The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1910-03-04

up his fathers work of butchering That NIGHT John
JACOB walked out of Waldorf by the wan light of the
moon headed for Antwerp. carrin6 big red hand
kerchlef in which his worldly goods we're knotted
=, He reached Antwerp in week. There he got
'oD On tne COCKS as a laborer. The rext day he
promoted to checkerof. The captain of ship asked
MIN to go to London and figure up tho manfests on the
way. He
The captain of the ship recommended him to the
company in London and the boy was png up wealth at
the rate of guinea month
In September, 1888, came the news to London that
George Washington had surrendered In any event
peace had been declared-Cornwals had forced the
issue, SO the Americans had stopped fighting
A little later it given out that England had
given up her American colonies and they were free
Intutvely John Jacob Astor felt that
was the place for him. He bought pa ssage by sailing
ship bound for Baltimore, at cost Of five pounds He
then fastened five pounds in belt his and
with the rest of his moneyafer sending two pounds
home to hs'faher with letter of bought dozen
German flutes.
He had learned play on this instrument with pro-
fciency and in America he thought there would be
opening for musicians and musical instruments.
John Jacob then nearly 20 years of age.
On board ship he met German, 20 years older than
himself who was fur trader and had been home on
visit John Jacob played the flute and the German friend
told stories of fur trading among the Indians.
Young Astors curiosity was excited. The Waldorf
Astoria plan of flute playing forgotten He fed on
fur trading.
Arriving in Baltimore he was disappointed to learn
that there were no fur traders there He started for
New York.
There he found work with a certsin Robert BOVINE
a Quaker, who bought and sold furs
Young Astor set himself to learn tie busness-every
part of it. He always sitting the doorstep before
the owner carrying a big key to open the warehouse
got around in the morning He was the last to leave
at night.
The qualities that make youth good servant are
the basic for mastership Astors alerness, will
ingness loyalty and ability to obey delivered his
ployer over into his hands.
Robert BOVINE the good old Quaker, insisted that
Jacob should call him Robert and from boarding the
boarders, Bovine took young Astor to his own house
and raised his pay from 81 week to Sc.
Bovine had made annual trip to Montreal for many
years Montreal was the metropolis for furs. Bovine
to Montreal himself because he did not know Of
anyone he could trust carry the to Garcia
Young Aston had been with Bovine only year. He
spoke imperfect English, but he did not drink gamble
and he knew furs and honest
Bovine started him off for Canada with belt full
of gold; his only weapon a German flute that he
carried in his hand
bany then with pack his back struck north, alone
through the forest for Lake Champlain AS he ap-
preached Indian settlement he played his flute The
aborignes showed disposition to give him the hook
He hired Indians paddle him up the Canadian bor-
der He reached Montreal
The fur traders there knew Bovine a very sharp
buyer had their quilts his approach. But
young Aston seemingly Indifferent. His manner was
courteous and easy He got close his and took
his pick the pelts at fair prices He expended
his money and bought credit for there
who always have credit.
Young Astor found Indian nature to be simply human
nature The savage and courtesy, gentleness
and fairly good flute playing soohed his savage breast
Astor had beads and blankets, flute and a smile The
Indians his goods by relays and then him
on with cultural certificates to character to
red at last he reached New York without the
loss of pelt or the dampening of his ardor.
Bovine delighted To young Astor it moth
ing He had in his blood the corpuscle
He might have remained with Bovine and become
partner in the business but Bovine had business mi