The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1867-04-11
Stewart and AStOr,

A New York paper thus describes and
compares the habits of these two famous
merchant Princes f-si(.f5
A. T. Stewart is not what Is called a
liberal man. He seldom looks at sub
scription paper. He has little sympathy
with vagrancy. Men and women who
seek his presence seldom gain much by
an interview, if money is the object In
deed it is very difficult to gain access to
him in any way He is intensely devoted
to business, and works more hours prob
ably, than any merchant in New Y ork.
He controls his own affairs with despotic
sway. His partners have no control over
the business, but are interested merely in
the profits. He buys and sells as he
pleases, without consulting any one. In
his down town store he has small Office
where he spends his time from early bust
ness hours till dark No man goes up
stairs without running gauntlet.
A gentleman meets all corners at the
lower door with ''Whatis your business.
sir ?'' II want to see Mr.. Stewart. y
Il must know your business, or you can
not see him. ssMy business is private
Il want to see Mr.. Stewart personally. y
''NIr. Stewart has no private business,
sir. Unless you tell me what you want,
Mr.. Stewart will not see you. 1t the
response is satisfactory, he is allowed to
go up stairs.
Here he is met by another gentleman,
and put ough another rigid examina
ton. The usher disappears behind a
glass partition Soon Mr.. Stewart will
be seen peering at the visitor. If he likes
his looks, he admits him; if not. he sends
him away. No man who has run the
ordeal once will do it second time without
cause. But on great occasions, the do
nations Of Mr.. Stewart are princely. He
proposes now to devote millions to build
houses for the poor If the city refuses
to give the site, he will carry out his plan.
Unlike Mr. Stewart, William B. Astor
is always accessible. His rooms are on
Prince street, door or two from Broad
way. They are the same that were oc-
cupied by his father He has front and
back Office. where the business Of his
great estate is carried on. The door is
wide open between the two offices. A
person asking for Mr.. Astor, is directed
at once to the rear room. At a common
desk, crowded with papers, sits Ger
man-looking man, about seventy, heavily
moulded. tall and stout. His eyes, which
are small. with an expression bordering
on stupidity. are fastened on the visitor,
and Mr.. Astor awaits lis lutheran :es. He
wastes no words His answers are yes.
or no, with an air that admits of no de-
bate. All tie day long, frcm ten to FIVE,
Mr.. Aston 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 times and
terms Of payment, with every foot of
land. At five o'clock he rises, with a
slow and sluggish gait turns into Broad
way, and walks to Lafayette place, where
he resides, for dinner.
He has two sons, John Jacob and Will
liam b. .Ir. 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 business men, as if they
in common with so many others, had "a
fortune to make Much Of the tact and
shrewtness of their grandfather attaches
to them. They cross the old proverb
that wealth does not descend to the third
generation. Beside what they have in
herited, they have made fortune of
their own, and should their father die
tomorrow they have the ability, indus
try, and adaptedness to business to main
tain the honor of the name, and carry on
The estate in their father, style. They
are modest, retiring, and without affec-
ton. John Jacob is tall, large, heavily
built with sandy hair, and complexion.
resembling his father. He went to the
field i'll 1861, and did good service for the
national cause. William b. Jr, is tall
and slim. with black hair, of a genteel
build, and is said to resemble his moth
er.