THE TIMES NEW BLOOM FIELI), PA., AVItIL 10, 1877.
MY TRADE WITH ASTOR.
"B'
kUT U HANDFATIIEIl, , what
about your first business trans
action with Astor V" one of us asked.
Now, our much-bcloved grandfather had
told us this story a hundred times, hut
os It giwe him pleasure to repeat It, he
regained his good temper nt once, and
thus commenced i
"Oh, about John Jacob Astor Y I
know you have heard me tell the story
before. Ah 1 he was a merchant In
every Bense of the word. A fairer or
squarer man you never came across, a
trifle hot and peppery at times, but
when he knew you, and he believed In
you, he was the best and most liberal
man to deal with I ever met with. It Is
not true that he was grasping, and tried
to crush out other people. It Is certain
that he had that China fur trade all to
hlmself,but once or twice I cut Into him,
In a small way, of course, and he didn't
mind It at all. Once I made a venture
of some $5,000 worth of furs from this
side to China, and brought home teas,
and made Just eight for one on the
business that was a whacking profit.
You see, In 1823, some of my Canada
friends were part owners In the good
ship "
" But, grandfather, stick to the John
Jacob Astor story, please,"
" It was In 1822, then, that I received
from England the information, that all
kinds of fur stock were likely to be rare
in Europe. I had the advices early
from some friends in Leipsic. 1 didn't
want much to go in, though I studied
the market well on botli sides, and
found that the supply would be short.
Strange to stuy, for five years before
there had been no money made In furs,
and a big stock had accumulated in New
York. I was hesitating what to do,
when on order come from a strong house
in London for a line of furs, and among
the furs Borne five thousand lund otters.
Now, otters were dull. If I hud how
ever, gone around and bought them up
In small lots In Philadelphia or Boston,
I should have raised the price In an
instant. Talk about your telegraph
fctufl"! Fifty years ago, a man never
bought anything in a large way that all
the people didn't speculate who he
bought the goods for, or where they were
going to. People were sharp. I should
like to have seen any of your new-fashioned
brokers doing my business for me !
Now, I knew that Astor had a big lot of
these very otiers. How did I know
that. Why, I had ticketed off every
skin the old man had bought for the lust
three years In New York. I had found
that out without your telegraph. It was
on an autumn day when I went into
Vesey Btreet to see Mr. Astor. I did
not know him save by sight. For a
young man I was quite bold, because I
had the privilege to draw on the ltolhs
childs for the amount of my purchase,
and Hothschilds' bills were scarce and
much in demand in those days. It never
would have done for me to let the old
man, or anybody else, know that I was
buying for the continent. I had just
been paid, too, quite unexpectedly,, a
round sum of money, which I had made
up my mind now I would put into furs.
The Astor store, in Vesey street, wasn't
half as line a place as would be occupied
to-day by any one of your two-penny
brokers. Astor was there busy examin
ing a bale of beavers. A porter was as
sorting them, and the old man would
ever now and then stoop and pick up a
particularly fine skin, and smooth it
over with his baud. It was eaily in
the morning not much more than 0
o'clock. Heads of houses don't do that
kind of thing, nowadays, but in old
times the principals used to examine
goods for themselves. I must have
stood between the light and Mr. Astor,
for he turned on me, saying, " Well,iny
young man, what Is it I can do for
you?"
He had a very slight German accent,
and would occasionally mix b's and p's
and d's.
" It is only a few beavers I want Mr.
Astor," I said.
" Only beavers you want, and pray
who are you he asked.
I told him the name of my house. To
my surprise Mr. Astor said :
" Oh, I know you; thought you would
come round to trade sometimes. You
are a beginner. I know your fadder
honest man. You larnt you business in
London , a good house, and mostly
turned out smart young men. Well.my
boy, here is beavers. Make your choice,
How many do you want V Price $5 a
pound and not a cent less. This pack
runs even right through." I made a se
lection or beaver pelts, though I really
did not want them. Astor helped me
to examine the skins, and I bought at
about the market rate, some three huu
dred pounds.
"That is all you want nothing else?"
Mr. Astor asked.
Nothing else," I said in an indiffer.
ent way, " but," I added, " I might
take Just a few otters if I could buy them
right." I imew Astor was loaded with
them. :
" Oil, otters 1 Well.I have a lot, a big
lot, but I ain't willing to divide them.
There may be as many as 7,000. Too
big a lot for you to handle, my boy."
" They ore very dull of sale, and I
would he most afraid to take anything
like such a big lot. You wouldn't di
vide the lot In two, would you, Mr. As
tor i"'
In two, what, halve them Y Thut'i
a fair lot, anyhow."
" Yes It's a big lot, seeing how slow
they are of sale."
"SlowV Suppose if they were slow,
and you didn't know what to do with
them, would you buy them Y Pee here,
if you want half the lot you will have
to pay more for them. My price Is for
the whole of them three dollars a skin ;
if you divide them it will be a quarter of
a dollar more. Now young man I am
busy. It's too big a line for you. The
clerk will make out your bill."
" I think I would like to look at the
run of the skins," I said.
"Well, then, all light; my porter will
sort them, and coll here to-morrow, and
you can see how they turn out," said
Mr. Astor.
Now, to have delayed the purchase a
day or more, would never have answer
ed. A London packet might come in
that afternoon, and the next morning
the news of a rise In the fur market
might have prevented my buying the
furs at my figures.
" I cannot conveniently wait over to-
lay. I must be off for Philadelphia by
noon to-morrow. If you will give ine a
couple of men, I will examine these
furs myself."
"Why, my boy, it will bo night be-
fore we are through, and the sun goes
down early now. All right, though ; I
will give you two men. The skins are
up stairs, and you enn work on them
you say six o'clock I I will be here and
you will say yes or no."
At work I went, and, getting through
the examinations as fust as I could by
(1 o'clock had only half assorted the
otter skins.
At bIx o'clock punctually ,Mr. Astor
nine up stairs.
"Inmnot half through," I said.
' Mr. Astor, now, from what I have
seen, 1 should make the run of the skins
pretty much as follows: Twenty-five
per cent, prime skins, 40 per cent, seo
onds, 20 per cent, thirds, and the re
mainder damaged."
" No'" said Mr. Astor, " there are
some bales you haven't looked through
which belong to the lot, which would
make the poor skins something like 25
per cent. But, as you want to divide,
I'll make up a fair average. You are a
good worker. I likes to see young peo
ple work ; but I want my supper what
you say. You takes 3,500 skins at 8.00?"
The skins were cheap at that, and with
in my limit. Now, for a good stroke of
business, I thought to myself.
" I will tell you what I will do, sir, I
will give two dollars and three quarters
for the whole lot."
" 8o I so I My boy, with fifteen hun
dred dollurs of beavers and all them ot
ters, that makes most twenty thousand
dollars.'
"And at four months' credit," I ad
ded.
" Four months' credit and most
twenty thousand dollars I So 1 You go
fast for a young man." And here As
tor looked me square In the face. " You
are married V" he asked.
" Yes, Mr. Astor," I replied with a
smile.
" Babies V"
" Yes, sir two."
" Any more expected V"
" I am sure I don't kuow," I answer
ed, rather losing patience.
" A big family for a young man ! You
spend all you make V"
" No, sir."
" Wife wear fedders in her hat, big
sleeves, give barties V"
" Yes, sir, she wears feathers when
they are in the fashion, and gives a
party when she thinks her husband can
afford it."
" So 1 I did business with your fad
der many years ago. He was an honest
man. It Is a risk. Two seventy-five
for a lot of skins worth three' dollars Y
You wait now," and he took a bit of
chalk and made some figures on the lid
of a black desk. I remember his figures
to this day.
" Young man," said Mr. Astor, " you
say two dollars and eighty centa, and
you promise me your wort of honor
that you never tells nobody that John
Jacob Astor was fool enough to trust a
young man a boy, though he has two
babies with twenty thousand dollars
worth ef goods."
That speech of the old man made me
mad. "I don't want your goods, Mr,
Astor," I said ; " I don't want anybody
to sell me goods as a favor."
" What 1 you show your temper be
cause I put five cents more on the skins?
Here my boy, you Just show me that
the son is as honest as the fadder, and I
tell you somethings your old man, long
before you was born, trust me onee in
Londou with $50. You go now ; time
for my supper."
" You will pack the goods In good
liOKsheads Y"
Yes, yes; everything. You ask me
to pay freight on them next, and guar
antee profits I suppose. Now go away
that Is enough trading for to-day. You
have your bill to-morrow. Anything
more you want Y"
" Yes, Mr. Astor, nineteen thousand
seven hundred dollars' worth of notes
payable is almost too much for a young
house like mine to put out at one time."
"What, you don't want to give out
notes Y Young man t you must think
John Jacob Astor crazy."
I want to pay the money for my
purchase, sir, and must have a discount
for cash."
"The cash I Young man, how you
manage your business I I don't want
any money. What's $20,000. Well, well
you does things so cunning, that I must
oblige you. I will take oil' the legal In
terest for four months."
"That won't do, Mx. Astor. If you
have so much money, other people have
not. Say two and a half per cent, and
to-morrow morning I will pay the
amount."
' My boy," said Mr. Astor, " you beot
me all around, see here ; it is a bargain.
You is sharper than your fadder. Now
I tell you I has given you a good bar
gain to-day; tell me in gonfldance what
you do with those skins."
1 1 will ask you to take two and a
half per cent, more off the cost of the
goods for the Information."
" Dat would bo nnvlncr too much.
Good bye ; you come see me in the
morning and my supper, dat must be
cold."
Early in the morning I sold my bills
on London at a good rate, and in order
to conceal the whole transaction, car
ried round the money to Vesey street.
Presently, Mr. Astor came in. " You
are cunning ; I buy your bill myself on
the Rothschilds. A bargain Is a bar
gain. The Liverpool packet came in
last night. Otters are worth a pound In
London, on a rising market, but that's
all right. If you had not helped my
men to examine the skins, I would
never have sold them to you at those
figures. How you got the news first, I
don't know. Come and see me again.
Buy fedders for your wife and give
parties. I treat you first-rate about
them otters; but young man, John Jacob
make a good thing out of them skins
himself, even if he sell them at two
dollars."
I had many a transaction afterwards
with Astor, and hod unlimited credit,
which, however,I never abused, When
ever I went into his store to do any
business with Mr. Astor, he would say,
" Cash or credit this time V How your
wife's fedders V Any more babies ?"
A Disappointed Granger.
Jacob Gleason, of Herkimer county,
N. Y., might have arrived in New York
City, a dozen times, and departed as
many more, without anyone beyond a
hotel clerk knowing his name, if he
hadn't a mission. That mission was to
trade his farm for a slice of Central
Park, and raise early vegetables for the
market. He went up to the Park, and
took a look around before saying any,
thing to anybody, as he wanted to make
sure' that none of it was swamp land.
He had made up his mind to trade his
140 acres of farm for 100 acres of the
Park when he encountered one of the
Park police, and remarked :
" This seems to be purty land, but it's
awfully neglected. Why don't they cut
the underbrush off, and Fall-plough
It V"
" We'd rather keep it as it Is," replied
the officer.
" Well, that's a mighty poor way to
farm it. I was looking around, and
thought perhaps I'd trade my farm for
part of this. What d'ye s'pose they'd
ask an acre for the lower part r"
"Oh, thirty or forty thousand dol
lars."
"Whaty"
"Am I a born fooiy" exclaimed
Jacob Herkimer. " I've got as nice
farm as crows ever flew over, and all
I ask an acre la $55. I'd see you I'd
see you In the red sea, sir, before I'd give
$100 an acre."
"Very well; you can't have It," said
the officer. 1
" I don't want It. I knowed I'd be
imposed on, and I told 'em all before
left home, but their eternal ding-dong
drove me to come I I don't want your
land, sir no, sir I It's all hills and hoi
lers and rocks, and I've met more'n a
hundred people walking round as cool
as If they had a hundred year lease of
the whole farm."
Convinced that the World is Hallow.
, A few mornings since, a Philadelphia
matron called to see her young married
daughter, who reside on North Thir
teenth street, and found her weeplpg bit
terly. .
" Oh, mother, take me home. My
heart la broke," sobbed the daughter
her mother's
arms.
After her tears had somewhat sub-
sided, the mother said !
!' Hardly a year married, and here I
find you in tears. What does this mean y
Has Henry been unkind to you F"
" No," sobbed the daughter, "but he
doesn't love me any longer, and my
heart Is breaking."
" Come, come, child, cheer up. Tell
me why you think him untrue to you.
Does he show it F"
" Yes," was the heart-broken reply.
" Oh, the scoundrel I Oh, the viper I"
gasped the mother. " My poor, dear
child," she fairly sobbed, "your mother
won't desert you. She'll bring that vil
lain to his knees. What insult has he
offered you my child F Speak, tell me
the worst."
O, mother, I can't."
" You must, my child. Tell me,though
the heavens fall, what outrage has he
committed F"
" He swore last night when I put my
cold feet to his back," sobbed the daugh
ter. " Is that all F" gasped the mother.
" Yes, but he never did so before. All
last winter he never said a word when I
put my cold feet to his back, and now I
know he doesn't love me;" and then
the poor girl's tears broke out afresh.
Before the mother left she managed
to convince her daughter that all the
world was hollow, and that the hollow
of a man 's back was not the place for
his wife's cold feet.
A Doubting Darkey.
TT WAS while the zealous and fervid
JL Maffltt was preaching through the
Southwest, awakening the impressible
of all classes to various degrees of relig
ious emotion. A gentleman well ad
vanced in years, and the owner of many
slaves, lying at the point of death,called
a faithful old negro to his bedside. Per
haps, In that hour, the inspiration of the
master touching the condition of the
spiritual life was not much in advance
of the Inspiration of faith of the slave.
Ciesar had been his attendant and ever
ready helper through long years in the
past, and who should say what might
be their mutual relations in the future F
It is not all Improbable that some such
thought was in the gentleman's mind
when he said .
" Ciesar, you have been a true and
faithful servant for many years, and I
have resolved to confer upon you a sub
stantial honor in recognition of your
services."
While the dying man stopped to re
gain his breath the old negro poured
forth many thanks. He certainly pray
ed that his master might live much
longer.
1 No, no, Ciesar, I know that I am
going; but this honor shall be conferred.
upon you. I shall leave, in my last will
and testament, the provision that you,
when you die, shall be burled In the old
family vault. Will you not consider
that an honor F"
" Ah, mas'r" said the old darkey,
slowly shaking his head. " I don't care
where dis yer ole body ob mine is burled.
No, no, mas'r, don't you do no such
t'ing."
" Why, Ciesar, you would not object
to such an honor as that. Think of it :
To be laid away in the old family vault,
where only the masters and mistresses
have been laid heretofore."
" Ah, mas'r, I don't care for de honor.
I'd ruv'r have a few dollars In money.
An' den, who knows what may happen
one ob dese days when dat ole chap, wld
de horns on his head, an de hoof on his
foot comes along. My golly I a'pose you
an I la boff buried togedder,an' dat chap
should happen along In de dark. Whoof !
he might take dis poor nigger in mis
take. No, mas'r I don't t'lnk I care for
de honor." 1
JT Some old oystermen were lounging
one day in a store in Fair, Haven, and
they began to talk about the Centennial.
Bald one,ln a nasal twang : " I say,Sam,
did you go to the Centennial ?"
" Yes, I went."
" Did you have a good time ?"
" Yes, I got awful tired ; I wuz a-walk-
in' all the time."
"Whydid't you take one o' them
cheers they tell about " (
" Take a cheer Y How could I see any-'
thing If I took a cheer ?"
" One o' them cheers they roll folks
about in."
The man set his chair down on four
legs it had been tilted on two and gaz
ing at his questioner with his hands on
his knees, repeated, "One o' them
cheer they roll folks about ln" Then
an expression of understanding lit up
his countenance, and with a great slap
on his thigh he exclaimed : " Well, I
tole Hen I never see such a lot or crip
ples in all my life."
(3 No less than seventeen dead In
fants have been found on the streets and
alleys of the Quaker City by the police
since 22u of February.
throwing herself into
PK. fcCHKSCK'S STANDARD BEMED1EH
Th Standard remedl tim all i4lai.au nt tha
lungs are Khenck't Pulmonic Hvrup, Hehenck's
Hea WeedToiilo. and H:henk'ti Mandrake Fill".
mia ii itnf n iwmrn me iiiogi are destroyed, a
spwetly Core I elleetd.
To these three mptltalne T)r. .?. !!. Rchenrk, of
Philadelphia, owes Ills unrivalled suocess In the
treat niiuit of pulmonary diseases.
The Pulmonln Hyrup ripens the morbid matter
In the lungs I nature throws It or? by an easy ex
peetoratlon, fur when the phlegm or matter I
me annum cougn win mrow lion, the patient
bag mat and the lung begin to heal.
To enable the pulmonic syrup to do this. Dr.
Behenek's Mandrake Fills and Hchenck's ffe-a
Weed Tonlo must be freely used to eleanse the
stomach and liver. Hchonek'e Mandrake Tills
acton the liver, removing all obsti notions, relax
the gall bladder, the bile starts freely, and the
iiTtir in soon relieved.
Hchenek's Hea Weed Tonlfl Is a gentle stimulant
and alterative i the alkali of which It Is composed
mixes with the food and prevents souring. It as
sists thedlgestlon by toning up the stomach to a
iicnitiij uuiiumon. so mac me iooa anu me rui
monlo Byrnp will make good blood: then the
limits heal, and the natient will surelv cvtwellir
care is taken to prevent fresh cold.
n Tni winn vo nonsuit ir. Rcnenca, emier
personally or br letter, ean do so at his principal
oltlce, corner of Hlxth and Arch Bts.. Phlladel
phla, every Monday.
Behenek's medicines araaolrt hv all AritaaUtM
throughout the country. mvh&apr.
VEGET I N E
VEOKTINK has never failed in asi ...-..
elvlnn tone and strength to tha avatam .loi.iniati
ed by disease.
8HJB 11E8T9 WELt.
South Poland Mn Oi.t 11 lire
Mr. H. It. Stevens : Dear Mr I Inn ha'an .ink
two years with the liver complaint, and during
that time have taken a great many different merf.
lunmauiii. none 01 tnein uiume any gooa. I was
restless nlehts and had no annetftn. Hlnna tu.
lllK the Veifetllie I rest well and relih rn tniut
Can recommend the Vegetlne for what It has
uoueiorme. loursresneciiunv.
fll ... . MK8. ALBERT KIUKER.
Witness of the alinve.
Mr. Geo.M. Vaughn, Med ford, Mass.
VEOETINE.
Thousands will beartestlmonv land do It vol.
untarlly) that Vegetlne is the best medical com
pound yet placed before the public for renovating
and purifying tne blood, eradicating all humors.
Impurities or poisonous secretions from the sys
tem, Invigorating and strengthening the system
h.-!!ltated by disease! In (act. It is, as many
navecauea it, " ine ureal Health Restorer."
Safe and Sure.
Mr. H. R. flfevens: In 1872 vonr Vecetlnn was
recommended to me, and yielding to the persua
sions of a friend, 1 consented to try It. At the
time, I was suffering from general debility and
nervous prostrations, superinduced by overwork
and irregular habits. Its wonderful strengthen
In K and curative powers seemed to affect my de
bilitated system from the first dose, and under Its
persistent use I rapidly recovered, gaining more
than usual health and good feeling. Hlnce then I
have not hesitated to give Vegetlne my most un
qualified Indorsement as being a safe, sure and
powerful agent In promoting health and restor
Ing the wasted system to new life and energy.
ruciiro id umj iiitMjiciun i uie, ana as long
as I live I never expect to find a better.
lours iruiy. w. 11. CLAKK,
120 Monterey Street, Allegheny, fa.
1'EGETINE.
VEOETINE thoroughly eradicates everv kind
of humor, and restores the entire system to a
ueaiiny condition.
The following letter from Kev. O. W. Mansfield,
formerly pastor of the Methodist Euisconal
Church, Hyde Park, and at present settled in
Lowell, mnat convince every one who reads this
letter of the wonderful curative powers of Vege-
uneasa inorougu cieunser aim puriner 01 tne
blood :
Hyde Park, Mass., Feb. 15, 1K76.
Mr. II. R. Stevens: Dear Bir About ten vears
ago my health failed through the depleting effects
of dyspepsia; nearly a year later I was attacked
oy ivpnoiu lever in its worsi lorm, it seined in
mv back and took the form of a lame deeo-seated
abscess, which was fifteen months in gathering,
i nun two surgical operations, ny ine oesi skiii in
the Htate but received no permanent cure. I suf
fered great pain at times and was constantly
weakened Dy a proiuseaiscnarge. i also lost sma.l
pieces of bone at different times.
mailers ran on inus aooui seven years, nil may
1874, when a friend recommended me to go to
Your office and talk with vou of the virtue of V a-
etine. I did so, and by your kindness passed
through your manufactory. noting the Ingredients
etc., by which your remedy Is produced.
By what I saw and heard I gained some confi
dence in Vegetlne.
i commenced taking it soon after, Dut leit worse
from Its effects) still I persevered and soon felt
It was benefiting me In other respects. Yet I did
not see the results I desired, till I had taken it
faithfully for a little more than a year, when the
difficulty In the back was cured, and for nine
months i nave enjoyed tne nest oi neaitn.
I have In that time gained twenty-five pounds of
flesh, being heavier than ever before In my life,
and I was never wore able to perform labor than
now.
Durlna the oast few weeks I had a scrofulous
swelling as large as my fist gather on another part
of my body.
I took Vegetlne faithfully and It removed It lev
el with the surface In a month. I think I should
have been cured of mv main troub e sooner if I
had taken larger doses, after having become ac
customed to Its effects.
Jt your patrons troubled with scrofula or kid
ney disease, understand that it takes time to
cure chronic diseases, and If they will patiently
take Vegetlne, it will. In my Judgment, cure
tnem. wun great ODiigations i am.
Yours verv trulv.
O. W. M AA8FIEI.T),
Pastor of the M. K. Church.
It-lni
Prepared by H.R.Stevens, Boston,Mass.
Tegetine Is Sold by ill Drug-gists.
JEATHER &C.
THE subscriber has now on hand at
LOW PRICES,
Good Sole Leather,
Kip of Superior Quality,
Country Calf Skins,
French Calf,
.LININGS, IIOANS, &c.
F. Mortimer,
NEW BLOOMFIELD, TJL.
NOTICE. The public are hereby notified and
warned not to molest, cr In any way tres
pass on tne ncnts ana credits oi Anthony hu
ghart In the following property purchased by him
at Hherlff's sale, at the residence of Levi Sughart,
on the Tth day of February, 1877, said property
bel ng left In the care of Levi Sughart. viz :
Two Cows, 4 head of Young Catfle, 1 Mower
combined. 1 two bone Wagon, I Metal How.
Double and Single Treesl Grain Cradle. Lot of
Cow Chains, 1 pair of Breast-chains, 1 pair of
Buttehaius, 1 HayKake, 1 Corn Coverer, aud 1
Spreader.
ANTHONY BrRHABT,
her Lk vi SuuuaBT, Agent.
Blaln. Pa.. February 13. 1ST7.
TESTATE NOTICE Notice Is hereby given
JFJ that Letters Testamentary on the estate of
Frederick K. hum, late of Tyrone township.
Perry county, -Pa., deceased, have been grunted
to the unueriignea, residing la Eluottsburg, Perry
county, Pa.
All persona Indebted tosald estate are request
ed to make Immediate payment aud those having
claims to present them duly authenticated lor
settlement to
WILLIAM n. DCM. Executor, ,
A. M. MiiKiu Attorney for Executor.
January 30, 1877.