Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-03-16
OLD SERIES, VOL. 27, NO. 90
stewart ma Astor.

A. T. Stewart is not what is called O
liberal man. lie seldom looks at subscrip
tion paper. With him begging is at dis
count. he has little sympathy with va
grancy. Men and women who seek his
presence seldom gair much by an interview,
IT money is the object. Indeed it Is very
difficult to gain access to him in any way.
He is intensely devoted to business, and
works more hours, probably, than sny mer-
chant in New York. He controls his own
affairs with despOtic sway. His partners
having no control over the business, but are
interested merely in the profits. He buys
and sells as he pcases, without consulting
any one. In his down town store he has u
small office where he spends bis time from
early business hours till dark. No man
goes up stairs without running gaunt-
let. r". 49,
gentleman meets all corners ut the lower
door with, "What is your business, sir ~
Il want to see Mr.. Stewart."'' / must know
your business, or you cannot sec him." MY
business is private--I want to see Mr.. Stew
art personally" "Mr. Stewart has no pr-
va:e business, sir Unless you tell me what
you want Mr.. Stewart will not see you.n II
the response is satisfactory, he is allowed 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 the visitor. he likes his
looks he admits him; if not, he sends him
away. No man who has run this ordeal
once will do it o second time without o
cause. But, on great occasions, the dona-
tions of Mr. Stewart are princely. He pro.
poses now to devote millions to build house
for the poor. Ifthe city refuses to give the
site. he will still carry out his plan.
Unlike MIR. Stewart, VIM. B. Astor is al
ways accessible. His rooms are on Prince
street, door or two from Broadway They
are the same that were occupied by his faith.
er. He has front and back office, where
the business of his great estate is carried on.
The door is wide open between the two off.
ces. a person asking for Mr.. Astor is di-
rected at once to the rear room. At COM
mon desk, crowded with papers. sits a Ger
man looking man, aoou. seventy, heavy
moulded, tall and stout. His eyes, which
are small. with an expression bordering on
stupidity, are fastened on the visitor, and
Mr.. Astor awaits his utterances. 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 corners. He is master
of his business. He knows the rent of every
house, the duration of every lease, the terms
and time of payment, with every foot of
land. At five O'Clock he rises, and with
slow and sluggish gait he turns into Broad
way, and walks to Lafayette place, where
he resides, for dinner
He has two sons, John Jacob and VIM.
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, in common with so
many Others, had fortune to make. Much
of the tact and shrewdness of their grandfa.
ther attaches to them. They cross the old
prOverb that wealth does not descend to the
third generation. Besides what they have
inherited, they have made fortune of their
own, and should their father die to morrow,
they have the ability. industry and adap.
tedness to business to maintain the honor
of the name and carry on the estate in their
fathers style. They are modest, retiring,
and without aifcctation. John Jacob is tall,
large, heavily built. with sandy hair and
complexion. resembling his father. He went
to the field in 1861, and did good service
for the national cause. VIM. b., Jr.. is tai!
and slim. with black hair, of genteel build,
and is said to resemble his mother.