Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-25
DEATH OF MRS. AST0R
THE END NOT UNExpEc1E0-HER
PROMINENCE IN SOCIETY.
She Was a Devoted wife and Mother and
Was Interested In Many
Charities.

The death OF Mrs. Aston was not alto
gethcr unexpected by her many friends
In New York. who for some months had
been aware that she was In falling health.
The first public indication Of her condi-
ton was cabled from London only few
weeks ago.
Since the birth OF her child, within the
last year, Mrs. Astors health had been
steadily falling.
HER MARRIAGE TO MR.. ASTOR.
Mrs. Astor was formerly Miss Mamie
Paul, a daughter Of James w. Paul. OF
Philadelphia, and one Of the recognized
bellies OF that city. She first met Mr..
Astor in Newport In the summer OF 1871.
and there the courtship was begun that
eliminated In their marriage June 6, 1878.
when she was but 10 years old.
The Pauls, of Philadelphia, were So
cially as prominent as the Astors. of
New York, and the bride brought to her
husband wealth OF beauty and graces
OF mind and heart that made their home
life of rare domestic charm.
She was niece OF Admiral Dahlgren
and of Abbott Lawrence. of Boston. Her
brother, James w. Paul. served with dis
tinction in the civil war, and subse-
quently married a daughter OF A. j.
Drexel.
William Waldorf Astor was nearly 30
years old at the time of his marriage and
he'd been universally looked upon as a
confirmed bachelor. He began his mar
ried life at the Aston country seat, near
Hampstead. l.. l., subsequently moving
TO No. east Thirty-third street, once the
home of Commodore Garner.
There Mrs. Astor's three children, Wal
dorf Pauline. and John Jacob. were born.
Ii Will be remembered that Mrs Wal
dorf Astor was one of the organizers of
the first series Of dinner dances, given
In turn by herself, Mrs. Frederick Bron-
son, Egerton Winthrop, and others.
Behind the social successes there was
ever a background of charming domestici-
~ and an undercurrent of transformations
benevolence going out quietly In hundreds
Of directions.
HER SUCCESS ABROAD
When Mr.. Astor went abroad in 1852
as Minister to Italy his family accom-
panied him. Mrs. Astor entertained In
magnificent style. winning the lasting
friendship of distinguished foreigners
and the intimate friendship of Queen
Margherita, of Italy. Returning from
abroad lin 1850 Mrs. Astor resumed her
social position in this city.
Since the death of the husbands
mother, and later Of his father, John
Jacob Astor which occurred In 1882 Mrs
Astor has been rarely seen in New York
society, though her name continued to
appear with the list of patronesses Of
the Tuesday-evening dances. and of the
assemblies in which she showed a great
interest.
When her husband dn 1890 went abroad
to establish himself permanently in Eng
land. the house in east Thirty-second
street was closed. Mrs. Astors life abroad
in the last few years Is well known. The
Astors established themselves in London,
occupying Landsdowne House formerly
tenanted by Lord Rosebery. which they
gave up on Lord Lansdownes return from
India.
HER FRIENDSHIP WITH THE PRIN-
CESS LOUISE.
Among the strong friendships which
Mrs Astor made in London. one of the
firmest was with Princess Louise
Marchioness of Lorne these ladies having
been great allies in all sorts OF charitable
work In fact, at the mansion in Carrie