Myths After Astor

Extract

It is natural to wish to account for success of any kind hy ascribing it to some freak of fortune, to the chance discovery of some magic formula. This attitude of mind would place success potentially within the grasp of almost anyone, even without the possession of unusual mental or physical endowments, and without the necessity of exerting oneself to cultivate the endowments one actually may possess. Since economic success is one of the most widespread of human desiderata, it might be expected that legends ascribing it to various fortuitous happenings of a romantic or even magical character would be widespread. This is actually the case, as witness Aladdin and his wonderful lamp, Ali Baba and the key-phrase “Open, Sesame!”, Jack and the beanstalk, Dick Whittington and his cat. Nor is it necessary to resort to the fabulous Orient or to medieval Europe for specimens of such tales. About the head—or rather, the money-bags—of John Jacob Astor I have sprung up myths which probably exceed in number and influence those clustering about any other single business man. And, Astor is near enough to our own time so that we need not entirely despair of following the footprints of the myth-makers, one of whom, indeed, left an unmistakable trail.