The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-11-30

TOMPKTNs.
Clinton's extreme age in public life has
seldom been equaled lie sets the world
good example of dying in harness. How
strange 1t is to notice that this example
was followed by his immediate successor,
Elbridge Geary. He died less than two
years after election, and thus Madison lost
both his vice presidents by death. Daniel
ID. Tompkins Is of note, not only as one of
New 1ork's vice presidents, but also as
the war governor of the state during the
trying times of 1Sl2-1S15. He did good
service in his position, and was made vice
president under Monroe. He served full
term, but died two months after its close,
being only 81 years. Tompkins was
faithful public servant, and had he lived
might have attained great emnence. The
house which was bis abode while governor
is now occupied by George b. Steele (Al-
bany,) and could it tell its story it would
portray some very thrilling scenes Some
OF the most important campaigns of 1919
were planned within its walls. Tompkins
was our governor for ten years, and passed
quarter century in public service.
VAN buren, AND FILLMORE.
The list diminislies in dignity as it ap-
proachcs lis termination. OF those two
men (each of whom became presidents) lit
tie can be said except that they went
through Office like politicians Fillmore
must bear the infamy connected with the
signature of the fugitive slave law, which
was the most servile degradation of the re-
f,t1t IN tn ;,;t 81 81 h,,.
presidents found graves in the vicinity of
their former abodes. Burr was buried at
Princeton, Tompkins in this city, Van
Buren, at Undertook and Fillmore at But
falo. Clinton, | think, was buried at
Washington where he died. The first and
the last death among his class OF officials
occurred in the national capitol.
AsToR.
This family is brought alresh TO public
notice by the death of its oldest member.
Among the expenses connected with his
funeral will no doubt be the gratuites to
the Bohemans who have given him such
flattering notices. Mention has been made
of his scholarly attachments" his ''benev-
olence," etc, all of which will, with those
who knew him. be included in the general
paffery Of the day Mr.. Asior- character,
negatively speaking, was spotless, but he
was so complete negatinn that although
he owner of the greatest estate IN America
mis- death creates no void. When man is
endowed with such immense iaclii les for
active philanthropy The public has right
to demand its exercise TO whom men com
NIT much, of him do they den aud more.
The Astors, father and son, have given
: he public library costing 500 COO This
IS doing vel as far AS II goes, bur hen we
consider that the family has tor 50 Years
been absorbing well h AT rate which
places it now at The uead Of 500 900 600
something more my res nhbly be expect
ed. MIR. Ast1r's entrrcyii ferisns beeu - con-
trast with those If James Lenox. A. r.
Wetmore, and other men who made phil
snthropy business The motto at the
Prince street cilice hiss for Years been IN
regard to solicitors for churlIy, "noH me
tdngeTe, "tOuch me not" | would nave
hardly referred to this had not the fulsome
press spoken Of his ''benev l-nce." We
are reminded again and again that he gave
the poet Haneck more than the bequesl in
john Jacobs will, etc. etc but how many
liberal thinks are done here which never
get into the press? know poor woman
who lives by labor and has a large family,
who has within few weeks taken two
mOtherless children, because there was no
one else TO care for them. This womsn
has done, relatively speaking, more than all
the Astors.
AS A BUSINESS MAN.
The chief characteristic of William B.
Astor was torpid adhesiveness. He was
always fearful of being imposed on, and
timorous prudence kept him from any en-
terprise beyond building houses. He ex-
pressed in Il conversation with me many
years ago this timidiy, and observed it in
business matters. His days were chiefly
passed at the land office where he occupied
a small room in the rear. Calling on him
on one occasion, entered the room but
found it vacant. While waiting for his re-
turn | noticed well thumbed volume
(the only one visible on the table. Sup
posing it to contain choice reading, opened
it in order to pass away time, but found it
to be maps of the Aston estate. This vol
ume was his constant study through life.
AsToR's LUCK
So far as luck is concerned he was I'M
paralleled. The Oldest brother became in
sane. and TINS made him heir of the estate.
He obtained an enormous tract of valuable
land at Barrytown by marriage, and then
his uncle Henry bequea,hed him half mil
lion. HIS family was healthy, and he was
never troubled with those calamilies which
ravage some households. During the past
40 years but one death beside his own has
occurred under his roof, that of his wife,
who had reached old age. Take it upon
the whole, the Astors were always lucky in
worldly matters. The only shadow was
the mental weakness shown by Henry, his
son, who was kepv up at the Barryiown
farm. he got married slyly three years
ago, and since then have not learned much
of his history. With this exception, the
broad current of prosperity has run for
tour score years, bearing Aston on its bo-
som, until his earthly course is finished
THE ESTATE.
BY the hand of death 40 acres of land,
worth 81 100000 per acre, must change
For this reason the reading of
The will is looked forward to with deep in
terest This land is in Broadway, in the
Fifth avenue, and largely IN the eighth
ward, beng part If BurI's grand estate. for
which J hn Jacob Aston paid ! 000 per
3 800 COO, being three its cost. In add-
non Ia The and there is an immense per-
sonal eslnte-pr ba ly $50, 900 000 The
OF al II come rqua tuSl 800
300 year, out If which uol SEQ 600 was
spent, must have be- rapid beyond any
ralcu alton. This surplus was carefully
invested in good securities. IL will be
found that VIM. b. As,or had very few
poor Investments. He WAS never led into
fancy stocks. lie bought no oil shares nor
any other delusive schemes For many
years he refused 10 lend Oh bond and mott.
gage, because of trouble in collecting inter-
EST. lie pul cha>ed the inst sticks aud also
government bonds, and these brought a
ready return. No name stands So high as
his among the stucsh lders OF the Delaware
and Hudson canal company, his income
from that source hcIng estimated Al $780,
300 year. lie kept hir bt K account at
HE Galintin National, b / ga lend of that
family. and Al era Gallon 10 ne 1T hrs
l..