Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-26
HE MAY BE A LORD.
w. w. Aston Said to BE In Training
for the British PeeraRe.

From London Correspondence Philadelpha Times.
England continues to speak of William
Waldorf Aston as an American. and Amer
lea laughs at him as an imitation English
man, but the truth is he is SO much an
Englistman that he Is actually slated for
the peerage. This may seem incredible in
America. and yet 1t is a fact
You are probably aware that Mr.. Wal
dorf Astor has already become a British
subject. and since he naturalizcd himself
here he has enjoyed preferential election to
that select circle of England's territor' al
magnates. that political holiest Of the
HOLES, the Carlton Club A further step in
his upward flight was his nomination for
the bench Of the county Of Middlesex, and
he will be forthwith gazetted justice Of the
peace. That Is an honor conferred by the
lord high chancellor acting for the crown
on the nomination of the lord lieutenant Of
the county. 1t entities the holder TO rank
as justice Of the quorum, and Is an inev-
liable preparatory step to higher rank So
far so good, but the half has not vet been
told. He has been offered a baronetcy, but
not quite content with that, stipulates for
the rank of a baron at least, and will un-
doubtedly succeed.
Let me explain the difference in rank be-
tween a baronet and baron. The former
is the lowest order Of hereditary rank. and
entities the holder to be addressed as Sir
and his spouse as Lady. 1t Is in point of
procedure rank IS, and permits the holder
to sit in the house Of commons. whereas
that Of baron entities the holder to the
rank, title and dignity Of my lord and a
seat in the house Of lords. The style of ad-
dress to the spouse Of the holder of the
title is still my lady. The rank Of baron is
the lowest OF the five orders of peers and
entities the family Of the holders to be
known and addressed as honorable.
Lord Beaconsfield once said that there
was "a certain moral force In q name and
a dignity In a double-barreled name" Mr.
Aston Is of the same opinion: he writes and
styles himself Waldorf Astor; so In books
of references look under W and not under
A. Mr.. Waldorf Aston, however. is doing
we'll and is appreciated here. He has al
ways been in good hands. having from the
first been chaperoned by that fine old Eng
lish gentleman. that sturdy old courtier.
Christopher Sykes Success in social life
in England entirely depends on whose
that those most written about are the most
desirable In the case OF MIR. Waldorf AS
tor his chaperon Is not much known out
side but Christopher Is a man Of rare judy
ment and unsullied character. and. what
is more one OF H. r. HIS set. high in the
favor Of Queen Victoria and socially a
power behind the throne. From the stand
point of practical politics the giving of So
cial rank to Mr.. Waldorf Aston is brilliant;
1t will tend to attract other multi million
aires. and when We get the Astors. Wander
bilts, Havemeyers, Rocketellers, Goulis
and others our London season will bios
som like a rose and when the few remain
ing coronets Of British aristocrats now in
pawn be redeemed. then the plebeian gov
eminent of the United States may devise
some means Of social demarcation to keen
her millionaires at home. Meanwhile q cor
dial welcome awaits them here