“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 care of the poor, who, through age, disease, or other causes, are incapable of labor; 2.  The rearing and instruction of poor children, especially those who live in Waldorf.  Non-residents are received if there is room, but they must make compensation for their board and instruction.  Children are received at the age of six, and maintained until they are fifteen or sixteen.  Besides school instruction, there is ample provision for physical culture.  They are trained in active and industrious habits, and each of them, according to his disposition, is to be taught a trade, or instructed in agriculture, market-gardening, the care of vineyards, or of cattle, with a view to rendering them efficient farm-servants or stewards.  It is also in contemplation to assist the blind and the deaf and dumb, and, finally, to establish a nursery for very young children left destitute.  Catholics and Protestants are admitted on equal terms, religious differences not being recognized in the applicants for admission.  Some time having elapsed before the preliminary arrangements were completed, the accumulated interest of the fund went so far toward paying for the buildings, that of the original fifty thousand dollars not less than forty-three thousand have been permanently invested for the support of the Institution.”

Thus they manage bequests in Germany!  The Astor House was opened with much ceremony, January 9,1854, the very year in which the Astor Library was opened to the public in the city of New York.  The day of the founder’s death is annually celebrated in the chapel of the Institution, which is adorned by his portrait.