At fifty he owned millions; at sixty his millions owned him.

He invested in land, becoming in time the richest owner of real estate in America.

Generous to his family, he seldom gave much for charity.

He once subscribed fifty dollars for some benevolent purpose, when one of the committee of solicitation said, "We did hope for more, Mr.Astor.Your son gave us a hundred dollars." "Ah!" chuckled the rich furrier, "William has a rich father.

Mine was poor." Elihu Burritt wrote in a diary kept at Worcester, whither he went to enjoy its library privileges, such entries as these: "Monday, June 18, headache, 40 pages Cuvier's 'Theory of the Earth,' 64 pages of French, 11 hours' forging.