Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-08

While One Branch of the Millionaire Fam fly Is Entertaining LavIshIy and Joining In Public Festivities the Other Branch Is In Mourning.
 NEW YORK, Jan. S.-Mr. and Mrs John Jacob Astor give dinner tonight in their splendid new residence at Fifth avenue and Sixty-1ifth street
 Mrs. William Astor has cards out for a banquet to be given at her residence, Fifth avenue and Fifty-fourth street
 The body of Mrs. William Waldorf As tor lies in Trinity chapel awaiting the funeral services. and Mir William Waldorf Astor is expected to reach here tomorrow on tho Feutonic. Society people have put all these facts together, and the result is wondering interrogation as to what is the matter with the Astors. Those who discuss it say John Jacob Astor and Will liam Astor were almost inseparable. and when each had a son born to him he named it for the other, so that William w. Astor is the son of John Jacob Astor, while John Jacob Astor is the son of Will liam Astor. Then why, they ask, should these receptions be held when death casts its pail over one side of the house?
 4 Do Not Wear Mourning.
 Mrs. William Astor and MT. and Mrs. John Jacob Astor appeared at the opera on the night of the day the news of Mrs. William Waldorf Astor's death was cabled. Mrs. Astor and her daughter-in-law were arrayed on that occasion with unusual splendor. Moreover, they have not as. sumed mourning since.
 Mrs. John Jacob Astor was one of the reception committee at the first assembly of the season last week. She surprised every one immensely by appearing there in gorgeous array. It is related that when prominent man asked Mrs. Astor polite ly as to the health of the family there was a nervous litter along the line.
 There are two sides to the question, and the friends of the Astors here bring forward the argument that ever since Miss Ava Willing became Mrs John Jacob As tor she has been in polite mourning for one or another relative of her husband, in whom her personal interest has of necessi. ty been very slight.
 This Is an infliction certainly for O beautiful young woman," said one of her society friends last night, "and when at last she was emerging from all this gloom and about to entertain in suitable fashion in her grand new home to be again seclud- ed and garbed in the habiliments of woe was too much for her to bear"
 Mrs. Astor's GrudRe.
 It seems that Mrs. Astor, according to the friends who side with her, has had Q grudge in mind for a long time. When John Jacob AstOr died four years or so ago, he was apparently in good health. and in point of fact the story of a projected second matrimonial venture with a wealthy widow was current, if not cor rect. As it happened, he passed away in the night, and MT. William Waldorf Astor failed to notify Mrs Astor. who was to sail for Europe and departed on a steamer of the French line at 5 o'clock in the morning. The first intimation she had of the death was when she reached the other side
 The body of Mrs. William Waldorf As tor was landed from the Aurania yester- day and taken to the Trinity chapel vault, whore it will remain until MT. Aston ar rives on the Teutcnic due tomorrow.
 No arrangements for the funeral will be made until MT. Astor arrives
 There was no member of the family on the pier yesterday, and all the arrange ments for.taking charge of the body were attended to by Sexton Meurer