The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-11
A YOUNG MILLIONAIRE.
"A Pen Picture Of Jack Aston, the
Coming Richest Man in the
World.
Men Dctos.. Him, But Women
Like Him, Probably for His
Wealth.
He Cares Nothing for Literature or Art,
But Is Fond of Outdoor
Sports.
Written for The INDEPENDENT

Written for The INDEPENDENT
New York, Aug. 6. 1S90.-John Jacob AS
tor the third. the prospective richest man
in the world, has singularly enough, es-
capped much observation, for the war OF the
Astors, like the wars of the Roses, mas
ragged SO fercely that it has been difficult
for New Workers to concentrate their minds
upon any other feature of the family, ex-
cept which of the ladies shall have the priv
ilege of calling herself Mrs. Aston. And
vet young John Jacob Astor. or, as ne Is
known in all of the clubs and drawing
rooms in New York, Jack Aston. is man
worth knowing. Men do not like him; women
do. Whether it is because he will some day
be worth couple of a hundred millions, or
whether it is solely on his own account l
know not. But he is always welcome in
any corner of thu room where pretty girls
congregate, and lie laughs and jokes with
them as cheerfully as an appren-
tice off for holiday. In per-
sonal appearance he is tall being
nearly six feet in height, and very slim.
He has decided stoop in his shoulders.
bad complexion and fishy eyes, but he pos
sesses above all things, the good sense that
characterizes the entire Astor family and
he has done nothing so far to cause any I'M
easiness His face is not strong one.
There is no character in it. His mouth is
weak and his eyes seem to lack ability to
concentrate themselves for moment on
ANYTHING. He would attract no attention
clothing is made up in the latest fashion,
but he is not loud in any sense. 10 be
sure, he wears the finest of clothes, his pa
tent leather boots are the best in the mar
ket, his silk hosiery is the richest that
money can buy, his trousers are created
are spotless, his jewelry is of the rich
est and finest, and to his credit let
it be said that he does not
wear too much. He has profusion OF
rich neck wear and an assortment of canes
ana hats that fairly rival the collection OF
business. He looks like gentleman and
acts like one. Everything about him points
to great wealth. His horses and carriages,
of all descriptions, are the finest that money
can obtain. His bachelor entertainments
are on a princely scale. He knows how tc
live we'll, and how to gather jolly party
about him. OF course expense IS OF no mo
ment to him. He must be worth anywhere
now from $5OCO,0O0 to $10,OOO,00O and il
the heir to the bulk of the entire property
He will some day be the richest man in tn
world. 1t is not at all likely that he vii
ever find the wolf at his door, no matte
how much money he may squander.
He inherits many traits of the AS
tor family, except that he has not yet mas
tered the cold, indifferent, stony stare tina
male members of the family from the be
ginning. He is not a student or lover 9
pictures, like his father and cousins, but O.
the contrary, prefers outdoor amusemente
dancing and social gayeties. He is grad
uate of Harvard, and came through tina
institution of learning like hundreds 9
other men, by the skin of his teeth Hi
enemies say that it was his name and nc
his brains that got him through. At an
rate he got through all right. and it may b
because he is able to cut such wide swat
in social affairs that the other young me
about town do not like him. Like all tn
ieunesse doree, he is a member of half
dozen clubs, but he is not a club-ma
in any sense, sensiblv ,preferring h
own luxuriant home. He has not man
friends among men, and has never bee
heard of in a bar-room brawl. This is on
of the things in his favor. He is shinin
light in society and is always sure to be il
vited to every party that is going on. h
spends good portion of his summer {
Newport and goes to Europe three or for
times year. These European trips hay
not made him any the less American. n
one ever accused him of anglomania, al
his great wealth and position does NJ
seem to have turned his head. There
one feature of his life that should not
overlooked; he is a practical joker.
Many stories are told about his pranl
and the inability of his father and moth
to stop him. One of his favorite anus
ments used to be to keep every sailor ar
officer ON board his father 8 magniticel
steam yacht in a state of mind borderil
ON frenzy. He did it by little prankit
tricks. which might be called practic
jokes by all except the ones who had tt
pranks played on them. Once when he al
his father we're in the yacht off Newpol
one of the sailors went forward just as Il
bew in order to ascertain whether in swim
ing about the bow would get scrapil
from the cable. Young Aston crept stealth
lily forward and suddenly pushed the sailc
who fell overheard. He was good swil
mer and was hauled out safely. Jack
tor thought it was great joke.
One day the cook in the yacht went
sleep on the forward deck and the you,
man conceived plan of waking him su
denly in novel and dangerous way.
put rope around the fellows neck, r
the other end through pulley block in t
rigging and began TO haul away. When t
cook awoke, as he did Immediately,
found himself being strangled. 1t was t
much for the captain to bear and he q
pealed to Mr.. Aston to put a stop to su
cruel pranks.
But those were in the days when he "
young and reckless. He has grown to b,
man, but the fun of the boy often leaks g
at periodic intervals. Another escapade
lated of him will have to be taken will
grain of allowance. 1t is said that he We
to Florida once, steamed up river a
rented a big house. He invited Lar
number of negroes in the neighborhood
the house and gave them as much cha
payne as they could drink. He Just want
to see what effect champagne would h,
on a negro. 1t had a very hilarious eff
and was one of the grandest orgies ever v
messed. But the particulars of that cha
payne spree had best not be described.
His friends declare that he has tor
down considerably of late, and is not mi
like the reckless boy of years ago. Al
way, he has a great deal of fun, and tries
extract as much out of life as possible.
can't take his millions with him.
1t has been reported over and over ap
that young Aston was to be married.
has been engaged according to the ne
papers to at least score of bellies, and
he remains single. How it is that he
escaped Cupid's darts is a mystery even
his most intimate friends, for he is parti
larry fond of the society of women,
women in turn seem to find him an agre
BILE fellow. OF course, he is the great
catch IN this country to-day. His wife
some day be the undisputed leader of
York society, and with the enormous
time that he will have at his command,
can cut swath a trife wider than tina
any other woman i'll this country. Best,
has -.