The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-09-20
NO l39

teu ms real estaie collections 10 an agent
who does the work well, and who Is, no
doubt, largely paid. He, with his clerks.
collects rents, and makes returns Of
rcnt-roll whose very recital would be
wearisome, As a matter of course. such
man must employ a small army of
painters, carpenters, and other mechan-
les, In order TO keep mp suitable re-
pairs, AS Mr.. Astor PAYS no insurance.
the work ia rebuilding after fires is in
itself a large item.
large part OF Mr.. Astor's propertv
consists of fvacant lots, which are in con-
tinual demand, and which he generally
prefers 70 hold rather than sell hence
he is much employed with architects and
masier-builders, and always has several
blocks in course Of erection. This is a
very heavy burden, and wrrr it not Tor
the help derived from his family, would,
we believe, crush him. However his
son, John Jacob is quite business man,
and bears his share of the load. This
young gentleman has shown his patriot
ism by serving in the army for the Union,
in which lac bears an important commits
sion. In addition 10 this, Mr.. Astor has
the aid of gentleman of business char
acter and habits, once n member of one
OF the largest shipping houses in this city,
who has become connected with the fam
lily by marriage. The labors of all these
parties would not be more than adeauate
TO the tasl, of collecting interest on bonds.
looking after dividends, etc, since that
little fire proof office in Prince street
contains several millions of Government
and State securities.
In order 70 give something like an csli.
mate Of the immense income rolling in
upon this family, We must commence
with the fact that two dollars per day ia
considered fair wages for working men:
that the man who makes i've dollars per
day all the year round may be consider
ed very fortunate that ten dollars pcr
day is attained by that few who are
more favored and gifted, and whose pro-
portion 60 the mass is about one 10 4
! thousand. Starting from this estimate,
we may be better prepared to rate Mr..
Astors position by comparing any Of
the above sums with six thousand dol
lars, which is said to be his daily in
come Bless me one can not but eN-
| claim; here CrTsus himself might die
with envy, Yet we reply, after a mo-
ments pause, let no one envy the man
! Of gold. 1t is said that when John ia
cob AstOr was once congratulated by a
certain person for his wealth, he replied
by pointing TO his pile of bonds, and
maps of property, at the same time in
quiring: 'Would you like TO manage
/ these matters for your board and
| clOtheB| The man dcmurred TO the
| idea. Sir continued the rich man II
| IS al That / getP Hence, thinking on
| these things, we have never onvied Mr..
AstOr, and would not bear the burden of
his wealth for all its glory. II is not the
possession, but the use Of money, which
affords enjoyment, and this is a secr,t
which the rich seldom learn. Alas!
among the annals of moneyed men, how
seldom do we meet a Stuart or a Lenox
men who have learned what Goldsmith
calls the luxury of doing good
II is one of the peculiar misrortunes Of
the rich TO be subject TO the attentions OF
parasites and tlatterers, and hence they
cannot possess that same certainty of the
value Of friendship enjoyed by the poor
The latter of these CLASSES know that
when a kind act is done TO them, il comes
from pure motive; the other seldom
can be sure that it is not from selfish
ends. To illustrate the idea which
wealth suggests, as to the motive Of
friendly visitors, we may state that
among Mr., Astor's class mates in Column
bia College was young man who be-
came a preacher. The students separa-
tcd-the one 60 handle millions, aud 10
touch the springs of the money market.
and become the colossus Of wealth: the
other TO his flock, az a poor domestic
missionary, whose history was indeed a
shady side. The latter STRUGGLED ON
through thick and thin, and never in all
his priyations thought of sending beg
ging letter 10 his old class mate. Bnt
being once upon a time ia New York, he
yielded 10 the inclination 10 make him a
visit. Mr. AstOr received him courteous
ly, aud the two conyersed on the scenes
of their early days. As the pastor arose
TO depart, an idea struck the capitalists
heart, which we mention 10 his credit
Can ! do my ming tor you he inquired
lie had, in fact, misconceivcd the object
of the visit, and supposed that under the
guise Of a friendly call lur,rd an ncli-
nation 10 beg, which the fear Of refusal
had suppressed The poor clergyman at
once perceived the drift OF the question.
Nothing could have been farther from his
mind, aud blushing at the thought, hc &C o.
kuowlcdgcd the Suggestion with an ex-
preston of gratitude, and retired.
Perhaps a view Of the unrest Of the
human heart appears most terrible when
coHtrasled with the almosgrabulous heaps
= OF surrounding wealth, and one Is thus
led to the conclusion arrived at by Gold
: smith
Vain very vain, my weary search Go NuI
I That blIs- which uuly rruttrs lu the mind
. With secret ,aur.c winch uo loud sttraus Htuhy
. Ulid,s the smooth Durrrnt ui domestic lu}t
sou tn 'urtoINrs BOO every place ggn gu'lr