The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-10-17

IeNfs-IklS 6lftS 10 the Ast0r
Library and Other Chart
ties-Kis Business and
Personal Life.
Among the representative men OF this metropolis
there IL no one more conspicuous than William Il.
Aston. Inherting fortune Of princely magnincence
he has shown himself, In the power 10 acquire
wealth, possessed OF all the extraordinary ability OF
his ilustrious father. With the noble ana unex-
amped inheritance OF hts fathers buildings and
bonds, and lands ana leases, and stocks and secur-
ties, he inherited also his genus for none
his pr0mpmess, prudence, shrewdncss and honesty
those allied gifts and the rghtful employment Of
which, from the humble trader IN furs made John
Jacob Astor the richest man In America. Had Will
liam b. Astor been born poor he would have become
rich man. 1t could not have been otherwise. His
mind was constituted ior the acquisition OF wealth.
All the powers and energy OF his strong nature GEN.
tired on this point The lncisve force OF his will
alone would have comprised this result. Under his
skiliul management his possessions have rapidly in
creased. II is his marvellous executive ability in
controlling this vast wealth and adding SO greatly
TO its magnitude that makes him representative
man. lie has not squandered his splendid estate by
dissipation, by extravaganza or by speculation, as
many differently constituted would have done. He
has made secure investments. lie has kept out OF
the vortex OF seductive speculation. Through all his
life innexibe honesty OF dealing has been
his guiding MAXIM. 1t is this last strongly
marked element OF his character, combined with the
large but unobtrusiye benevolence or his nature
that has given high moral grandeur to his name
ana fame; that has evoked for him universal
respect, aud that will cause his memory to be held
III perpetual grateful remembrance. or such life
there is little TO be written. Ills grand life mission
has been performed in quiet, in silence the almost
clustered secluson Of his little one story ONCE on
Prince street. The lessons OF his life are the teach
ings OF al unremting attention to business, OF
integrity AMI benevolence. These dominant traits
in his character are revealed In striking boldness
OF outline In tho brief record OF his career given
below-a record compulsorily BRIEF and which the
exceeding simplicity Of his habits aud the monoio-
nous routine OF his daily life necessarily make 1t
CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH.
At No. 149 Broadway, In March, 1894, William Is.
Aston was born. Appended to the name of John
Jacob Astor in the City Directory were these words
"Itlrr,cr, ITO Broadway" The house was plain
two story and attic brick structure. His father car
ried on ms business in the first story and, with his
family occupied the rest OF the house. IL was not
indeed, until SIX years later, when he had been in
business fifteen years and worth some 100000,
that he INDUCED in the luxury OF living
IN house separate from his business Ills
first separate residence was No. 223 Broadway,
on the present site or the Astor ilouse--a very
respectable house III those carly days or the cy's
embryo growth but IN size ana exterior finish and
interior appointments bearing very slight rescnl-
blance TO the paaIlal abodes or our present leading
men Of wealth. William Is. Astor's earliest remenl-
brlnces are connected with his fathers store. He
early learned 70 assert the ars and heped to beat
dreamed the wealth OF future gold TO be
eeyolyed from those small dingy, dusty f9rs
father was smoking his pipe and drinking beer
and playing c5eesyis aud occasionally gong 70 the
theatre lis fortune was rapidly accommodating. No
special pains were tasen with young Williams car
lest education With other boys OF his age lie went
to the public schools Ills father at length, seeing
the growing EXPANSION OF his business aud wealth,
ana particularly alter he had begun sending his
fnis TO China, ana bringing back cargoes or teas,
some fortune, determined TO give him a thorough
ton and TO Garry Oh the gigantic business rapidly
swelling into colossal proportions.
GOES 10 HEiDELBERG UNIVERSITY.
few years preliminary training IN the most select
schools in this city was tue starting point for uni
verslty education abroad.
.'The education here aint good enough" hisfather
said 10 him one day. "The German universities
give the only education worth havinr. ain going
to send you 10 one. How do you like the idea ~
81 ike Il, y answered William.
own You study hard II send you there? ~
.'les, sir.n
'wili you promise to stay TIL send for you ana
Hot fee ny hsSsSN
.'ies, sir.D
''Weil, then, get ready for Heidelberg.n
And for Heidelberg ne prepared hinself, and to
Heidelberg he went. lie remained there several
years. acquting himself In his studies WITH marked
honor and becoming an adept in beer drinking song
singing and the small sword exercise. His uniyer-
sity studies finished lie paid q visit home ana then
took the tour or Europe lie visited all the places
OF historical and classical interest In the Old World.
'.lou have shown the good effects or your univer-
sity education said the Old gentleman 10 Hun on
his return from his European tour.
ssJn yhut mr. q IL.
liam, knowing wen that there was some joke at the
bottom OF the remark, for no one was fonder Of
INDUCING 10 pleasantly than hts father.
II expected you would spend $4,000 and you
have only drawn On me for slo.ooc.o
this day he coniesses himself in doubt as to whether
the Old gentleman meant the remark in commenda-
ton or in reproof OF his travelling expenses.
TUITION IN BUSINESS.
William u. Astors tuition in business was long
and thorough He went into his fathers Office.
tie learned his fathers business. He advanced with
he had made his money and how he continued TO
make 1t. lie knew every detail OF his vast opera
possessor OF twenty millions. Everybody knows
that II was his operations In real estate that made
% wss neas ,n wealthy x maa he 'e' AsI
took his tuition In the great art OF
money mans in this city, y 4 UNNECESSARY
nrlnties oil age crept on his father nus responsible
aler Tsii lie ks sd sapSs soaf r y" years q MS
1s- PRIVATE FORTUNE.
Meantime he had quite an Independent property
OF his own. His uncle Henry Astor, had died, leav-
ing him half million Of money This he had wisely
invested, and 1t was rapidly in the way OF doubling
ITSELF The Astor House was built In 1885. Shortly
after 1t completed ne was looking at 1t with hi5
father.
GLOW do you like the bulldiDgfn his father asked
him.
II am very much pleased with it,"
80 YOU like ltr
"Yesn 80
nGye me dollar and the building is yours.v
Everybody has heard this story, aud the most, |
probably, doubted its truthluness. II - true and
Il is further true that the son was not long In paying
over the dollar and thus consummatng the bargain.
rtn had