to buy Harlem when it was in a most helpless and depressed condition. He
advanced a large sum to the company when it was in need, and for this,
among other things, he was made its President in 1863. By judicious
management and influences common in 'The street,' he successfully ran
Harlem from thirty to two hundred and eighty-five. Such a man was just
what the New York Central railroad desired, and after this great
'bulling' movement he became President of that road. All that was
needed now was the Hudson River road and this he bought outright,
becoming President of the New York Central and Hudson River Rail Road,
extending from New York to Buffalo.

At one time there was a bill to be voted on at Albany; the bill was in
the interest of Harlem; Mr. Vanderbilt was sure it would pass, but
Daniel Drew, his antagonist, who ever fought Harlem or Central as they
were against Erie, caused a counter movement to be made which defeated
the bill. Vanderbilt heard of it, and of course was disappointed but
made no foolish protests with the treacherous 'friends' at the capitol.
In the meantime these people were selling Harlem short for future
delivery, expecting that the stock would "take a tumble" when it became
known that the bill was defeated. As before said Vanderbilt said
nothing, but quietly bought up every scrap of stock there was to be
found loose. The fatal day came but Harlem stood firm. The derelict
Assemblymen were thunderstruck when they had to buy at a greatly
enhanced price, and many of the would-be victors were ruined. In 1873
the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern railroad was operated in connection
with the Vanderbilt system, making a Palace Car route from New York city
to Chicago. From New York to Buffalo a quadruple track, thence a double
track.

Among the charities of Mr. Vanderbilt is a gift of three-quarters of a
million to the University in Nashville, Tennessee, which bears his name.
He died in 1877 worth about eighty millions.

AMOS LAWRENCE.

Amos Lawrence was born April 22nd, 1786. He was a weak child,
consequently could not attend school, but his mother did not neglect
him. When only thirteen years old he became a clerk in a country store.
In this store was kept everything in the hardware line, from a plow to a
needle; in the textile line, from a horse-blanket to a pocket
handkerchief; then you could buy the productions usually found in a
vegetable garden,--everything was kept, even to Jamaica rum an