The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1866-11-29
STEWART AND AsTOR.

| AAtT AND ASTOR.
a. l. Stewart is not what is called q
noeral man. lie seldom looks at sub.
senptloo paper. With him begging is
at a discount. He has little sympathy
tor vagrancy. Men and women who
seek his presence seldom gain much by
a" Interview, if money is the object
Indeed, it is very difficult to gain access
to him in any way. He is intensely de.
voted to his business, and works more
hours, probably, than any merchant in
New York. He controls his own af
fairs with despotic sway. His partners
have no control over the business, but
arc interested merely in the profits.
lie buys and sells as he pleases, with
out consulting any one. In his down
town store he has small Office where
he spends his time from early business
hours till dark. No man goes up
stairs without running a gauntlet. 4
gentleman meets all comers at the low
er door with, "What is your business,
sir p II want to see Mr.. Stewart"
~ must know your business or you can
not see him" "My business is pri.
vate, l want to see MIR. Stewart person
ally" "Mr. Stewart has no private
busiaess, Sir. Unless you tell me what
you want, Mr.. Stewart will not see you"
1t the response is satisfactory he is al
lowed to go up stairs. Here he is met
by another gentleman and put through
another rigid examination. The usher
disappears behind glass partition.-
Soon Mr.. Stewart will be seen peering
at tho visitor. If he likes his looks be
admits him if not he sends him away.
No man who has run this ordeal once
will do it second time without cause.
But, on great occasions, the donations
OF MIR. Stewart are princely. He pro-
poses now to devote millions to build
houses for the poor. If the city refu-
ses to give the site he will still carry
out his plan.
Unlike Mr.. Stewart, William B. As
tor is always accessible His rooms are
on Prince street, door or two from
Broadway. They are the same that
were occupied by his father. He has
front and back Office, where the
door is wide open between the two off,
ces. A person asking for Mr.. Astor is
directed at once to the rear room. At
a common desk, crowded with papers,
sits German looking man, about sew
enty, heavy nodded, tall and stout
His eyes, which are small, with an ex-
preston bordering on stupidity, are fas-
tened on the visitor, and Mr.. Astor
awaits his utterance. He wastes no
words. His answers are yes or no,
with an air that admits of no debate.
| All the day long, from ten to FIVE, Mr.
Astor sits in his Office and sees all COM
crs. He is master of his business
He knows the rent of every house, the
duration Of every lease, the times and
terms Of payment, with every foot of
land. At FIVE o'clock he rises and with
slow and sluggish gait turns into
Broadway, and walks to Lafayette place
where he resides, for dinner.
lie has two sons, John Jacob, and
William B., Jr. These young men
are in business with their father. No
bankers in New York attend more
closely to their calling. They walk
down Broadway in the morning and up
at night with the great throng OF bust
ness men, as if they, i'll common with
so many others, had a fortune to make.
Much of the tact and shrewduess of
their grandfather attaches to them
They cross tie old proverb that wealth
does not descend to the third genera
ton. Besides what they have inheri
ted, they have made fortune of their
own, and should their father die to-
morrow, they have the ability, indus
try, and adartedness to maintain tho
honor of the name and carry on the es
tate in their fathers style. They are
modest, retiring, and without affecta
ton. John Jacob is tall, and heavy
built, with sandy hair and complexion
resembling his father. he went to thu
field in 1861, and did good service fo1
the national cause. William B., j., i.
tall and slim, with black hair, OF gen
teel build, and is said to resemble hi
mother.
VENTILATE YOUR CHILDREN!