New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-20

by mere desire OF gain-for he was already
rich beyond the needs of any individual-but by
delight In the exercise Of those faculties whose
calibre had already been so widely proved. by
the creation OF a vast emporium OF commerce
whose operations would explore and civiize the
entire Western Coast of the continent. bring
ing its expanse within the influence and control
of the American Government Incidentally II
Is stated in this article that. far from having
derived his fortune from this colonization
sche me- as is popularity believed. John JACOB
Astor lost fSOOOO0 on the venture, and was
nearly ruined by IT. Another popular miscon-
ception, touching the rules governing the ad-
ninistration of the Aston estate In later years.
Is contradcted In the following passage:
With the return OF peace and the withdrawal
OF the British Dlockading squadron from New
York Mr. Astors consignments TO England ana
China were resumed, and were continued until
his retirement from commercial activity in 1874.
AT the beginning of this century he commenced
buying plots OF land on New-York island hav-
ing an early prescience OF the growth or the
city by which 1t is now almost covered. These
purchases were made with such judgment in the
line OF approaching expansion as frequently tc
be sold again after few years Tor doupie OF
treble what he had paid for them. with en-
larged means these acquisitions OF real estate
assumed larger proportions and took IN whole
farms, which gradually became covered WIN
houses. To show that this species of farming
as practised with discrimination was not III
vain. it may be mentioned that one OF these
farms. purchased in 1911 for t3oO is now
worth with its improvements fl ,4oU,oO. An
amusing notion prevalent in America Is tnat by
some queer rule of mis- descendants no purchase
has ever been or ever can be parted WIN AS
q matter of fact the estate books record the
sale of hundreds of plots of land during the
entire century, and It should require no ex-
traordinary acumcn to perceive that so silly and
narrow minded rule could only he imagined
be very silly and narrow minded people
We may quote also these interesting notes en-
John Jacob Astors social life and personal
traits
Mr. Astor's early domestic life was as simple
as was all mis- surroundings during those print
tive and provincial days. TWO years a1ter ms
arrival he married, and was soon able 10 i've
in a house of his own--the first, we are told, that
ne possessed. His wife, who had been brought
UP IN NeW-York during the revolutionary
period and who, upon the Withdrawal OF tne
british garrison saw General Washington ride
in upon his famous white charger, was devoted
and loving nepmate through storm ana sun
shine. Anxieties and cares were rafeS Walt
ing and my great-grandfathers rise to fortune
was due TO none Of the happy wlndIaiis anu
favoring chances popularity associated win those
early years; the first half OF MS NE was asa. an
arduous struggle in which adversely and disap-
pontment only stimulated 10 further eel1-lm-
provoment and TO broader and proiouhuer
study Of the world. AS time passed ne waS
frequently consulted by the United states treas
ury upon financial subjects, and was IN colre-
spondence upon monetary questions Win IieHIy
Clay. James Monroe Thomas Je1erson, fresI
dent Madison and Albert Gallatin, secretary or
the Treasury In 1916 ne was appointed d.
rector of the Bank of the United states. ne
detested the shams and insinceritles ana Petu-
foggings whereby one who is approached by
many bcggars and by not few rogues is oflen
made to see the less attractive aspect OF huIHoh
nature His only extravaganza was In acqusi-
ton of news and information or use In MS opera
tions over the globe a comical instance OF whlch
was his receiving intelligence from Montreal py
special relays Of the signing OF the treaty OF
Client December "a, 1914 whereby peace was
restored between Great Britain and the United
States two days before ii was known to the
American Government TO which ne had inc
qualification of making its annonnneemeenn19., NJ
From 1920 to 1922, and from 1SZ9 TO 1901 MT
Astor re1ided in Europe. Soon afer arriving on
the Continent he visited his native ViIlase Vi
Waldorf, where from the first provision had pesh
made for his surviving relatives, anu Which nc
afterward endowed with an asylum for us IN
firm and destitute. How familiar and YET now
different must the scenes OF his forlorh Doynood
have appeared, with their humble surroundings,
whittier his ancestor, Jean Jacques Astorg,
French Huguenot. had fed, upon the Revocation
of the Edict OF Nantes, and where ne nad Deen
thankful to find refuge. travelling through
the BLACK Forest and Switzerland. Mr.. Astor
purchased a villa named Genthod, on the
Lake of Geneva and after journeyrg extensive
Nv in Germany and Italy. resided for some time
in Paris, where his daughter-in-aw's father'
General Armstrong had been American MIN
lister. During leisure hours in New-fork ne han
learned French from an "emlgre INSTRUCTOR
and now applied himself to acquiring Italian.
He passed two winters at Rome and Naples,
visiting the wonders OF Italian art. dehghted
with Pompeii rejoicing in The charm OF the
Southern scenery and finding everywhere Cd
iects for study and reflection. He was presented
Mt the Court Of Charles the Tenth and three year
later a revolution having interviewed. at thar or
Louis Philippe He met Guizot in Par1s ana
Metternich in Vienna and at Naples witnessed
the accession Of young Ferdinand H. suDse-
ouently better known TO fame as King BomDa
The summers were spent at Genthod with MS
daughter Eliza who had married the diplomatic
representative of the Hanse towns in Paris.
whom remember in my bOyhood as handsome
and courtly old HAN.
After his final return to New-York he lived
much in the company of a small group or men
of letters Of whom the most distinguished was
Washington Irving, who spent several years as
n guest in Mr. Astor's house. he appreciated
fine dramatic performances. and was regular
theatre-goer in the days OF Edmund Kean.
| Charles Mathews Garcia and Nine Malibran
when a piece Of merit was the stage. To
the end he delighted in making excursions, and
/ found in the magnificent scenery OF the Hudson,
| the Alleghanies and the Catskills an exhilarat-
/ ing and nexhaustible pleasure. during the
| long evenings Of the American winter his recrea-
ton was in his library and this fondness Ior
| books increased as his reading EXTENDED ne
gathered about him few thousand choice Voi
/ umes taking by preference historical ana Do
graphical subjects.
Lord Charles Beresford's book, The Break
ND of China" written with great swiftness Inn
medatey after the authors return from his