New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-12
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE MAN

I-NOSTI.NTATTOUS CIIANTY-A LOVE FOR OTHER
THINGS THAN WEALTH.
II il remarkable that tho news of Mr.. Astors
death, unlike most news affecting men moving In
Mr.. Astor's circle. travelled slowly. At 6 80
D. m it was received as a startling bit Of in
tellircnce in the KnickcrbocScr Club. Men in
many other clubs had not heard of il then. At
the house where j. Coleman Drayton is now
living, nothing had been known Of the death Of
Mr.. Astor till The Tribune reporter arrived in
the evening.
The members Of the law firm Of Lord, Day Il
Lord No 100 Broadway, had exceedingly good
uncertainties TO Judge Mr.. Ast.r's character.
Their knowledge of lin has only strengthened
The friendship which they always entertained for
him. and yesterday they spoke most feclingly
OF his virtues. and mourncd his death as that Of
n sincere friend 1t was not William Waldorf
Ast,r, the millionaire but William Waldorf Aston,
Ele man and good companion, whose death they
prieved over Henry Day. the senior member Of
the firm, said that he was man OF quiet tastes,
with whom wealth was only means to an end
and that end good. His cducation,' said
Mr. Day, was chiefly directed by his mother,
who came from a family in which love for
art and knowledge had been fostercd for century.
IIer influence no doubt had n great effect on the
formation Of her sons mind and temperament, ana
IL is due greatly TO her tuition that lis ambitions
and ideas took the form of great love for the
fine arts His talent for literary and artistic
pursuits was most u7a!>cd. After he had been
admitted 20 the bar he spent many years abroad
with his mother, and under her helping and sympi-
thctc guidance he studied the works Of the old
masters, and wandered through the famous gal
lercs Of Europe
Daniel Lord. Of the same firm. was one Of the
few intimate friends whom Mr. Asor conflcd
in. Though the milonaire's circle Of oc1uaint-
ances was large he vouchsafcd real friendship
10 few. bnt 10 the four or five who did enjoy
intimacy with him. the nobler qualities Of the
man. which he hid from the rest Of the world
male him skepy beloved. Sociabe, cheerful
and BRIGHT. man Of exceedingly agreeable man
ncrs lie was friend worth having. His tenn
permanent was buoyant and happy, state Of
mind 70 which the athletic pursuits which he
loved added considerably. lie was known in
his circles as being an athlete Of no mean powers
But better than all were The good and charia-
be qualities Of his heart which cndearei him
TO those who discovered some OF his quiet I'M
assuming acts OF charity. He never paradcd
them, but, on the contrary, was always exceed
inaly sensitive about any reference 10 them and
carefully avoided publicity. Mr.. Lord said yes
terday that he knew dozens of instances Of Mr.
Astor's broad-mipded charitable acts. which were
done so secretly that they were discovered only
by accident.
Once Mr.. Lord Mr.. Astor and country clergy
man. who had a poor country parish and we
having the most difficult struggle 70 get along.
were dining together on Long Island. Mr.. Aston.
who had been previously informed Of the lnan-
cia condition of the clergyman, showed tic deep
est interest in him, and after the minister had
gone away, made inquiries a. TO his circumstances
A few days aiterward he gave Mr. Lord check
for large sum Of money, and asked that it
be sent 10 tie clergyman in such way that
the identity Of the gvcr might not he suspected
When Christmas approached that same year,
great load of dainty supplies, provisions, grocer
les and fruits, with basket OF excellent wine,
were sent 10 the home Of the minister. The gift
had no name on IL 90 tell whence it came, but
il was from the same generous source
Another instance OF William Waldorf Astors
gencr Sity was shown to Mr.. Lord, when the latter
succeeded after much delay, in collecting an old
debt amounting 10 hrge sim, which John Jacob
Astor had uuavailingly endeavored to Collect
When the collected money was sent Ia william
Waldorf Astor he returned one-half OF IL to Mr.
lord a; once with instructions 10 give IL TO Il
certain church which was in need oil funds In
this case as in all others, he gave the strictcsa
II inunctions that his name should not appear
in any way. There were many similar eases. in
all Of which Mr. Astor cnjoincd secrecy rs 10 the
part which he took in the matter, and Mr.. Lord
respected his wishes and did not reveal his knOwL
edge until Yesterday when a Tribune reporter gave
him the news of Mr. Astors death.
Another wcIl-known acquaintance Of William
Waldorf AstOr, said yesterday Mr. Ast0r was
tho logical product Of the evolution which rich
American families are undcrg ing. He was like
many other modern Americans unlike his family
which went before Where his ancestors had de-
voted their lives TO making money, lie hal learned
that there other things In lie lie had
learned that there are other uses for capital nc
sides empl sing il only as a means for accunulat-
ing interest. Therefore. while we saw in the
other Actors capitalists and mon eymakcr5, we saw
in him a writer. sculpture lawyer, politician and
traveller Though he a remarkably shrewd
man, haxlly consider him as comparing with his
mncesfn1.s &c a cnnitalisf or mnncX -gcitcr7