Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-29

~ - vuo IGuoWluy piuCeu uPvA, Aos " 49, 49,
omission Of her name from her fathers
will, under which she IL staggering. -
from blow. Considering tho vast Tor
tune left by Mr.. Aston. the women OF tho
family are given but beggarly .pittance.
Mrs. Astor's $4,000 will not enable her to
live as she has been living. With two i'm
mensely expensive establishments to keep
up--one in Fifth avenue and ono In New
port--she will have struggle for existence.
She will be obliged to dispose OF lot OF
horses, dismiss servants, cut here, and
curtaii there in order to mako both ends
meet. have already suggested that the
Astor women should get together" and
make determined stand for their rights.
aud am still of the opinion that the point
is well taken. They are decidedly getting
the worst of it. Young John jacob Astor
has been lett so much money. and moro IN
prospect, that he doesn't know whether he
is afoot or on horseback. while the women
are left destitute in comparison. Ihey are
apparently farng worse as the fortune gets
larger, ald theltlme may come when they
will be forced to take IN Washing. When
it occurs to n male member or the
Aston family worth $3.50, 900 to leave
5000 week to an old servant who
has worn out her life in the service OF tho
family, there Is no telling what may hap
pen next. / say member OF the Astor
family worth $3.50 600 and Will proba-
bly, meet with the statement that ooth
branches of the Aston family are supposed
to be worth but 5000, 600, 900. There 10 o
difference between what is supposed to be
and what really is. There IS very good
warrant for saying that the Astors have
been pulling the wool over the eyes OF the
public for many years regarding their
wealth, which is as likely to be above $780,
600, 900 as below it.
POINTS IN THE AsToR WILL.
Mr.. William Astor's fame has suffered
somewhat by his will. There is so much
in 1t that is small and narrow that the pub
lie. which has been regarding MIR. Astor
with q good deal of respect, il disposed TO
reverse its judgment, or at least modify 1t
very materially. He has shown a genius
for holding on thst is no less than pheno,,
menal. All he gives to charity ID not equal
TO the interest on his money for one month.
lie gives TO three or four public institu-
tIons in New York, where the Aston NIL
lions and hundreds of millions have been
made, sums equal to the income of his es-
tate for. saw. two DAYS at the outside. 10
one old servant he leaves $500 per year,
which is not the interest on the estate Tor
one day. It is we'll for his daughter. Mrs
Draytou, that she drew largely on her
share during the lifetime OF her father,
otherwise she would have Jared badly. AS
she gets nothing in the will the clause
which disnherits the heir who makes
contest has no terror5 for her. She is dis.
inherited if she does and disinherited il
she doesn't. Mr. Henry Aston. brother
of the testator, farmer OF Columbus
county. comes in for codicil which sets
forth that neither he nor hisissue shall have
so much as one red cent TO rub against
another. The father or these two men,
William Il. Aston, gave Henry small
amount OF money. although he had OF
Tended the family by marrying respecta.
BILE girl. the daughter ola farmer employed
on the Aston estate at Rhlnecliti-on-the'
Hudson. This was the only Offence
charged against Henry. so far as tho pubic
ever knew. This offence Will not strike
most people as being unpardonable, anc
vet. in the eyes of the relatives. 1T seem:
To be growing in Nervousness as the year,
90 bv. 1t wasn't SO dreadful during the
| lifetime of his father, tor that sterr
parent conceded him few paltrN
| dollars, but coming down to this genera
| ton he doesn't receive SO much as
piastre, and piastre for the son OF az
Astor IL mighty short pasture. SO TO speaH
Perhaps a. the years glide oy ana III ~
offence becomes still further Intensified
| his branch of the family will DO REQUIRED
| To paw in something eacn year TO the othe
branch by way of further atonement 10
marrying whom he pleased. 1t Is graft
| fying to know that Henry Aston has beer
| doing right we'll since be contracted thl
marriage, notwithstanding that his rici
relatives didn't like it. He always was al
| independent sort of man and rather en-
loved earning his own living. After hl
marriage he went TO farming in earnest
and, having helpful partner 10 his wife
be has been accommodating lands eve
since, and now owns several OF the fines
farms in Columbia county. He does no
need any money. but inasmuch as half Q
the property which William lett Is reall
his inheritance 1t doesn't seem exactl
right to shut him out entirely. 1t
these things in Mr. Astor's will whic
the public does not like and does nc
hesitate TO crIticlse. The public has bee
exceedingly kind TO the Astors. and the
should not run counter TO public opinio
any more than is absolutely necessar,
The Aston surplus has become so enormol
that the public is beginning to view 1t wal
some alarm. At the rate at which 1t
piling up il will not be many generation
until il will be able to dictate to the go
eminent. If it is not already in posltio
TO do so. SO much wealth vested IN me
who eau find it in their conscience TO d.
inherit brother and daughter isn't
pleasant power TO contemplate.