The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1910-03-03

whole Pacific frontage unconnected with excepting by
ties Of blood and nterest-and enjoying, like
u.s. the rights OF sclfgoverment"
company formed and two expeditions set out
Tor the mouth OF the Columbia river, by land and
the other by sea.
The land expedition barely got through alive-it
periIous undertaking, with accidents by food and field
But the route by the water feasible.
The town founded and became center of
commercial activity Had Aston been the ground to
take personal charge city like Seattle would have
bloumed and blossomed the Pacific 80 years ago.
There came grand grab at Astoria and 1t each
for himself and the devil take the hndermost it
stampede. System and order went by the board. The
strongest stole the most usual, but all got little.
And Englands gain in citizens loss.
Aston lost million dollars by the venture. He smiled
calmly and said, THE plan was right but my men we're
weak; that s all The gateway to China will be from
the northwest My plans were right Time will vindl.
cate my reasoning"
When the block Broadway bounded by vesey and
Barclay streets was cleared OF its plain twostory
houses preparatory building the Asor house. wise
men shook their heads and said IT'S too far up town
But the free bus that met all boats solved the dii.
Guilty and gave the to hotel all the world
Astor was worth ten million, but he took personal de-
light in sitting in the lobby OF the Astor house and
watching the dollars roll into this palace that his brain
had planned
Aston tall thin and commanding in appearance
He had only one hallucinatIon and that that he
spoke the EElsh language The he possessed
30 with him in all its pristine effugenCc at So mo
pody would know a Cherman-aindt it," he used
to say Yet where John Jacob it English with
out flaw.
In all OF his dealings he uniquely honorable and
upright He paid and he made others pay His word
his bond. He charitable in the sense OF
ndiscrminate giving ITO give something for nothing
is to weaken the giver of his favorite sayngs
That this attitude protected misery spirit is easy
to say, but 1t is wholly his later years he
carried with him book containing a record OF his
possessions He would visit certain piece property
and then his book what it had cost him
ten twenty years before. To realize that his pro-
pIptip had hpp vust tn tim
Of satisfaction.
His habits of the best. He went to bed at nine
o'clock and was up before six. At he his
Office lie knew enough sparingly and to walk so
he was never sick Millionares. rule woefully
ignorant Up to a certain sum, they grow with their
acquisitions. Then they begin wither at the heart
The of fortune is penalty advise the gentle
reader to think twice before accommodating millions
John Jacob Astor was exceptional in his combined
love OF money and love Of books Fitz.Green Haleck
was his private secretary, hired a basis of literary
friendship Washington Irving a close friend too
Aston died. aged Sc. 1t natural death-a thing
that very seldom occurs The machinery all ran down
once.
William B, Aston, the of John Jacob was brought
up in the financial way ne should go. He was sudious
methodica conservative, and had the good sense
carry out the wishes Of his father SON. John Jacob
Aston was very much like him, only OF more neutral
tint. The time is now ripe for another genius in the
Aston family II William b. Astor lacked the courage
and initiative of his parent he had more culture and
spoke English without accent The son of John
Jacob Aston. second, Is William Waldorf Astor who
speaks English with an English accent you know
John Jacob Aston besides having the first store for
the sale OF musical instruments In America organized
the first orchestra of ~ players He brought over
leader from Germany and did to foster the love
of music in the New World
Every worthy Maccaenas maglnes that he is a great
painter, writer, sculptor musician side tracked by
cares thrust upon him by unknd fate John Jacob AS.
tor once told Washington Irving that It was only bust.
ness responsibility that prevented his being novelist
and Mt other times he declared his intent TO take up
music as profession he had gotten all OF
his securities properly tied And whether he worked
out his dreams or not there is doubt but that they
added to his happiness length of days Happy
is the man who escapes the critics by leaving his liter.
airy masterpiece In the ink