The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-08

! lhNth WIN iAf hhl'iVis
Mr. Astor's VIII.
Mr.. WrL.itM -. AsroR has of courec so
left his property That il remains in the A.
ToR fumiiy, and the bulk Of il in the hands
| of two uf his sons. Ills daughters, Mrs.
| CAREY and Mrs BEIANo. and his grand
| daughter, MrS. CuNNLER. yet only II life
estate in wbnt they receive, with th" ox-
ception of fcw houses aud lots absolutely
bcqucathcd. They each were rich before,
and Will be better able now than ever TO
| Keep the wolf from the door. His son,
| Henry AsrOR, who lives in Columbia
| county, was so well provided for before
| 10y his grandiatberuud Ercat-unclc, Henry
| hsroR, TINT he gets comparatively small
slice. The residue of the read estate of old
JonN JAcoD ASroR, in which WILLIAM ID.
AsroR had only II life estate, with power
OF appointment among his issue. is handed
down to his sons, JoilN JAcon and WILL
LIAM, in equal shares, and in fee simple alb
solute; and WILLIAM -. AsroR's one-half
of the personal estate of the old fur
trader is also equally divided among the
two favored boys. Tie rest of the estate
OF WILLIAM -. AsToR. in his own right. il
trlstCcl Tor the benclt of joins JACOB
aud WILLIAM.
These provisions Of the will, joined TO the
known purposes ot the inhcrltiug SONS, viii
secure the continuance Of the great AsruR
property ia the possess ION OF a few Of the
name. The sons are prudent aud Thrifty
men, aud they will see TO II dat when they
come to hand 1t down, IL shall not have
failed To grow In value 10y reason Of OK
trnvagance or too great liheralIty.
In addition TO the 500 OoO lie gave dur
ing life to the Aston Library. MIR. Aston
bequcalhs il S2Ol,C00 now. Leaving out
q few small loeacics to charitable and re-
lisiouS societies this Is all OF the great
estate tuat IN any wise goes to the public.
Though the sum Is far iro' sufficient to do
great things for the II gary, il is yet
enough to help it forward. It is notable
that Mr. AsToR. man of education and
presumably fond Of books. did not take SO
absorbing an interest in this library us
! during life TO keep il always so supplied
with funds that il should lc able to MAIN
tain itself in the fore front Of existing
libraries, at least in this country. The
money II has for years had to SPEND on
books las been utterly insufficient to en-
able II to keep abreast OF lis own preton-
sions. While for what he AID his father
did do, the public coItniuly owe rccogni-
ton 10 the A.roRs. yet it is worthy Of re-
mark that WILLIAM b. AsrOR. through
pride Of family and interest in learning
and literature. did not make the Aston
Library IL nll respects commensurate with
his wealth. An cducat 1 man, even II he mas
no other enthusiasms. L. APT to feel a delight
in gathering nperfyct library, II he las the
means 10 20 II. The gaps on the shelves,
when the general public may not OBJ
serve, yawn for him, and it is his gratin-
cation TO nh them up. Mr.. AsroR does not
seem TO have been possessed any more by
this than by any other enthusiasms. Yet
lie managed his fathers property like
faithful steward, and has transmitted IL
TO his sons with reasonable usury.
We hope that these latter will show nj
least equal hberalty toward the Astor
Library, even II they do not regard it's
welfare with the Jealous interest aud un-
selfish ambition Of scholars. il they shall
do this, the library will be Il great glory of
New York, ana prove the highest. If il is
the only, right the sToH family has to pub
lie honor. A thousand blocks of houses
and square miles of lots will not eutitlo
them To remembrance us. useful and pub
lic-spiritc citizens; but perfect library,
open to all students for all time, will make
the As1oE naloc n maine of lasting honor.