The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1892-07-14

pointed Minister to France. The
Democrats nominated Roswell ?.
Flower, and the canvass that followed
was unanimously exciting. 1t was
currently reported that both can
didates spent money by the thousands,
and Mr.. Astor was represented as scat
tering double eagles throughout the
district Mr.. Astor and his friends
made personal canvass of the dis
trict, but the Democratic candidate
was elected by a majority of three
thousand.
In 1882 Mr.. Astor was appointed by
President Arthur Minister to Italy, a
post which he held until the appoint
ment, in 1885, of his successor by
President Cleveland.
Mr. Astor, after his college days,
began with several young friends the
publication of a magazine. 1t was
issued under the direction of a society
organized by Mr.. Astor, which met at
the houses of its members, and was
called the Beeisteak Club. Mr.. Astor
contributed generously to this publ
cation, not only from his purse, but
also his pen. After returning to this
county from Italy Mr. Astor again
turned his thoughts toward literature.
He began to put into shape the ma
terial he had gathered while at Rome,
aud in 1886 published his novel,
"Valentino," a story OF history and
romance in Italy. His collaboration in
this work is said to have been the late
Allen Thorndike Rice, who was one OF
his most intimate friends. In 1889
Mr.. Astor published "sforza," story
of Milan.
Mr.. Astor married Miss Mary Paul,
of Philadelphia, in 1873.
Miss Paul came to New Y ork to at
tend Patriarch's ball in the winter OF
1876 II, and there met Mr.. Astor for
the first time. Mr.. Astor's father pre-
sented the young people with large
double brown.stone house, 4 East
Thirty-third street, at one time the city
home of the late Commodore Garner.
Mrs. Astor was prominent socially in
New York unit the death of Mr.. AS
tors mother. After period of mourn
ing, she re entered society in the win.
ter Of 1888 SO. She took part in all
the fashionable parties of the season
and was one Of the patronesses of the
set OF dances known rs the "Howling
Swells," which opened Sherry's new
rooms three years ago Three chill
dren were born to Mr., and Mrs. Astor
two boys and girl, The Oldest oi
whom, William Waldorf, is now Il
years old.
) Mr. Astor was six feet tall, thin and
muscular. His hair and complexion
were fair, and his eyes blue. He was
: nearsighted and wore glasses. His
motions were active and his speech
, quick and nervous. He was fond o
outdoor sports, and was a good horse
man, boxer, shot and yachtsman. AL
) though member of several clubs
I the Union, Union League, Racquet
Knickerbocker, Century, Tuxedo
Down Town, Riding, Country ant
! Lawyers-he was too domestic in hi
tastes to be much of club man. MI
:. Astor was never fond of society. HI
was a man OF regular habits, and CAV
q to literary study most of the time tina
e was not required in the management
s of his estate. He was an Episcopa
e lian, and member of Trinity Church
r He w's very fond of his children, an
d passed the greater part of the summe
:. season with them at Newport.
d Mr.. Astor was tenacious of his It'll
e as head OF the Astor family. Afte
l. the death of his father he dispute
d the right Of John Jacob Astor to
< known as the John Jacob of the fam
l. ly. He insisted that the young ma
c. was John Jacob, Jr, and he petitione
D. the court few days after the death
is his father for permission to rechriste
d. his Oldest son, who had been bantize
N John Jacob Armstrong Astor, job
IS Jacob Astor. His prayer was granite,
e. IT was his wish too that his wi
q should be the Mrs. Astor of the fan
le lily, and in the summer of 1890 he i
le structed the postmaster at Newport
ed deliver all letters addressed "Mrs A
We tor" to his wife. The discussion ov
IS. the incident ceased only when M
as and Mrs. w. w. Astor closed the
th house here to become residents of Il
If. capital Of England. Mr.. Astor esta
lis lished his family at Lansdowne Hous
ut He recently became the owner of t
ol- beautiful home OF the banker Muriet
LTa,,1o