The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-12-19

hut The common sense OF mAnkln,
unitcs IN this verdict that society hni
u right 10 except "a degree o. beneil
clence from the rich corresponding
with their wealth, Such IL genera
lpr0priety of this sentiment that IL in
spires Virgil who describes il Ia III,
sixth book OF the Enied, among iii,
wretched Inhabitants Of lhrtarus vhri
Gus grades Of criminals, such as adul
terers aud robbers, among whom mr.,
ant q,H d'rHiS soil mcubHCfd rcpcrtiS
which may be translated, "thosc whc
brood over their boarded wealth. SuOl
was the0c' upatlon Of the late capitalist,
His fenr OF being oyerreached gave him
frequent distress, Thirty years ago he
desired to enlarge the Astor House,
and proposed purchasing lots IN the
rear, but when the price was mention
ed he exclaimed, "Too high,h and
declined the opportunity. He lived Ia
see those lots double In value, aud the
enlargement was never made.
The greatest capitalist In America
was, In all points but tepacity, mere
negation. Like sponge on n rock
to bloat, to absorb, to die, was his en-
tire destiny. In no point was he unit
ed with the race outside Of his family.
He belonged to nothing, not even a
church, nor a political party. He was
not In need Of society. He sought not
friends and possessed none, He had
no expensive tastes. Fine horses, fine
pictures, and works Of art generally,
were not in his line. He was of a low
grade OF mind, and although all that
might minister to refined nature was
within bis reach, he turned from II.
His frame was large and healthy, and
he lived on, fulfilling his great pur-
pose to be the richest man In Ameri'
ca. This was his only positive point
OF character all else being negative,
even to the emotional nature. lnever
heard Of his getting into'a passion,
He was too stolld for that The only
thing that could affect him was unpro-
ductive property, aud this must have
Of late occasioned much annoyance.
About seventeen houses are now va
cant, the tenants having been driven
away by eXtortionate rent In addi-
ton to this, it may be said that one
house which he priced at nine thous-
and dollars stood empty three months,
and has lately been let at six thonsand.
Thia dreadful state OF things has been
felt, and no doubt, in addition to old
age, FASTENED his death. Ii was Il new
and unexpected misfortune at his late
period in life to be obliged to reduce
rent. "a 1854 III
Mr.. Aston seldom lent money on
bond and mortgage, because the record
would lead to taxation. He seldom
bought real estate because 1t was dear.
His enormous income was Invested in
building on his lots, aud also IN first
class stocks. In this manner he laid
up more than Nix thousand dollars per
day. His rents were deposited in the
Gallatin National bank, and he always
had heavy balance, which enabled
him to be always investing.
with cautious prudence put his gains to
use,
Irauiring always, what viii this produce 2"
in former days he omitted insuring
his property, but of late he found that
it could be added to the rent and acted
on this idea. He became large stock
holder In one Of the most successful
companies in the city, and gaveit his
enormous business, which, after all,
was but another way of insuring him
self. There Is something surprising In
the good luck which has followed this
family. How strange that almost all
of John Jacob Astor's purchases should
be in spots which either business or
fashion should afterwards select as
their chief resorts. On the east side
ofthe city real estate has not advanced
in half century, nut Astor owns moth
ing there. 1t 80 happens that his forty
acres bought when il was commons)
should he the subsequent scene of opu'
lence and traffic or Of equal rank. As
far as this world isconcerned IT would
seem that charm has worked contin-
ually in favor Of this man in order to
crafty his ambition to be the richest
man in America.