The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-12-10
AS HE SLEPT S0UNDLY
 MORTAL STROKE CAME
Ends Wonderful Career of Capitalist
 and PhiIanthropist.
story ss Life oae of Remarkable Persistence. self-saerlfiee
 And Pluck--FuneraI This
 Afternaon. i


 years q dominant figure in Nhe com merciai lie of Montgomery. and man who in the past twenty years has led more than any other one. citizen. in the business. the public and the pcliti- cal enterprises of the city is dead at his handsome home on South Court Street.
 Although he had suffered so from ill-health for the past year that he had withdrawn from practically all of his many business endeavors. the end came suddenly in the early hours of wednes- day morning from heart trouble something which his loved ones had feared for several months.
 Warned by his physicians year ago that his life, of remarkable energy and achievement had weakened his heart, Mr. iyanjiveF was gradually releasing his hold on the business affairs which he had so successfully conducted. But he drove about the city and occasional ly appeared at his office on Commerce Street to dispatch some pressing busi-. ness But in these late months he has moved through life under the shadow of the apprehension that the stroke might come at any time.
 He was at his office Tuesday for few minutes. He appeared as well fl not better than usual. But he was husbauding his strength and after . few minutes he was driven home He retired Tuesday night in apparently as 9ood health as he had enjoyed in the past six months. sleep-same to him as quickly and as easily as usual. But in the morning Mrs. Vandiver at his side was awakened by the unusual twiteh- ings of his muscle. She feared instant ly that the final stroke. dreaded for so long, had come. A physician was im- mediately called, but the summons had come and the once strong anu vigorous man was beyond all earthly aid or skill.
 News of His Death.
 The news of his death. as it was pass cd from mouth to mouth, on the streets | of the city was O shock to the people of Montgomery. 1t was not a sur prise: his friends and his business as- gociates had known that his heart had weakened under the stress of his active and useful life and they knew that for him the hour might strike at any time. But 1t was a shock nevertheless, for he had loomed so large in the business life of Montgomery that 1t was hard to realize that for all time his figure had disappeared, that the vital force felt so long would be felt no more and that the scenes that knew him so we'll would 1 know him no more. To the people the l realization came slow that Montgom- l ery's leading citizen had run his race l had finished his work and had gone to | his reward
 MT. Vandiver was only 5s years old 1 Measured by years his life was not a l long one; but measured by achieve ments, measured by obstacles over come, by success attained. 1t was both | long and fruitful. It was not so many | years ago that he came out of the | country to Montgomery, with no capi- fal but health, an exceptional ability, l a measure of ambition and inexhaust- ible energy. It is not far. cry to the | day of the young clerks appearance in | Montgomery to work for a small salary. | with no influence, no capital and no prospects except that which he carried sn his own forcefhl personality. And now after few years he dies to be l mourned as Montgomery's first citi- zen.
 His Public Service.
 Mr. Vandiver was a successful man: he was a money maker but he was more than that, he was aetuated bv a 1 notable public spirit much of his valu- able time, that he could have devoted to the further amassing of dollars he | gave to the public good Of Alabama. | and of Montgomery. It is the fashion | to look upon the successful merchant as a narrow man, man who has no | knowledge, except that which pertains to his business and as one who is in- | .terested in nothing except that which | relates to his own business of money | making. Mir. Vandiver rose far above | this low ideal. He was diligent in his | business, but all that pertained to the | welfare of his fellowmen demanded | from him interest, study and attention | The world he lived in was much larger | than that made up of his office ana | his warehouse. His daily labor was | long and arduous. but he would drop | 1t. or he would take up the hours of | his nights to devote his splendid | capacity to doing good for his city, his l church or his people.
 He was a man of exceptional natLva ability. It is probable that he would l have achieved success in any buEinas~ or any profession. He assuredIv had the equipment of capacity, persistence foresight and energy to win success in any field.
 Like a great many men who have achieved distinction he was the son of a minister. He had school advantages such as were to be had in the South in his youth, but he did not have tba means for a college education.
 In his day, however there were few men who had his vide and accurate knowledge of so many subjects. He had dropped the plumb line deep into human nature and he Knew almost in. stinctively the depths and shaIlows of the men with whom heHwas brought in- 10 contact. But he knew other things of better and broader nature A few years ago there was hardly a more forceful speaker in the State. and yet he never aspired to be an orator. 1
 (GantlRHed on Page ThreeA