The New York herald., 1875-11-25
WILLIAM B. AsroR

was born March, 1894 in a small brick house which
John Jacob Astor, his father built the or
Broadway and Vesey street. where the Astor House
now stands. This house No. 149 Broadway. At
that time there were more than 600 people in
New York city not enough to make largo suburban
city in modern times. 1t must be remembered that
the date Of William b. Astors birth both Washington
and Jefferson still living, aud that Napoleon Bona
partc had not risen to fame Frederick the Great had
just died. the French Revolution beginnng
Bowling Green, near the Battery, the centre Of
trade OF the American metropolis Wall street the
fashionable residences lay and the of vesey
street, where William B. Astor born, was in the
country. In the lower story Of the house old John
Jacob Astor carried the business of furrier The
family lived in the remaining story and half The
babyhood OF William b. Asor passed in the
barating influences OF the country on Broadway
Vesey street
Early in life William B. Astor began to occupy him
self about his athers furrier His principal
cupation to beat the iurs with rattan stick
70 keep out the moths. Meanwhile old John Jacob,
the shrewd German father used to sit in the back
room Of the store drinking beer, smoking his pipe
and playing checkers, though he used to
go occasionally to the theatre. This was at the time
when John Jacob rapidly and quietly growing rich
The boy, William b. sent to the public schools
When the old began to get rich without knowing
why, IL was determined TO send the boy Heidelberg
University, rich German father ought TO do.
HEIDELBERG
young Astor remained for several years. Ater-
ward he made tour Of Europe After the youths
return the elder Astor said:-"1 expected you
would spend $4,000 and you have drawn for only
$4,000" Immediately after coming home the
young man entered his father's Office, the
business having greatly extended and he
practically taught the art of making money.
The youth studied his fathers methods and began
TO live his fathers life He learned after assidu-
study the minute details of his fathers opera
tions He studied only furs but teas and he gave
the result Of his Heidelberg education to calculations
about real estate His education, unlike that OF most
boys ho 60 TO college, to have resulted in his
increased ability 10 comprehend his father. 1t did not
enlarge his faculties; II only hecaps On aid to them
His education was the least OF him. AT the same une
yIssnSs ssS - x .sn Ia nn.o,s t'a ,,v'
sinnis ...ow ms ia.ner. went in way 40.
n time he second edition of John Jacob Astor;
only the field Of MS operations was geographically less
wide because his capital concentrated in limited
sphere.
william B. Astor's uncle died. and left him $500 900,
so that he had a separate estate While he was man
aging his fahers estate he also managing his own.
In 1885 Just after the Astor House was built on the
old family property the iather and son were standing
on the opposite side OF the street, looking up at the
front Of the building when the son expressed his k
ing for IL aGvcme dollar for II, said the old man,
sand il is yours y This was the fathers premium TO
the young mans usefulness in managing the estate
When at last John Jacob Astor died the son
was already worth S6,000000 from the i'm
proyements he had made on his uncles property
and on his own. But by the will William . was made
the principa eratee OF estate valued at $50 OUO
Although this disposition OF the property made william
the agent of the estate II seemed 10 erect 10
make him the owner by entail; but II must be remem-
bercd that he both IN law and IN TACT simply tne
residuary legaee acting for the property Upon the
death OF the father in lS4S the son at hrst ousea MN
self entirely in caring for the bequests OF the Will he
sent one Of his own sons TO Waldorf IN Germany, MS
fathers birthplace, IN order TO give regularity
TO the bestowals of the bcquesls lhere'
large discriminating power left with Mr Astor as
10 the best mode OF investing this money. HIS wisdom
financial manager In turning TO the pest ahu mos.
permanent this fund, as also the large anu
heathul growth of charity in his own heart are SHOWN
in his udclous disposal OF the $4,000 thus ntrused 70
him. After putting DIP the proper buildings lot an IN
sttution whose eeemosynary character should embrace
the poor OF Waldorf Of all ages both sexes ana all reB
ious beliefs he managed invest 343 900 for It's perma
nent maintenance. II Is in most fourishing con-
don. The aged and nhrm poor, irrespective Of color,
through disease other causes here given pleas
ant home; orphan children from the ages Of SIX 70 f
teen left without support, here given instruction
and trained to active and industrious habits and there
are also apartments for the blind and deaf and dumb
and nursery for infants. The name Of the institution
is
THE AsroR House.
II take great pride in the Astor House Of Now York. y
Mr. Astor has been heard to say when referring to this
institution "but greater pride IN the Astor House at