The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-09-20

Astor had his store at 60 Pine street, corner
OF Pearl street.
At 223 Broadway he could 20 from his
yard into tho store Thore was an opon
piazza. supported by pillars and arches,
where no frequently sat of an afternoon,
Rftcr he had his dinner, o'clock. lie would
play throe games of checkers and no more.
and drink a glass of beer Ho did not drink
any thing elso in his working days.
Those who suppose Mr.. Astor had an
easy time in money matters, are greatly
mistaken. lilo has oiton paid old Primo, 10
Wall street, very large interest aud largo
commission to got long papor discounted.
He tAstor) loved to tell anecdotes con.
noctoG with his early difficulties. Ono was
about bargain ho mado with his brother
Horny when tho latter was much bcttcr OFT
than his brother john. for Horny was owner
ota butcher stall, No. 81 in the Fly Market
valuable property in tho commencement
of the century. Horny then lived at 81
Dowery.
John, in his financial difficulties, frequent.
ly went to Horny for loan or for an on.
dorsemont. This was source of annoyance
to Henry, who did not like to borrow or lcnd
to anybody. On ono occasion John wanted
5000 very badly. Ho won't to Henry, and
asked him to lond him that sum
''J0hn, will gvo you 300, if you will
agree novor to ask me TO loan you any mon
oy, endorse note, or sign u bond for YOU.
or DO obligated for you in any manner what.
ever.
John says he hesitatod for a momont.
rapidly passed through his mind i:s adyau.
tages, for 800 was BOO in those DAYS.
accepted the proposition, and he never did
| ask favor of that character of his brother
in after years.
| A business acquaintance of Mr.. Astor ono
day asked him what peculiar transaction or
peculiar kind Of business first gave him his
groat start Mr.. Astor never claimed any
groat sagacity for utelige enco ovor bis fol.
lows. ...
Ho said, in reply. that at one period Of
his lifo bo had accumulated quito a uuanti.
ty of uusalablo furs in this m .rket, such
as beavers. Tho common furs that no or
his agents picked up, viz. musk rat, mink.
rabbit, squrrel, & no could soil ia this c,y.
and at good prices. The other and costly
he had to buy. but could not soil hero, and
thoy wcro packed away in whiskey casks
down in tho collar. Iio had no corrosp spon nd
ont in London to send them to, aud no dis.
position to send them il he had. After
talking over tho matter with his wifo they
concluded it would be best for himself to 20
out to London with tho choices, kind OF
furs. lilo did so. The prospect OF tho trip
was uncertain, and to economze as much as
ptss ble, he won't out. as Storage passenger.
When he reached London, he found a
ready market for his choice furs, and sold
them at vory high rate. He made list
out { ush goods as ho thought would make
money by being taken to tho Now YoIk
market; purchased and shipped them by u
vessel bound birher. Alter no was all
through with bis business, no WAS detained
u couple of weeks by the ship not being
ready to sail. Tho idle timo ho spent in
looking about London. and picking up all
the Information possible, especially such as
was likely to advantage his business in Now
York. Among other extraordinary places
he visited. was the great East Indian House.
Ho visited tho Ware House, and Offices. On
one occasion he asked ono of tho porters
what tho name Of tho Governor WAS. The
man replied giving a German name very
familiar to Mr.. Astor. lilo asked bis in
former If tho Governor Was m Erglishman
Ho replied that no had como Om CORN n
originally whom q boy. MIR. AstOr duiur.
mined to SEQ him--watched an opportunity y
and sent in his name. Ho was a'lmi,t ID
When he entered, no said ia tho Governor
"ls not your namo Wihelm-? Did
not you 60 to school in such town :"
al did, and now remember you very well
Your hamo is Astor."
After this they had long chat. and talked
over old school matters. Tho Governor In
sisted that Mr.. Astor should dino with him
He declined for that day, but the next the,
mot again. He asked Mr.. Astor s"vera
times il thoro was nothing ho could do fol
aniA h.ah haA ha. lt Ill
ho wanted he needed no cash OF credit
Almost evory day they mot. Tho Governor
kept urging MIR. Astor to nnme something
that he could do for him. Iio asked Astoi
what prosont would be acceptable. AstoI
declined any. Finally thoy mot two days
before tho vessel was to sail, and again the
Governor asked AstOr if no would accept
any present no made him. Astor, seeing
tho Governor so anxious, said:
Yes"
Whom no called 70 bid the Governor good
bye, the latter was roally quito affected at
parting with his Old German schoOlmate.
Take these" said he, "you may find theii
value" Ono of tho documents was simply
a Canton Prico Current.
Tho other was u carefully engrossed per.
init on parchment, authorizing the ship that
bore il to trade frooly and without any mo.
lostation. at any of the ports monopoliIed
by the East Iudia Company.
Mr. Astor bade his friend good bye, and
returned to this city, never giving the pres
ont second thought Ho had no ships
aud never had any trade with the East In
dies, and never expected to have. He little
dreamed that in the parchment would be
tho foundation OF vast shipping operations,
and a trado amounting to millions, and ON
bracing tho Pacific Ocean. The permit waE
No. 6S.
When Mr.. Astor got hOme, he showed
these documents to his vito, and advised
with her, as ho always did, what to do in
tho matter.
Il have no ships--it's no use to u.s." be
said. At that time, there was very eel
cbrated merchant named james LivermOre
lie was largely engaged in the Wost India
trade, particularly TO Jamaica. lie owned
vessols--of good size.
Mrs. AstOr recommended her husband to
90 and have q talk with the merchant
Mr.. Astor went-showed tho East India
Ship Pass and the Canton Price Current.
"Now," said he, "if you will mako up q
voyage for one OF your largest ships, you
can have the pass and have tho price eur
rent, on one condition. You are to furnish
ship and cargo, but am to have one bali
the profits for my pass and for suggesting
the voyage"