORE LIKED HIM.
When Cornelius, at the age of 16 left
school and secured a place as messen-
ger in the Shoe & Leather bank, his
grandfather, the commodore, sent for
him and asked why he had not applied
to him for place
Because I did not want to ask you
for anything" " was the reply.
This pleased the Commodore and it is
said that he made a cOdicil to his will
a few days later, leaving $1,OOO,OOO to
his grandson.
After Cornelius left the Shoe &
Leather bank to go into the employ of