The Progress., 1893-04-08
WILLIAM WALDORF ASTOR.
He Is Engaged in Literary Work Mt tho
British Museum.
Especial Correspondence.l

Especial Correspondence
NEW YORK. a 1t is announced
that the seeming seclusion of William
of London is Occasioned not by any mo-
roseness but by his desire to continue lit
erary work, and some of his friends in New
York city have recently received letters in
which it is said that Mr.. Astor is spending
most of his time in the British museum
examining some of the archives and his
torical works.
This suggests that the multimillionaire
is busy with n project which he formed be
fore he went to Europe for a permanent
residence. His friends knew some years
ago, after Mr.. Astor had met with his po-
litical disappointments, that new ambi-
tion had seized him, and that he desired to
make the name Of Astor as conspicuous
comparatively in literature as it is in the
world where wealth prevails. The idea OF
a great historical romance was In his mind,
he believing that fiction based upon some
of the exciting incidents in the lives Of
great men who have made history is per
haps the most permanent form of romantic
literature.
Mr.. Astor even in bis boyhood was very
fond of historical romance. He did what
few boys have been able to do-read those
romances of Scott in which the Scottish
dialect Is so pronounced as to make the
reading of them difficult for those who do
not understand it, The historical romances
of Dumas fascinated young Astor, and in
his youth he sometimes wrote a short story
built around some incident in American
or mediRval history. These were of course
crude and boyish writings, but they indi-
Gated the bent of the young mans mind.
After his graduation from college Mr.
Astor's attention was turned toward po-
litical activity lie was elected to serve in
both branches OF the New York legislature,
and be enjoyed that experience so greatly
that he determined to make political
career for himself
His party placed him in nomination for
congress from one of the New York city
districts, but he was defeated. He was
again nominated and again defeated, and
in the latter campaign discovered what he
thought was evidences Of treachery on the
part Of some of those who professed to sup
port him. Mr.. Astor was so disgusted
with this revelation that he determined to
quit political life He accepted the ap-
pOintmeDt of minister to Italy from Presi-
dent Arthur, who was an old time friend
and who started him in his political career.
but it was not with any idea of making
diplomacy career, but very largely that
be might have unusual facilities for re-
search into early Italian life. He had then
determined upon making a venture in lit
erature.
As American minister to Italy Mr.. Astor
led very quiet life, making no display Ct
his wealth and spending all his spare time
in the Roman libraries and in his investi-
cations into early Italian life. The result
of this work appeared in the form of two
romances. Neither of them was a great
work Each of them was interesting and
suggested to the critics evidences of talent.
IL has been said that Mr.. Astor, desiring
to get impartial Judgment on his work,
offered the manuscript of the second novel
anonymously, and that it was accepted by
a publisher upon it's merits. Mr.. Astor's
friends neither confirm nor deny the story,
but II it was accepted as an anonymous
manuscript its authorship became known
before the book was published.
In these two volumes Mr.. Astor was
plainly feeling his way. He had the in
stinct of great story writer. but had yet
to acquire mastery i'm the art of telling a
story with perfect literary quality. He
was so well satisfied, however, with the
work that he determined to continue il,
and his friends have said that it has been
his ambition not so much to be known as
one of the inheritors of the Astor millions
as the writer of masterpiece of historic
romance.
In the preliminary work for a third
story which he had in mind he was
deeply engaged when the sudden death
of his father threw important respon-
sibilities upon him. He inherited a
fortune greater than that which Jay
Gould left to his heirs, and it became
necessary to make some disposition of bis
income which, while being of n permanent
nature, would also involve the investment
of enormous capital This Mr.. Astor do
cided to do by erecting two mammoth
buildings in New York city. and by i'm.
proving some OF the business properties
which his father bequeathed to him. This
work is almost completed.
He has put up one hotel ON the site of
the Astor home on Fifth avenue which is
the largest building for hotel purposes east
Of the Alleghanies 1t Is mammoth
structure. He has also erected another
great building for hotel purposes two miles
farther north on Fifth avenue, near the
main entrance to Central park These
buildings represent an investment of sew
eral millions of dollars
When the plans were decided upon and
the contracts given Mr. Astor's yearning
for literary work returned, and taking his
family he went to London, partly to give
his chidren~what he thought were special
educational advantages. and partly to bring
him close to the British museum and other
sources of information.
What the nature Of this new work will
he Mr. Astor's friends i'm New York city
do not know, excepting that it will be
historical romance. Some things indicate.
however, that it will portray the life AMI
exciting incidents Of the Italy Of the Fiji
teenth century, which furnish splendid
opportunity for one who is really a master
Of the difficult yet fascinating art of writ.
l.