Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1890-10-03

cited no particular interest, excepting that
which arose from the fact that Mr.. Astor
was the author. The second story, how
ever, stood more upon its merits, and those
who examined it, and tried to forget that
one OF the richest men in the world had
written it, thought they found in it the
evidence Of considerable ability in story
telling, great patience in historical investi-
CATION and a good deal of literary merit.
Mr.. Astor was at first tempted to publish
it anonymously, because he found that his
first story was talked of mainly because
William Waldorf Astor wrote it, and he
wished to have the second work judged en-
tirely on its merits, but it leaked out in
some way that he was writing a romance
of Italian history, and he thought that it
would then be an affectation to publish
the book anonymously, as the authorship
would be sure to be discovered.
MI. Aston is, with a single exception, the
only possessor of enormous wealth in this
city who seems to have had any desire to
gain a literary repute. If he had been a
poor man he would have undoubtedly
taken up literature as q calling; at least,
that is what he now thinks, and what he
has frequently told the very few men whom
he admits to real intimacy. He possesses
an excellent but not very large library,
and he daily spends not less han an hour,
and sometimes the greater part of the day,
in it. In his books and his attempts at au-
thorship he finds his chief recreation and
delight outside of the pleasures of domes-
ITCHY. He Is a most domestic man, and
there is none other Of his wealth in the
city who seems more thoroughly content
in the family circle than he does. He takes
a passing interest in high class drama and
genuine pleasure in the Wagner operas.
Horses, yachting, athletic sports and the
gayeties of the social world nave but little
interest for him, and he participates in
these things mainly because he believes
that Il man of his wealth has some social
duties which he cannot with self respect
entirely avoid.
But it is in books and literary compost
ton that he finds genuine and never fail
ing satisfaction. He did at one time medi-
tate upon a political career, but he found
that a man of inherited wealth which rep
resented an enormou sum was very badly
handicapped by that fact when seeking
popular suffrage. It became his opinion
that a man without a dollar had a better
chance in political preference thar one who
had Inherited a fortune so large that 1t was
celebrated. When he quit politics be gave
himself up completely, so far as his other
duties would permit, to his books and to
his efforts to make a name for himself as
an author.
One of his friends is reported as having
said that Willie Astor would rather have
written VANITY Fair" or "The New
combes" than to have inherited the mill
ions which came to him. He still hopes to
write a romance which shall bring him
fattering literary repute and cause the at
tention Of the public to be distracted from
his position as n of the richest men in
the world. There lives neal him on Fifth
avenue another young man of great inher-
tied wealth who is also of a literary turn,
but who has never yet yielded to the temp
tation to publish something. A literary
companionship has grown up between
these two, and the intimacy is far more
%congenial than that which the olderbroth-
ers of this young man established when
they were admitted socially to the Aston
set. This young man is George Wander
bilt, the youngest son of the late William
Fl. Vanderbilt, who is almost a recluse in
his devotion to books. E.. J. EDWARDS.