Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-02-16
STORIES OF THE FIRST AsToR.
John Jacob, the Peasant Boy, Not Much
 Like His Descendants.

Like His Descendants.
 tSpccial Correspondence
 NEY YORK, Eeb. 12.-There is probably no family in the world whose members are moro averse to being made the target of popular gossip than that founded by the German peasant boy who came to America 115 years ago and began life as @ furrier's helper at g n week and board. And yet the Astors arc today the subjects of general comment in two continents, not because any one of that name has per formed any good deed or striven to uplift in any way his fellow creatures. The causes of these comments arc indeed of a very different character.
 First, the feeling between the two cur rent branches of the family, headed by Will liam Waldorf and John Jacob, respective. ly, by reason of which the latter ostenta- tiously refused to join the former in mourning the death of his wife, and, sec ond, the divorce suit brought by J. Cole man Drayton against his wife, who was Augusta AStnr before marriage and is q sis ter of John Jacob Astor. Concerning this divorce suit the less said the better. How ever, it has brought out one good Astor trait-John Jacob and his mother propose to fight for the sister and daughter. This Is the first Xhibition of that quality which men call nerve that has been shown by any of tho AstOrs for A long time. In this regard tho living male representatives of the family arr not at nll like tho founder. John Jacob Ast0r l, for he was man of nerve Ut all times. His entire success was achieved by tho exercise of nerve. When he left his native Waldorf in Baden, Ger many, he had but tho equivalent of $2 in his pocket, and with his nerve and that s he made SEQ, 900, 900 before his death. thus laying the substantial foundation of one of the greatest fortunes in the world.
 Of the original John Jacob Astor many stories arc still told. Once, 1t Is said, when he was passenger on one of his own ships, ir seemed likely that the vessel would go to the bottom. As soon as he was satisfied of the extent of the danger he went to his cabin and changed the shabby suit ho was wearing for n much better ono. To the captain, who had asked why he made tho change, John Jacob an swered:
 If tho ship goes down and am res cuad, shall save this suit, which is more valuable than tho other, by wearing it. If am drowned. shall not want 1t"
 William Astor. father of the present John Jacob Astor, and John Jacob Astor III, father of the present William Wal dorf, were very brotherly in their conduct toward each other. They inherited equally the fortune of their father, William B. Astor, and their two office buildings each a duplicate of the other, were built side by side on West Twenty sixth street. One day John Jacob Astor received a letter postmarkcd Goshen, N Y., addressed to MT. Astor." The carrier had evidently decided that such letter should be deliv- cred to the older brother. But John Jacob failed to recognize the handwriting and in a spirit of courtesy sent it without com ment to his brother. William, bearing in mind that he was the younger and not being aware that the letter had been sent in from tho office next door, sent 1t back. John Jacob, still courteous. still hesitated, but finally opened the letter to find that 1t was merely an inquiry from Goshen farmer who intended shortly to visit Now York concerning the price of board at the Astor House.
 The courtesy of the brothers in the mat ter of the letter from the Goshen farmer who imagined "Mr. Astor' kept the Astor House might be eruulatcd to advantage by the present members of the family.
 CHARLES APPLEBEE.