Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-07


NEW ToHK, Feb. There has been a
great deal of talk and a great deal of sensi.
Bile talk, lately in regard to the peculiar
conduct OF the Aston family towards the
dead wife of William Waldorf Aston.
Usually l do not speak about such per-
eenai matters. For what people do is en-
tirely their own affair, and the world ut
large has 10 business to pry into what
simply concerns private individuals. The
world has no right whatever to decide as
70 tine right or wrong of a question that is
purely personal. However to New York
society the Astor family has stood us a
representative of all that is best of the
snlflionaire set. The women were consid-
cred well bred, and it was thought what.
ever Mrs. Aston did, might be considered
MI example, and good one for any
young woman. They were never quoted
as encouraging the fast doings of the So
called 'howling swells," and il has been
thought up to now, that Mrs. Aston was
credit, not only to all women. but To the
country. 1t was known that the late Mrs.
'dohn Jacob Astor was particularly kind to
Fentlewomen who had suffered reverses of
fortune, and that she gave and gave gener-
ensly, but in the most unostentatious way
her right hand, as representing her neigh
Dor. never knew what her lett hand did.
Which is the cody way to be kind and
womanly.
WALDORF AsToR's coon WIFE.
Mrs. William Waldorf Aston lived life
THAT was exquisitely beautiful. She loved
her husband and her children, and, as far
IS possible devoted herself to them, al
though she never shirked the duties which
her large wealth entailed upon her. A
representative woman she was, | have
been told upon good authority, driven out
OF this country by the innumerable auonv-
nous letters threatening TO steal her son.
This is not very great credit TO us as
people, and when we realize that mum Der
OF very good and desirable citizens have
been orlven from us for much the same
cause, to seek foreign shores, it is less a
cause for congratulation. That the mem.
pers4 oil this family should be seen in pub-
lie, talking and laughing loudly, and max
ing themselves most conspicuous BY being
a. dinners and dances, while the body Of
/; Mrs. William Waldorf Aston rested in
death in chill chapel, has seemed abso.
lutely awful to right thinking women.
That, Tor miserable petty quarrel be.
Z tween Two women, or, as it has been as.
serted, made by one woman an insult
: should be offered to the dead, is some.
thing that strikes home to the heart Of
every woman. 1t is pity that this should
nave been done by the women of the Astor
family. 1t. is a pity because, as | have
SAID before, they represented the conserva.
i've element, and what their women did
was counted of much importance. do
not think they will ever regain the position
they once held.
The world at large the enormous class
OF women who are not in society, su-Called
but who hear continually of il. viii teli
this tale of brutality to the dead whenever
the Astor women are mentioned, and the
story OF the dead woman's life, her beauty.
her loving kindness. and her sweet deyo.
uon TO her husband and children will
point moral and adorn the tale.
DEADLY AMERICAN SINS.
very clever man is writing a series Of
articles on The seven Deadly Sins of
americans The ilrst one accredited TO
the American men and American women
was dragging" am sorry to say it, but
thlnk That IN attaching this vice to us as
nation, he has simply stated what Is M
absolute fact, What have we after ali IN
Drag about? The leader Of the Conserya.
Ave set in New York has behaved with
greater meanness, has shown less hear
than one would have believed possible i'm
woman, or. indeed, in anything created
outside brute. What writer have we
woo lives IN this country and about whom
We can Drag AS compared with Rudvard
hipllng, Dickens, BaizAc, or Thackerav
What painter have we who is OF. a levrl
with Millals, Caramel, Bastian LepaZr ar
1ougereau What dramatist with Sar-
nou? We cannot boast that we begin to
understand making homes Us DO tlIe
people OF the older world for as a uutiuII
we are absorbed by another wee that il
quite as vulgar as Dragging, and that i.
curiosity. II you have amy DOUBT Oh the
subject PICK up the morning paper and
READ about famous actor
You are not told about his abilities ~
an actor, or about his ideas Of the Yre.,t
playWrlBhts. Oh, no! The numner al
ciuos TO which he belongs is meutiuued
tne presentation plates or pictures that NJ
may possess are described; his Costumes
are oliatea upon; whlle,as to the woman we
are told the number of men She has can't
waited, who is her dressmaker, whether tbe
satin she wears on the stage is OF the be,T
quallty ana which OF her levels are renl
and which are paste Ii the Reporter nan
pens to take dislike to her, either us NJ,
actress or as woman, then 4 vulgar Kind
OF chafl IS INDUCED in which simply dis
plays the ignorance OF the writer aid rhe
Vugarlty OF the people who count MS
work as of worth.
PECULIAR WOMEN VISITORS.
Take the average American woman WHO
has been visiting you. When she leaves
you, she does not tell her friends In.
bright things that were talked about. th4
books or pictures that were discussed but
she dllates upon your private affairs, what
she discovered Of your methods rs u house.
tne general curiosity, as tU how much yolir
belongings cost. The son OF an Euyli,n
statesman, the late John Bright visited
TINS country some years ago, and told me
that he INDUCED iii white lie Vnerpvnr
he went; that he denied his own father.
II would not have done this, - ne said. "if
tne people VINO came to ME had asked me
ABOUT his political opinions, about his
literary tastes, but instead Of that they
simply showed a petty curiosity. They
wanted TO know what he had for breakfast
what was ms opinion of woman, if he
tuDpeu IN hot or cold water, and who were
the loves OF his early life" No one rould
such low curiosity.
What business has the general public In
discovering whether an actress is nappv in
her marital Telat1uns2 She is on the -i,Iyt
to act. When the curtain drops she should
he let alone, unless indeed her behavior il
80 bad that all right thiukingpeupl prefer
not TO give her the favor OF Their CGInte.
nance, In that case, the best way to ex.
press It is to stay away from the theatre.
instead, am sorry to say, that the more
notorious her private LIE ana the worse
her acting and the finer her frucks thg
more will good women rush to the theatre,
that they may say they have seen her.
ana inns is nut another expression Of the
vice curiosity.
CAUTIOUS ENGLISH ACTRESS.
Last year a famous English actress, who
is particularly wise in dividing her socilI
and her business life met al one Of the
numerous entertainments given in Ter
honor, woman who pleased her bv hcr
brightness and gaiety. Atte! this, When.
ever these two met they had pleasant
chat, and that was the extent OF tho
acquaintance. In the summer ,hey met
again on Bond street in London. Tho,
stopped, and the English woman delighted
10 see her American acquaintance, SAID
Come, go home aud lunch with me"