Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-02
RICH MEMS SONS
BELIEVE IN WORK
Aston and Hartman, With
Millions at Hand, Do
Little Loafing.
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

special correspondence OF Inc star.
NEW YORK. October 81, 1918.
Broadway is full of rich mems sons
after dark each evening. That is why
Broadway keeps the lamps lighted. That
is also why a sensational pulpiteer said
the other day:
God save New York from this plague
Of rich mems sons.'
But If all the rich mems sons were like
the heirs of two OF Americas greatest
fortunes Broadway would have the bail
ifs I'm In month. The Astor money and
the Hartman money is never heard on
Broadway-and there is nothing noisier
than young man spending his first mil
lion. Pink lamp shades and waiter in
black and white over the left shoulder
and French chauffeur out in front do
not interest William Vincent Aston or
William Avcrill Hartman. They are not
dustily serious all the time. of course.
No youngster of twenty-five is II he is
it's a signal to call on the old family
physician. And they not only have gump-
ton and industry. but very practical
interest in the great civic problems OF the
day.
''They are as alike" said warm friend
OF the pair, "as two hatchetS in
some respects. And lin other ways they
are absolutely dissimilar.'
They of the same age to q day.
November 10 next each will celebrate his
tor is now i'll unhampered possession of
the most solid fortune in America Other
men have more than the SiU.OOoO0O with
which he is credited. but real estate rare
IN decreases materially in value The
one-hundred- million-dollar fortune of Ec
ward II. Hartman was left unreservedly
to his widow. She can dispose of every
centissimo as she sees fit. But II is Well
understood that the bulk is to so to
Averill Hartman Astor works several
hours each day in the offices of the Astor
estate. Hartman is a clerk in the Union
Pacific offices. 1t is his ambition to some
day head the great system his father
built. Hartman was graduated from
Yale. Aston was obliged to leave Har-
ward at the time of his fathers death
i'll the Titanic disaster.
Interested in Sports.
Both are interested in sports Harri-
man was head coach of the Yale rowing
crew at one time. He likes to drive, and
knows a good horse. Astor could make
good living as a mechanic. Now and
then he gets into a canvas suit and takes
down few motors and puts them to-
gether again. and is perfectly happy for
hours. 1t is his interest in mechanics
that has led him into various experiments
with flying boats and sea seds and fast
automobiles. Also, he likes to ride very
fast. Aston IS an inch more than six
feet tall, with dark hair and blue eyes.
and is very slender. Hartman is tall
and broad shouldered and robust. Aston
likes yachting and Hartman boats. They
are good friends, but not close comrades.
ITS odd. too said friend, ''for they
think alike ON most public matters.
There's an Honest Ballot Association
in this city. When ii was first formed
the cash box was absolutely empty. An
enthusiast explained the situation to AStor.
Astor likes to sit on his shoulder blades
-l.fls tl.a Nfh he nj. .t1fr,s H..
situation. Between times he puffs at u
big, black cigar. His eyes never leave
those of his caller. He may end the in
terview very courteously, but very de-
cidedly. Ii he is interested he asks
questions.
lie has a gift for asking questions .
said one man who knew. ''Aii his life
he has been on the defensive against
men who want part of his money And
lie can get the kernel Of truth out of the
nut OF answer
SO that Aston gave "A fat check. 1t
happened that the next man the solicitor
called on was Averill Hartman. He
listened in his own way-which is quite.
unlike that of Astor's. Hartman sits
straight, with chin up and shoulders
swung well back. He hardly asks a ques-
tion until the other man has said all that
he can say. Then Hartman goes to the
weak point in the story with his probe
On this occasion he gave "A check that
matched that of Aston. The pair of
twenty-two-year-old youngsters are the
principal hackers of the Honest Ballot
Association.
One day Vincent Aston stroiled into fu-
sion headquarters.
Il want to know what is being done :
he said. simply. Il am interested
So that he sat away down in various
deep chairs and smoked and thought
fully regarded various persons who told
him what was being done and what was
needed. By and by he said that he would
give q check.
But any one can write a check" he
added. II want to do some real work-if
1t is only to pull doorbells.''
Works in Politics.