The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1865-02-03

Ns N'e::'e:,>'>< N:'.'',''''''' J !:
9A5 bus,rs aagH oT'' .sur sd h9Sa
.,1,f s<-ag ksl I.o aaitl2oa! 70 ysat1ro
- n ---- Ts -T7-E-TTTIu7- % -TTJ-IT- .
sdl ti.v y:izailmst aiI % s1na7ua%
| -2aaL ,a;usu ,s'ss4oH ,.sasou % s9n.ii1y
for steerags passage. He Invested Eve
more guineas IN the purchase of seven
flutes, and, with The third Eve as money
capital, set sail. Fol. two months the
vessel was ioe-bound in, Chesapeake bay,
and the passengers were fed on very abort
rations,, This delay, however, proved
very fortunate for .Astor. A German fell
low-psssengef, who, had made good bar
gains With the Indians in the, purchase of
furi, which he had taken to England and
pold at heavy profit, WAS returning to get
stock for a. second venture of the kind.
He gave Astor much information about
the business, and advised him to follow his
example, rs This hs resolved to do.gly In
March, 1885, the ice broke up, and the
vessel reached Baltimore The long de-
tsntion, and the journey to New York,
nearly exhausted Astor's money, and his
wits and bis seven flutes were, his chief
capital. On arriving at New York he
found that his brother Henry was laboring
under embarrassments, which, however,
proved Temporary. 8 He could do little for
the new comer.g The latter was not a man
to give way to despair. ii he at once en-
tered the employ of Robert Boune, q
Quaker, who bought, dealt in, and export
cd peltrlee. at i.9g ~ ,4H.g & ehtJG-h ara ,
The wages were two dollars q week and
board. By his industry and intelligence
the young beginner soon thoroughly learn
his employers business, and gained his
good viii. He was soon intrusted with
more important business than beating furs,
and made journey to Montreal, then the
chief fur market in North America Re-
turning with his furs, he employed the In
dams in transporting them to the Hudson,
down which be brought them in q sloop.
He speedily learned the art OF trading
with the Aborigines, and never could rise
superior to the habit of hard bargaining,
which he acquired in bis dealings with
| them. .8u. 1J - ~ -sn1gL ln z}.us3'
| g. 1li2 HIS START IN BUSINESS. - a9'
Astor did not long remain in Mr..
Bounes employ. In 1885, in little shop
in Water street, with q back room, q yard,
and q shed, the shop furnished with only 3
| few toys and trinkets, he began business
| for himself. He had then the most I'M
bounded confidence Ia his abilities. He
was sure of getting rich, though as he re-
marked in his old age, " The first hundred
thousand dollars-that was hard to get ;
but afterwards it was easy to make more. j
Atfirst he did all his work himself. He
bought, cured, beat, packed and sold bis
skins. At the proper seasons Of the yea,
! with bis psck on bis back, he made short
excursions into the country, collecting
skins from house to house, gradually ex-
tending the area of bis travels, till he knew
the State of New York'as no man of his
day knew 1t. He early noted the spots
which he thought would one day become
business centres and Rochester and Buffa-
10 afterward established the keenness ofhis
disoernment. His first voyage to London
with furs established his business on sol.
id foundation. One of the results OF this
was to make an arrangement with Astor
q Broadwood, of London, by which he. be-
came their New York agent for the sale
OF pianos, violins and flutes. He was the
first man in New York who constantly
kept for sale a supply of musical instru-
ments. On his return from England he
moved to 8 little dingy store in Gold street,
wharo ho swnn1 opt tho e;cp &C E,r, anj
Pianos 81 !. - q 80. .,,.-., 80 I.
In 1890 he married Sarah Todd. whose
connection with the Brevoort family, and
little fortune of $500, gave him better
social status, and small additional capi-
tai. She proved a very industrious and
faithful helpmate. About 1894 be became
able to purchase ship, in which his fars
were carried to London, and in which he
occasionally made voyages himself. In
London be became connected with the op-
erations Of the East India Company and
Chinese trade China was then the best
market for furs. In 1900 he sent his frst
venture to Canton, and continned TO carry
on commerce with China for twenty-seven
years. lazBg z
| ,1tso' HIS BUSINESS HABITS. s.fsi ny
| IL HT s,1Jff1.l -,stt4 - EfsENtF NaH- Tfst y
In 1890, when he had been in, business
about fifteen year, he was worth 9 quarter
OF million Of dollars, an Astounding
amount, when, the disadvantages under
which be commenced Operations are con-
eidered. BE had, however, wonderful
genius, and now, - through his whole
life, was singularly frugal. His luxuries
we're, q pipe, 2 glass Of beer, . game Of
draughta' 2 ride on horseback, and tho
theatre. He held in utter. contempt the
dashing mode Of life of many New York
merchants, and abhor.ed note shaving and
stock jobbing. Nevertheless be vss no
ploddef, wien plodding had ceased to BE-
/ necessary. "''F E-4f Elcssd1'E -
81 - y ns .o.osu.sa ssss i.st sad
T. he vas very mean, He ,ooos lost
the services Of one Of his best Osnte;ns
and 81, 900 "a The bargain, by refnSno
to pay for B ohronometsr Hhich "a
Captain said his chip needed. ~
Captain left his service and immediatalv
III a y q J -