for them, also, were in
many-cases of the amount most likely to be well employed. Twenty-five
thousand dollars he left to Columbia College, but unfortunately
repented, and annulled the bequest in a codicil.

We need not enlarge on the success which has attended the bequest for
the Astor Library,--a bequest to which Mr. William B. Astor has added,
in land, books, and money, about two hundred thousand dollars. It is
the ornament and boast of the city. Nothing is wanting to its complete
utility but an extension of the time of its being accessible to the
public. Such a library, in such a city as this, should be open at
sunrise, and close at ten in the evening. If but _one_ studious youth
should desire to avail himself of the morning hours before going to
his daily work, the interests of that one would justify the directors
in opening the treasures of the library at the rising of the sun. In
the evening, of course, the library would probably be attended by a
greater number of readers than in all the hours of the day together.

The bequest to the village of Waldorf has resulted in the founding of
an institution that appears to be doing a great deal of good in a
quiet German manner. The German biographer of Mr. Astor, from whom we
have derived some particulars of his early life, expatiates upon the
merits of this establishment, which, he informs us, is called the
Astor House.

"Certain knowledge," he says,

"of Astor's bequest reached Waldorf only in 1850, when a
nephew of Mr. Astor's and one of the executors of his will
appeared from New York in the testator's native town with
power to pay over the money to the proper persons. He kept
himself mostly in Heidelberg, and organized a supervisory
board to aid in the disposition of the funds in accordance
with the testator's intentions. This board was to have its
head-quarters in Heidelberg, and was to consist of
professors in the University there, and clergymen, not less
than five in all. The board of control, however, consists of
the clergy of Waldorf, the burgomaster, the physician, a
citizen named every three years by the Common Council, and
the governor of the Institution, who must be a teacher by
profession. This latter board has control of all the
interior arrangements of the Institution, and the care of
the children and beneficiaries. The leading objects of the
Astor House are: 1. The