Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-18

tratcd. Years after, IL is stated, afte
q adisaster befell him through the treach
cry and Encouragement Of others, h
attended the theater on the evening o
the day IN which he received the news
and no one would have known Of hi
trouble from anything observable il
his manner.
On the vessel, young Astor had mad
tho acquaintance Of German who ,
few years before had emigrated t.
America, and had made considerable
money in trading in furs. Astor be
came interested, learned all he coulc
pertaining 10 the trade, and resolved
to engage in 1t. His first thing to d.
on arriving in New York was to fine
employment in fur-dealing house
and thoroughly master its details, be
ginning his labors at two dollars wecl
and his board. Here be began to amasl
new knowledge about furs, and the
habits and retreats of fur-bearing ami
mails, questioning all who came in will
skins to sell, as many Of the hunter
did in person.
lie only staid with his employer un
I'll he had mastered the business, and
then began for himself. He had dur
ing this time, however, made one voy
age up the Hudson, and across the un
settled country to Lakes George and
Champlain, and finally to Montreal
where he proved more than match
for the shrewd Indians, and brought
back u reputation for "driving haro
bargain which he always retained.
In 1856, in a small store on Water
street, Mr.. Astor's first entrance into
business took place. His store was
furnished with a few toys and notions
which would prove attractive to Indi
an eyes, and there be began "dicker-
ing" for skins. His entire capital con.
sisted Of only few hundred dollars,
part of which had been loaned him by
his brother. Here he bought, cured
beat and sold skins himself, having NO
assistant, and made several journeys
on foot during the year through Wes-
tern New York, buying skins from
trappers, settlers, savages, or wherever
he could find them. He also kept o
few musical Instrumentation his broth
er's London mandatory, he being the
first person to establish u musical in.
strument store in New York.
His wife, married shortly after he
entered the business world for himself,
had a thorough knowledge of furs, and
entered heartily into business with
him, for long time doing much of the
buying and beating, and assisting him
materially in many ways.
After q time Mr.. Astor found he had
quite lot of unsuitable fum on hand,
such as beaver and other high priced
ones. Accordingly it was not long be-
fore he found It necessary to &C -
London with them, as he had no agent
there to consign them to. He went
out as steerage passenger, fearing
the result might prove unsuccessful
but on his arrival his venture was
crowned with more success than the
most sanguinc would have prophesied.
Beaver skins which had been bought
from the trappers in Western New
York for dollar sold in London for
six, and sometimes higher; and this
six dollars, invested in English goods,
netted him ten in New York. The
reader will readily see what an i'm.
moDse margin Of profit was here open
As though this was not sufficiently
promising, Mr.. Astor, during his ram.
blcs about London, waiting for the
vessel to sail on her return to New
York, visited the East India-house, and
incidentally asked one of tho porters
the name of the governor. The man
replied, giving German name familiar
to Mr.. Astor.
ais he an Englisbman p inquired
Mr.. Astor.
"No; he came from Germany when
quit small boy"
Mr.. Astor was satisfied he was an
old acquaintance, and entered his pres
ence, asking him.
"Isn't your name Wilhelm -?
And did you not attend school in Wal.
dorf when boy p uN iali
81 did. And your face is familiar.
! ought to know you well. l remem-
ber you now. Your name is Astor."
The two then had long chat on
school matters, &C., and, two days be-
fore the vessel sailed, the two having
met several times, tho governor asked
him:
"will you accept any present | make
you ?"
Mr.. Astor, seeing the gentleman's
earnestness and good feeling, finally
responded that he would: and so, when
he called to bid the governor good-by,
the latter, quite affected at parting
with his German school.matc, said,
handing him couple of papers
"Take these you may find them of
value"
One of them was simply Canton
prices-current; and the other was q
carefully-prepared document, written
on parchment, giving to the ship that
bore it permission to trade without
molestation at any Of the ports moDop-
olizcd by the East India company.
Giving the paper no serious thought,
as he had no ships, and not only had
no trade with the East Indies, but new
er expected any, he returned to New
York, little dreaming how important a
part that parchment was to play in
his future career. The permit was
numbered 6S, and il afterward opened
up to him trade where millions were
made with the case of previous thou
sands.
Talking over the matter of the docu-
ments with his wife after his return,
they decided It would be good plan
to open the subject to celebrated
merchant Of the day named James
Livermorc, who was largely engaged
in the West India trade, and owned
many large ships. So Mr.. Astor called
on Mr.. Lvermore, and showing him
the document, said
"Now, ifyou will make up q voyage
for one Of you largest ships, you can
have these, provided ! have half the
profits for them and my suggestion
"Pooh pooh r. exclaimed the great
merchant. "A ridiculous proposition
II is altogether too one-sided."
Hc thought Mr. Astor would come
down on his figures. But he found he
would not, and so after thinking over
the matter some weeks, and rejecting
ON the fhct that no vessel at that time
traded TO Canton, and that the East
Indian portswerc as Theoretically sealed
TO American commerce as though such
thing were not IN existence, he called
at Mr.. Astor's store, and asked
"Werc you in earnest the other day
when you showed me the pass Of the
Eaot India ann nanny 9n