The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1862-08-23
Mlisrelluncous.
A Rich Man.

may be led to a few references of per-
sonal nature. AS the ordinary street.
passenger is traversing Prince Street.
he is not likely to be struck by any of
its surrounding The street itself is
but of thlrd-rate charac er, and the
houses are only of common samp.-
Near Broadway, however, one NAV
notice small brick Office, neatly built.
of one story with gable to the street,
but with doors and windows closed, and
The whole appearance one of security
Near the door may be seen little sign
which reads thus " Entrance next
door office hours from nine to three
The next door, 10 which we are referred,
is plain thrce-story brick dwelling,
WI h no name on the door, and might be
taken for the residence of some we'll to-
do old-fashioned fa,uily. Hence one is
quite startled TO find tha this is the head
quarters of the chief CAPT ais; of Ameri-
ca. En-, erng the street door, one will
lind himself in small vcstbuIc, neatly
tloorcd with checkcrcd il.cloth, and
opening a door on his left he will ell err a
wcll-lightcd front-room, destitute of any
furn ure but counting housc desk and
- few chairs. At this desk stands an
accountant Tor perhaps two) working at
set of books, and evidently enjoying
an easy berth. He will answer ali
ordinary inquiries, will do the duty of
refusing charitable demands, and will
at end to anything III the ordinary run
of business bat if one has anything
special on hand, he will point to the
door opening in.o the rear office. This
apartment is of moderate size and of
simple furniture. On the table are a
few books, and on opening one of them,
which appears we'll tlumbed, it will be
found to contain maps Of plots Of city
property, carefully and clegan ly execu-
ted and cmgraeing the boundaries of an
enormous esta c. Seated by the table
may generally be seen a stout-built man
with large and unattractive features, and
upon the whole an ordinary face. He is
plainly dressed, and has Il somewhat
care-worn look, and appears to be fifty
or sixty years Of age. One naturally
feels Chat is, if he be poor NAM that
1t is quite a rare thing to address Il cap
ltaIist Is the representative, say of
twenty-five millions of dollars. Such,
a least, was our experience at our first
interview with William b. Aston.
Mr.. Asor occupies an imposing man
sion in "ayette Place, and Immediately
adjoining is the magnificent library 10
which we have referred, and which
should commemorate the name of the son
as well ar that Of the father. A. this
house he spends that small portion OF
his time which is not occupied by his
duties in Prince street, where he does
full days work Sundays exccpted)
every day in the week. Thus the daily
routine Of the richest man in America is
a walk to and from home, of halt-mile
or so, and close atten ion to business.
The care of Mr.. Astor's estate is a
vast burden. His tenemcnts of all
grades number several hundreds, rang
ing fror, the dwelling at hrce hundred
dollars per annum to the magnificent
warehouse or hotel at thirty thousand
dollars. TO relieve himself from the
more vcXatious features Of his business,
he has commit ed his real estate collec-
tons to an agent who does the work
we'll, and who is, no doubt, largely paid.
lie, with his clerks, collects rents, and
makes returns of a rent-roll, whose very
recital would be wearisomc. As u mat
ter Of course, such man must employ
a small army OF painters, carpenters,
and other mechanics in order to keep up
suitable repairs. As Mr.. Astor pays on
insurance, the work of rebuilding after
fires is in itself a large item.
In order to give something like an
estimate Of he immense income rolling
in upon this family, we must commence
with the fact tina two dollars per day
is considered fair wages for working
men that the man who makes five dol
lars per day all the year round may be
considered very fortunate and ten dol
lars per day is attained by that few who
are more favored and elf, ed, and whose
proportion to The mass is about one to a
thousand. Starting from this estimate,
we may, doubtless, be better prepared
to rate Mr.. Astor's position by compar-
ing any Of the above sums with six
thousand dollars, which is said to be his
daily income. Bless ne! one can not
but cxclam here CrGsus himself might
die with envy. Yet we reply, after
moments pause, let no one envy this
man Of gold il is said that when John
Jacob Aston 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
inquiring Would you like 10 manage
these matters for your board and
cloths 2" The man demurred 10 the idea.
SIR con inucd The rich man, /" it is
all that get !" Hence, thinking on
these things, we have never envied Mr..
Astor, and would not bear the burdens
of his wealth for all its glory.
Continental .Nonthly.
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