The Washington times., 1919-12-28

= 7 Is seldom that fashionable society has
the opportunity to study so delightful
= and perfect romance as that recently
revealed through the announcement by
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt of the engage
ment Of Miss Rachel Littleton, of the
famous Tennessee family, and sister of
the distinguished attorney, Martin Little
ton, and Mr.. and Mrs. Vanderbilt's only
son and heir, Cornelius, Jr. A true love
match, infused with an equally true
Americanism, II has uncovered at the
same time why this scion of great wealth
has for nearly year been working most
tndustrtously and successfully at report
ing job which at last reports was paying
him s45 week. And not only working at
It successfully, but living on its proceeds
without the aid of an allowance or any
financial assistance at all from his wealthy
family.
II will be remembered that Scriptural
history tells of another Rachel, to win
whom Jacob served for seven years. Time
moves faster these days than then--so
young Mr.. yanderbilts period of pro-
baton was cut to twelve months.
Otherwise, friends say, the motif is similar
the same old love theme, only shorter.
For now it comes out, Miss Littleton, who
comes from stock of doors who long have
held accomplishment higher than wealth
and individual effort worth more than in
heritance, insisted upon young Cornelius
demonstrating his mettle before she would
consent to link her life with his.
In the light of this revelation much that
has really puzzled fashionable society
about Mr.. Vanderbilt. Jr.'s, situation is now
entirely clear. Why. it was asked, If Cor
nelius wanted to go into the newspaper
business, was it necessary for him to cut
loose with such Spartan completeness from
the luxuries and influence his family was
so we'll able to provide him. Other young
men Of his class had started in on a career
and had not found this necessary.
But it was known thatWanderbilt, who is
but twenty-one years old, had voluntarily
loosed himself from his allowance when
he had gotten his job! He had elected to
live upon his meagre salary! 1t was true
his family had kept room for him in the
great brownstone palace on Fifth avenue,
beside the home OF Steel King Frick; also
that he could drop around any time he was
hungry for square meal. But as all dur
ing the Summer and Fall the house was
boarded up. his father in Europe. his stately
mother and lovely sister, Grace, out of
town, this did not seem to be Of much real
comfort to him. Only two relics Of his re-
linquished greatness did he retain-his lit
tie twenty-nine-foot racing sloop and his
fast roadster.
Not only that, but upon his own admis-
sion he picked out after a preliminary
fling at the newspaper game in Seattle,
a New York newspaper he believed to be
entirely free from any affiliations with
his clan, or as he himself said:
81 decided that working for a paper
where my family had any influence, finan-
cial. social or through family connections,
would be lot like being buck private in
your own fathers regiment"
So, as he says, he looked over the field
pretty carefully" found a newspaper
where, as far as he could learn, "he had
no pull" applied for a job and started in
on s25 a week as a cub reporter He has
since been raised.
All Of this seemed mighty strange to his
friends. That his mother and father were
not exactly pleased with his choice of
occupation was known. They had sched-
uled him for entrance in the Sheffield
School at Yale. to prepare himself for a
career as an engineer. But even If they
weren't pleased, those who knew the
democracy Of the Cornelius Vanderbilts
and their attitude TO their children. were
sure the parents had not put their son
to so rigorous a test of sincerity of pur-
pose.
But Miss LittletOn had. In effect, it
appears she must have said something like
this: "It's a changing world, and there
-I1y be a lot more changes coming |
Int you to be able to live by what's
lily in you-not by what your fortune of
irth gave you. Go to work keep at it
-J- a year. and then we'll face life to-
gether. But you must stand on your own
abilities; be independent of family in
aueuce. family wealth Fight it out just
as YOU"
And that's exactly what young Mr. Van
derbilt has done. playing the game with
an absolute fairness and honesty to Miss
Llttleton's ever increasing and adoring
pride.
All along the 100 per cent American ro-
nance has been a leisurely one II really
began a few years ago when Miss Grace
Vanderbilt, the sister OF Cornelius, was the
schoolmate chum of Miss Littleton at an
exclusive private school, and determined
to have her as a sister-in-lawI When Miss
Vanderbilt gave party. the pretty South