The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-07-17
AsroR ON HIS OWN BOOK.
He Expects the Things he Describes
Will Come to Pass.
Submitted the Boob to the Req. VIb6ert
to Cut out Anything UnOrthOdOrs


John Jacob Astor, the author of ga
Journey in Other worlds" was just
leaving the Office of John Jacob Astor,
the richest landlord in America, yester-
day noon, when a San reporter asked
to see him. Many reporters have tried
in vain to interview the landlord. Mr..
Astor, the author, however, came out
to where the reporter was standing.
81 am sorry" said he, taking out his
watch, but I have to attend a meeting
of stockholders down town at this hour.
I am afraid I shall have to be excused
from answering your questions"
Thereporter thought the stockholders
could wait when so important a thing
as Mr. Astor's novel was concerned,
and suggested that the book had al
ready excited great interest, although
not yet given to the public.
"The San had a very good article
about it this morning, said Mr.. Aston,
and he led the way into his Office. The
author had triumphed over the stock
holder.
Mr.. Aston has not yet reached his
thirtieth birthday. He is considerably
more than six feet in height. He is
the reverse of all that the ordinary
newspaper cut pictures him as being.
To be sure there is the same prominent
nose and the same high retreating fore
head. But his complexion is light, not
dark. His cheeks are ruddy with
health. The thin, care-worn look com
monty displayed in the newspaper cuts
is not to be seen in his face. His nous
tache is neither black nor heavy.
The plot of Mr.. Astor's novel has
been published. It is supposed to be
written in the year 5000, and begins
with a description Of New York and
the world generally at that time. Elec-
tricity does all the work, and mechan-
ical ingenuity reaches its highest de-
velopment. Then comes the discovery
of a new power, which is called
"apergy," the reverse of gravitation,
by which men are able to rise from
earth. The novel describes the ad-
ventures Of three men on the first trip
Of discovery and exploration to some
of the other planets. The book is to be
published by D. Appleton & Go.
Four generations of Astors have de.
voted their lives to the development OF
the faculty of foresight. The original
John Jacob Astor, a hundred years
ago read the high future of New York
so truly that the thousands of dollars
he had invested in farms had become
$50, 600, 900 worth of the best city
property when he died. That property
has continued to increase in value, but
the subsequent Astors have all beer
heavy investors in unimproved land
and they have invested with a judg
ment that seems almost like prophecy
When, therefore, an Astor gives hi
views on what New York will belize one
hundred years hence, his prediction
are worthy of attention. Mr.. Astor't
book is also noteworthy for it's literary
merit. It's adventures are realistic, it
scientific information is not tedious
and it has a vein of fancy that MI
Astor did not receive with his forum,
from his great grandfather.
"Mr. Astor, do you believe that al
your book predicts will c1n1e to pass3
the reparter asked.
Il think much of it will" vas tn
reply. Il believe that there is n,
limit to the possible development O
man, and the present tendency towarC
mechanical invention and ~scientii,
discovery will continue and that tn
state of affairs described in my bool
will ONE time be realized"
ut is suggested in your book tina
Christ walked on the water and Elijal
was caught up into Heaven by the ap
plication of a force the reverse O
gravitation, which you call apergy
You also describe the abode of de
parted spirits as being On the plane
Saturn. Do you believe those things9'
"Of course, the book is a work o.
fancy, but | know no reason why the
abode of departed spirits should not be
on n of the planets. Before giving
the book to the publishers, I submitted
it to the Rev. DIR. Vibbert, of Trinity
chapel and asked him to correct any
thing in it that was not orthodox. ]
did not want to mislead anybody, you
know. He made one or two cor
r~ections."
Your assumption that a counter
force to gravitation will be discovered
is argued with great plausibility IN
YOUR hook said the reporter"