The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-04-20
Getting Ahead Of Aston.

'Dut, Srauuldtner, WHAT ABOUT your
first business transaction with Astor9"
one of us asked Now, our much be-
loved grandfather had told this story a
hundred times, but as it gave him pleas
ure to repeat it, he regained his good tenn
per at once, and thus commenced:
''Oh, about ohm Jacob Astors L know
you have heard me tell the story before.
All! he was merchant in every sense of
the word. A fairer or squarer man you
never came across,a tritle hot and peppery
at times, but when you knew him, and
he believed in you, he was the best and
most liberal man to deal with | ever met
with. 1t is not true that he was grasp
ing, and tried to crush out other people.
1t is certain that he had that China fur
trade all to himself, but once or twice l
cut into him, in small way, of course,
and he didn't mind it at all. Once l
made venture of some $1,000 worth of
furs from this side to China, and brought
home teas, and made just eight for one
on the business-that was whacking
profit. You see, in 1923, some of my
Canada friends were part owners in the
good ship"
"But, grandfather, stick to the John
Jacob Astor story, please"
1t was in 1922, then, that received
from England the information that all
kinds of fur stock were likely to be rare
in Europe. l had the advices early from
some friends in Leipsic. l didn't want
much to go in, though 1 studied the mar
ket we'll on both sides, and found that
the supply would be short. Strange to
say, for five years before there had
been no money made in furs, and big
stock had accumulated in New York.
was hesitating what to do, when an order
came from strong house in London for
line of furs, and among the furs some
five thousand land offers. Now, offers
were dull. If [ had, however, gone
around and bought them up in small lots
in Philadelphia or Boston, | should have
raised the price in an instant. Talk about
your telegraph-stuff! Fifty years ago
man never bought anything in large
way that all the people didn't speculate
who he bought the goods for, or where
they were going to. People were sharp.
should like to have seen any of your
new-fashioned brokers doing my business
for me, Now, | knew that Astor had
big lot of these very offers. How did l
know thatl Why, | had ticketed off
every skin the old man had bought for
she last three years in New York had
found that out without your telegraph. 1t
was on an autumn day when | went into
Vesey street to see Mr.. Aston. did not
know him save by sight. For young
man was quite bold, because had the
privilege to draw on the Rothschilds for
the amount of my purchase, and Roths-
childs' bills were scarce and much IN de-
mand in those days. 1t would never have
done for me to let the old man, or any
body else, know that was buying for
the continent. had just been paid, too,
quite Unexpectedly, round sum OF
money, which had made up my mind
now l would put into furs. The Aston
store, in Vesey street, wasn't half as fine
3 place as would be occupied to-day by
any one OF your wo-penny brokers. Aston
was there busy examining a bale of
beavers. A porter was asserting them,
and the old man would every now and
then stoop and pick up particularly fine
skin and smooth it over with his hand
It was early in the morning-not much
more than nine o'clock. Heads of houses
don't do that kind of thing, nowadays,
but in old times the principals used to
examine goods for themselves. l must
have stood between the light and Mr..
Aston, for he turned on me, saying, swell,
INV young man, what is it | can do for
youir He had very slight German &C
cent, and would occasionally mix b's and
ps and DIS.
- at is only a few beavers | want, Mr.,
Astor," said.
sOnly beavers you want, and pray who
are your he asked.
told him the name of my house. To
nv surprise Mr.. Aston said: 'Oh, knows
YOU; thought you would come round to
trade sometimes. You are a beginner.
know your fadder-honest man. You
larnt your business in London, good
house, and mostly turned out smart
young men. Well, my boy, here ia beav-
ers. Make your choice. How many do
you wants Price IS pound and not
cent less. This pack runs even right
through l made selection OF beaver
pelts, though really did not want them.
1stor helped me to examine the skins,
and / bought at about the market rate,
some 800 pounds.