Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-21
J. J.ASTOR AND WIFE.
THEY PAY US A BRIEF VISIT AND
LEAVE FOR OLD POINT.
To Avoid Notice and Being Called Upon
They Take Buggy Drive-some
Personal Points.

II one had been standing on the veranda
of the Exchange Hotel yesterday afternoon
about n quarter past o'clock he would
have seen a gentleman and lady drive up
IN two-horse buggy and alight on the
southeast corner of Fourteenth and Frank.
lin streets.
A casual glance at the gentleman, whose
nose Clike the "interlapsing intervals be-
tween spiritual reinvigoration in South
Carolina) was somewhat "preternaturally
extended" and tinted by the raw February
I blasts into roseate hue. would have
attracted no particular attention except
that he was accompanied by a lady whose
face was beautiful and whose figure was
unusually graceful.
She was clad in a dark dress and jacket
| with black furs, while as if in keeping
with her sombre costume her hair and
! eyes were also dark. She was pretty. de-
cldediy so, and few men would have let
her pass them on the street without being
guilty of stealing a second glance.
ANA yet as she assembled the steps that
led TO the side door of the Exchange
Hotel il was easy TO see that she did not
want to be noticed. nor did her escort
| either for that matter.
HOW HE udPREssEs THE CASUAL OBSERVER.
But to return TO the gentleman who ac-
companied the lady.
He was exceedingly tall being slightly
over six feet high and from his build
seemed TO be a sort of attenuated represen-
| tation of that publie-spirited and genial
citizen, Ashton Starke. The strangers
face did not, however, reveal that glow of
brightness that ever marks the features
of the distinguished plow-merchant.
The trousers Of the gentleman who had
just returned from the ride with the pretty
lady were spattered with mud, which, to-
gether with other circumstances, rendered
him far less attractive than his companion
fair. who was nicely but unpretentiously
dressed.
WOULD NOT ATTRACT SPECIAL ATTENTION.
The couple went INTO the hotel and soon
disappeared, and the casual observer
would doubtless never have thought Of
them again unless II was to envy the man
who had the pleasure of escorting the
handsome lady with the glorious dark
eyes.
Had You gone into the lobby of the
hotel, however. and asked what the per-
sons there were peeping around the cor
ners for when the couple entered every
one would have answered with one voice:
Why. that is Mr.. John Jacob AstOr, the
immensely wealthy New Yorker, and his
young bride whom he welded last Tues
day IN Philadelphia
no other than John Jacob Astor, the
CrGsus of New York, and one of the lieu
tenants of her select Four Hundred. The
pretty lady was hls wife. formerly Miss
Amy Willing, of the City of Brotherly
Love.
The hotelregister of yesterday bore upon
its pages the following inscription: y. j.
Astor and wife, New York"
Shakespeare, il is true, has said con-
temptuously, Whats in a name?" but in
those daYs there were no Vanderbilts and
Goulds-nor Astors either for that mat |
ter-but the immortal bard, had he seen
the various persons examining that regis. |
ter with eager interest yesterday, would |
undoubtedly have been forced TO exclaim:
THAT which we call an Astor by any other |
name would be not half so great Every |
one who heard that the well-known New |
Yorker was at the hotel made for the re-
gister and examined the signature of the |
millionaire. His chirography would not |
have attracted the slightest attention one |
way or another had any other name been |
signed, although it was good, common |
sense writing.
WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN.
Every one has read Of the marriage of |
Young Astor and Miss Willing. The affair !
was one of the most brilliant eYents-eer- !
taiuly matrimonial eyents-which has |
taken place in this country for years. |
Thousands and thousands of dollars |
mere drops in the bucket" however, TO |
those great familles-were expended on |
presents for the bride and groom, while |
the floral designs at the wedding Ito use O |
journalistic eXpression) were not only |
"profuse and handsome" but simply regal, |
costing hundreds and hundreds OF dollars.
Mr.. and Mrs Astor, after their marriage, |
spent some time in Baltimore, and leaving /
that city they arrived IN West Point yes
terdaY morning.
They did not come to Richmond by |
Especial train or private coaches" but |
travelled from West Point on the accom-
mediation train with Captain Mosby, which |
reached here about 1910. They could have
gotten here sooner had they so desired.
Mr. Astor, by the way, occupied the
bridal-chamber on the WestPOint steamer.
He telegraphed to Baltimore for 1t while
in Philadelphia, but for some reason no
name was signed TO the telegram. He was
The first applicant for the chamber, how
ever, when he had al opportunity TO apply |
for il again, and being the i" first come" he
was the first served" and got 1t.
"DoH'r LET THE NEwsPAPEs-MEN KNOW
ABOUT ME"
While en- route to Richmond Mr.. Astor
made inquiries as TO the FIRST train that
would take him to Old Point from this
city. He told Captain Mosby that he
wanted to avoid publicity and besought
that those Mercuries of the present CEN
tury. the reporters. might not be apprised
of his presence. ParentheticallY, II may
be said right here that the Richmond press
found IL out by some means and watched
each movement of his six foot three
inches with that same eagle gaze that
characterlzes all their observations;
In suggesting means to avoid thus
having greatness thrust upon him." Cap
tain Mosby advised the young millionaire
TO drive TO CARRIERS upon reaching the city /
and there have his baggage rechecked, and
then drive around the city until O'Clock. |
This advice was followed TO certain ex-
tent if not h0erdtim e Uerbattn, and MIR.
Astor went to Garber's and made arrange
ments for the transfer Of his baggage.
which. by the way, only consisted OF one
trunk and yalise.
THEIR HOTEL QUARTERS.
The party after doing this went to. the
hotel Mrs. Astor was accompanied by !
maid who certainly made poor foil for
the bride, for the subordinate, too. was
very good looking and attracted much adj
The wealthy New Workers. or as it will
be best to designate them in plain and
simple English, the bride ana groom,
were assigned to Rooms SO and 100. These
are the best in the house aud nave been
occupied by nearly all the high and
mighty" who ever came to Richmond. in
eIuding not only distinguished Americans,
bnt stIll more distinguished foreigners.
At the hotel the groom again repeated
IN the clerks his desire 10 be secluded, and
said he did not wish TO be seen or called
on. Perhaps, somewhat TO his surprise,
he WAS less bothered in this respect while
here than he thought he would be; lie
sad he was on his way 10 Old Point,
whence he would 90 TO Florida; ana that
after a short stay in the everglade State he
would board his fathers yacht for q cruise