CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.

PN a low, brown farm-house, on Staten Island, covered with moss, and embowered in vines and shrubbery, Cornelius Vanderbilt was born-and there in his island home, where the waves murmured soft lullabys, and the ebb and flow of the tide marked the hours of the day and night, he grew up a sturdy, active boy, who seems, even in childhood, to have had a very good idea of the value of money, and a knack for making it. He was fond of a boat and "took to the water as naturally as a duck does." At twelve years of age we find him entrusted with a man's work, in superintendence of the removal of freight from a lighter to the city. He was always anxious to be a sailor, but as his mother opposed his wishes, he was obliged to give it up for a while; still his love for the water was so great that at last he carried the day, became the possessor of a boat, and worked steadily and faithfully. He formed no bad habits, contracted no vices, and laid up all his money. During the war of 1812, the harbor defenses were fully manned and a large number of boats were constantly in port, and between these and the city a stream of passengers, giving steady work to the young man, who profited by it to the best advantage. In 1814 our whole eastern sea coast was guarded against an attack from England, the militia was called out, and forced, under heavy penalty, to serve; and about the same time the commissary called for bids from the seamen to convey military stores to the different ports-six in number-where soldiers were stationed. The contractor was to be exempt from military duty. Of course every seaman in the port sent in a bid, most of them at the most absurd prices, not intended, or expected to cover the expenses, but simply to exempt them from duty. Vanderbilt did not at once send in a bid, but at last, to satisfy his father, made an estimate which would give him a moderate profit, and sent it in, and to his surprise it was accepted. The work was

done to the entire satisfaction of the commissioners, and Vanderbilt made enough money to build the schooner " Dred," the daintiest little thing that ever shot over the blue waters.

In 1818 he turned his attention to steamboat navigation, which now seemed to be establishing itself beyond doubt or question, and when satisfied that it must supercede everything on the water, he gave up his now flourishing business and took the position of captain on a steamer owned by Captain Gibbons. His friends were astonished at this movement, but he looked more to the future than the present, and moved on in opposition to their views. He had charge of the steamers through all those long, vexatious troubles between the courts and the steamboat proprietors, and for seven years was harrassed, annoyed and impeded in every way. The State of New York had granted to Fulton and Livingston the sole right to navigate the waters of New York, and Mr. Gibbons, being of opinion that the grant was unconstitutional, determined to run his line in defiance of it, or until it was proven, at least. The supreme court at last decided that point, leaving every channel of navigation open to all. In 1827 Mr. Vanderbilt left the service of Mr. Gibbons, and built his first steamer, the "Caroline," and after the opposition which the comparatively young and poor meet in competing with the rich and strong, he established his line safely and firmly, and made his way gradually in the business until he stood at the head of steamboat interests in the United States. He has, perhaps, controlled more money in that way than any other man. Even those who had been established for years in the business, dreaded the young giant whose energy and determination rendered him almost invincible. It is related of Mr. Collins, that when his ocean steamer, the Arctic," was lost, he asked to be allowed to run his magnificent "North Star" in its place, until such time as Mr. Collins could replace his own, and was not only refused, but his offer was declined in terms so insulting that Mr. Vanderbilt declared to him that he would run his line off the ocean if it took all the years of his life and every farthing of his fortune, and he kept his word; still, as to whether his course was the most honorable or not, we do not pre sume to judge. He at once applied to the government to give him the mail to carry, pledging himself to carry it quicker and more regularly than it had ever been done before, without one cent of

subsidy. The offer was accepted, and Collins' magnificent line went to ruin and its owner into bankruptcy. There is no doubt but this might have been avoided by a wise liberality on Mr. Collins' part, or even by the outstretching of a kind hand to one who had had so much to contend with and struggle against.

At the time of the rebellion Commodore Vanderbilt was one of the stanchest defenders and supporters of the government; as unselfish as patriotic, as honest as fearless. When the navy department was in need of gunboats, he equipped his magnificent steamer, the "Vanderbilt," and offered it to them at very low terms; but learning that an enormous per cent. of the purchase money would have to go into the hands of the "sharks," who stood between himself and the government, he withdrew his offer, saying his boat was not for sale, and, making a thorough investigation to know that it was in perfect order, presented it to the government. It was a noble, generous thing, and can not be forgotten.

On Wall street Mr. Vanderbilt is one of "the powers that be," and though not quite so demonstrative or blustering as some of New York's money kings, his word is law in many departments of commerce; and his judgment is unsurpassed. He is a regular attendant at Dr. Hutton's Church, on Washington Square, and a warm personal friend of the pastor. In his domestic life sorrow has come to him, as it comes to every one, and the shadow of the messenger of death has darkened his hearthstone as remorselessly and mercilessly as that of the humblest cottage in the land. One noble boy died during the late war-died as did those who had dedicated their lives to the preservation of the Union. His wife, the loving and patient sharer of his years of toil, and of the success that rewarded them, was taken from him two years ago. Recently he has married again. Mr. Vanderbilt is considered one of the handsomest men of his age in New York; and is a living illustration of the truth of the saying of the wise man, "The hand of the diligent maketh rich."

ALEXANDER T. STEWART.

O name is more familiar to the American public than that of A. T. Stewart, and none shine brighter in the galaxy of self-made men,—those who by patient, tireless, persevering industry, and unimpeachable honesty, have won mammoth fortunes. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1802, and was educated by his grandfather, his own parents having died while he was an infant. The intention was to fit him for the church, but his grandfather dying while he was only in his second year, the idea was abandoned, and he embarked for the New World. Fortunately he was not compelled to come destitute to America, as do so many of his countrymen, but with a sum of money which was sufficient to meet his wants, For some time he tried in vain to obtain work, and at last accepted a position as assistant in a small commercial school, but not liking the work, for which he had neither taste nor adaptation, he opened a dry goods store in New York. Of course, his first effort was made in a very small way; but he was patient almost to humility, and knew it would be uphill work to establish himself in a city where rich and prosperous merchants already held the ground. He had no special business capacity, no extraordinary talents, nothing peculiar about him, but his extreme youth; for he was only twenty years old. On reaching his majority he received a small inheritance, amounting to about one thousand pounds, with which hẻ extended his business. He worked unremittingly; he filled every office, from porter to proprietor; he gave every moment and every thought to business. His goods were almost always bought at auction, small, cheap lots of everything, and pressed, dressed, and sorted over by himself and his wife after business hours, then sold lower than at first or even third rate houses, yet at a fair profit to himself. Unswerving honesty was his constant rule, both in buying and selling goods-he gave no advantage consciously-he would take none. Another rule was, one price, from which there