New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-07-12

Senator Aston was placed by the ldeutenant"o'-
ernor on the most important committees Oh onc
Senate He was third on the Judiciary Ooh-
mite, Of which Senator William II. Robertson
was chairman, and was member OF the com
mittees on Commerce and Navigation and Militia.
and chairman Of the Committee on Public IN
penditures.
1t was while Mr.. Aston was In the State senate
that the exciting contest over the e!ectlon OF SUI
ceseors to Senators Conkling and Platt loon
place and Mr.. Astor voted steadily for the re-
election OF the Senators who had resIgneH'
Mr. Aster twice ran az a Rcpubcah cahhua'e
for Congress in this city, but each time he was
defeated. His first contest was in 1eoo' against
p Henry Dugro, now judge, in the VIVA 'oi-
gress District This was IA heavy Democratic us
trct but Mr. Astor's career in the State Legislature
had given 10 him such an excellent stanolng 'h''
he reduced the Democratic vote greatly. lie ic-
ceived IL, $50 votes, and bis opponent il''.o
votes The appointment Of Congressman Levi T.
Morton a. the I'ninA States Minister 10 France
in 1881 created vacancy in the Attn congress
District, and Mr.. Aston was nominated by the
Republicans TO contest the seat kosweiI T.
Flower was the candidate OF the United Demo
cratic party and won by small majority. This
WAS the last time that Mr. Asor stood for an
elective office
APPG MED MNiETER TO ITALY.
President Arthur in 1882 appointed him Min
lister to Italy, where he remained until 1888 lie
enjoyed the few years which he spent abroad en-
oeedingly. In his youth he had acquired fond
ness for literature and art, and his position as the
United States Minister afforded him an oppor-
tunity to crafty his tastes in these directions
lie read extensively, and while abroad wrote
his first published literary effort "Valentino."
which was laid in the Sixteenth Century.
Mr. Astor resigned his post Minister 70 Italy
few DAYS before Grover Cleveland took the oath
of office as President Of the United States. After
his return from Italy he dropped ont Of public
life and devoted all of his time and energy to the
Aston estates.
HIS MARRIAGE.
Mr.. Astor on June G, 1873, married Miss Mary
d. Paul daughter Of James w. Paul, of Phila-
dcphia. She was niece of Admiral Dahlgren
and Of Abbott Lawrence, of Boston. Her brother.
j. w Paul, served in the Union Army during the
Civil War; and afterward married daughter OF
A. j. Drexel The wedding was noted for it's
simplicity. For young man who then was ex-
pected to become the richest man in America, IL
was exceedingly plain special train carried
the friends of the couple from New-iork to fhila-
delphia and the ceremony, which took place at
DR.. William Nelson McVickar, rector OF the
Church of the Holy Trinity, Philadelphia. The
couple spent their honeymoon at the Aston country
bouse near Hampstead, L. l., and after time, went
IN keeping house at No East Thirty-third-st.. IN
SIGHT of his fathers house There Mr.. Astor lived
when in this country. At present, the house Is
shut Nm. Mr. and Mrs Aston had three children
They are Waldorf who is thirteen years old
Pauline twelve years old, and John JACOB, SIX
years old,
HIS RESIDENCE IN ENGLAND
Mr. Aston sailed for Europe on September 81,
1910 and has not been in this country since
then II had come TO be rumored in society that
he did not intend to return for any length OF
time but was going to make London MS per
manent home This belief was strengthened by
his leasing Lansdowne House and by rumors that
be was negotiating for the purchase Of home
in England, but it was mistaken Belief new
ertheless Those who knew Mr. Astor best were
we'll aware of his sincere attachment for bis
native land, and for the city with which ms
family had been so long identified, While max
ing in Europe a temporary home, he never con-
tomnloted giving lip his New-York residence. On
the contrary, he was busted with plans for the
Improvement of his property in the city and at
the time of his death, was building two large
hotels He owned plot Of ground at Fifty-slXth-
st. and Fifth-ave., and had thought OF building
home there but the plans were not yet drawn
The house at No. 8 East Uhirty-third-st, In
this city, occupied by Mr.. AstOr, to which he
took his bride Immediately after they were mar
ried. and where he lived until he went TO Europe,
has been kept in readiness to receive him through
out his absence. The butler and most OF the
other servants were discharged, and the Astors
coachman, who has been with the family for many
hAtga q
large, double brownstone building of three stories,
with an ornamental facade and slopng roof,
which contains another story The entrance is
in the centre Of the house, and east Of it is
large bay The building is extremely simple, and
looks COMMONPLACE In the stables six horses
were kept in readiness for Mr.. Astor's return any
day.
Mr. Aston was one Of the vestry Of Trinity
Church here, and had pew in Old Trinity and
in Trinity Chapel. lie at one time belonged to
the Union, Union League, Kniclerbocker, Century,
Tuxedo, Country, and Lawyers clubs, but re-
signed from several Of them after his fathers
death.
The Aston Library was under the special care
of the elder branch of the Astor family, and, like
his father, William Waldorf Aston took deep
interest In it, lie was also active in the move
ment 70 build the Cathedral of ST. John the
Divine.
Mr. Aston YVES also identified with many fHan-
cial institutions, and was member Of the official
boards of the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
crn Railroad Company, the Delaware and Hudson
Canal Company, the United States Trust Com
pany, the Farmers Loan and Trust Company and
many others.
LOVER OF TIE FINE ARTS.
Besides being the head of one Of the richest
families in america, and politician of some dis
tinction. Mr. Astor was also an artist and
writer valentino hs first published work,
was followed by Sforza," novel dealing with
the invasion Of Italy by the French under Charles
VIII This story has been said TO be one of