The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-04-10
MY TRADE WITH ASToR.
HDUT GRANDFATHER, what


Now, our much-beloved grandfather had
told us this story a hundred times, but
as it gave him pleasure to repeat 1t, he
regained his good temper at once, and
thus commenced
"Oh, about John Jacob AstorY
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,
trifle hot and peppery at times, but
when he knew you, 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 grasping, and tried
to crush out other people. 1t Is certain
that he had that China fur trade all to
himself,but once or twice cut into him,
in o small way, of course, and he didn't,
mind 1t at all. Once l made q venture
of some $4,000 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"
g. But, grandfather, stick to the John
Jacob AstUr story, please y
g 1t was in 1922, then, that / received
from England the information, that all
kinds of fur stock were likely to be rare
in Europe. / had the advices early
from some friends in Leipsic. l didn't
want much to go in, though l studied
the market well on both sides, and
found that the supply would be short
Strange to stay, for five years before
there had been no money made in furs,
and a big stock had accumulated in New
York. 1 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 otters
Now, otters were dull. If had how
ever, gone around and bought them up
in small lots in Philadelphia or Boston,
1 should have raised the price in an
instant Talk about your telegraph
stuff! Fifty years ago, a 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. 1 should
like to have seen any of your new-fash-
ioned brokers doing my business for me
Now, 1 knew that Astor had big lot of
these very offers. How did 1 know
that. Why, had ticketed off every
skin the old man had bought for the last
three years in New York. | had found
that out without your telegraph. Itwas
on an autumn day when went into
Vesey street to see Mr.. Astor. L did
not know him save by sight. For II
young man was quite bold, because L
had the privilege to draw on the Roths-
childs for the amount of my purchase,
and Rothschilds' bills were scarce and
much in demand in those days. 1t never
would have done for me to let the old
man, or anybody else, know that was
buying for the continent. | had Just
been paid, too, quite unexpectedly, a
round sum of money, which had made
up my mind now would put into furs.
AC 1ASlOL clOlC5 III V CSCy SlISGuY NdSll
half as fine a place as would be occupied
to-day by any one of your two-penny
brokers. Astor was there busy eXamin-
ing bale of beavers. A porter was as
sorting them, and the old man would
ever now and then stoop and pick up q
particularly fine skin, and smooth it
over with his hand. 1t was early in
the morning-not much more than
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.. Astor,
for he turned on me, saying, "Well my
young man, what is it L can do for
your"
He had very slight German accent
and would occasionally mix BIS and p's
and DIS.
SIT is only few beavers / want, Mr.
Astor," said.
"Only beavers you want, and pray
who are you ?" he asked.
l told him the name of my house. Tt
my surprise Mr.. Astor said:
"Oh, I know you; thought you woulC
come round to trade sometimes. Yol
are a beginner. Iknow your fadder-
honest man. You larnt you business il
London, a good house, and mostl.
turned out smart young men. Well I'm!
boy, here is beavers. Make your choice
How many do you want ? Price $5