The evening times., 1896-02-20
SOCIETY LEADERS AT WAR
Young Vanderbilt's Betrothal to
Miss Wilson Caused the Trouble.
tcrtalnments in Honor of Visiting
Daught Interesting En-
gagement.

| of Vanderbiltand AstOr. At the Patrlarchs'
ball in New York, Monday night, the Van
| derbilts and Wilson's failed to speak as they
| passed by. And thereby hangs a tale.
| Also serious social problem. Serious,
at least, to Gotham's -Four Hundred"
| but amusing to the outside world.
The latest development in the progress OF
| affairs is the intended departure of Mr..
| and Mrs. Orme Wilson for the COntincn
| They go TO Join the Ogden Goeiets and
| Wilson's in Paris, and, incidentally, it Is
| whispered. to be present at the anticipated
| marriage of young Cornelius Vanderbilt to
| charming Miss Grace Wilson. This turn in
| the tide Of affairs widens tue breach be =
tween the social antagonists and their
followers.
1t is said among the knowing ones that
Mr.. Vanderbilt is exasperatcd beyond meas
urc at what he chooses 10 term "a youths
foolish infatuation." The edict has gone
forth that the scion OF the Vanderbilt house
hold will be relieved possibly of his income
and certainly be deprived of his prospective
fortune il he insists upon maxim Miss " il
son his wife.
Clubmen are much exercised over the sit
uation. They declare the strained reia-
tions between these leading faction means
a permanent split in society. Every man OF
prominence Is enGcavoring TO bring about
an amicablc adjustment OF affairs.
No more serious complications have ever
arisen In the world OF society. The social
triumphs OF the house of Astor have been
many. The Vanderbilt fame for magnifi-
ceat entertainment is and as leaders for two
generations has been I'M euylalad,
Naturally the Astors resent the persistent
efforts OF Cornelius Vanderbilt and his
wife to direct their sons attention from
Miss Wilson, who is Carrie Astor's hus-
bands sister. This feeling is shared by
their numerous connections.
Equally aggr;cved are the Vanderbilt
elencnt. who declare the match entirely
unsuitable. Miss Wilson is thirty years
Old. Cornelius Vanderbilt, jr., has barely
passed his ma jority. There is no question
OF social equality involved, each family
bciug conspicuously distinguished.
Young Vanderbilt began his courtship
at Newport last summer. He suffered from
a slight attack of rheuna tisIu in the early
fan, which necessitatcd a trip to the Hot
Springs of Virginia, and interrupted his
pleasant association with the object of
he discussed European trip with his pa
rents.
Before giving their consent Mrs. Wander
bilt and Miss Gertrude called upon Mrs.
Richard T. Wilson, and from her learned
that the bankers family would not spend
the winter abroad. as is their custom.
This fact decided the Vanderbilts, who
considered that it would be clever stroke
i.uv I.o f,p.If 70 fipn
ing influences of Mss Wilson. He de-
parted.
Alas! "the best laid plans of mice and men
aft gang agiee;'' so il was in this instance.
Two weeks later Ogden Goeiet, with his
family, set sail for Europe. Mrs. Goelet's
sister, Miss Grace Wilson, accompanied
them.
Immediately upon their arrival at the
French capital young Vanderbilt called.
His attentions were renewed with vigor.
simultaneously with this announcement
Worthing gton Whitehouse took shipfOr Paris.
Ills mission was to bring the junior member
of the family back with him. He returned
in two weeks alone. The most recent ad-
vices from abroad declare the couple be-
trothed. The wedding, it is believed, will
occur at no distant day. Society is on the
qui vive. A cahlegram announcing the
marriage would startlc no one.
The prominence of both families makes
IL interesting to note the personnel OF op-
posing forces. On the one side of the bat
tie royal will be q IRA yed Mrs. William AstOr,
Mrs. Jack Astor. Mrs. Orme Wilson. Mrs.
Ogden Goc!ct, Mrs. d. o. Mills. the Will
sons, the winings and the Cuttings and
many other Old Knickerbockcr friends and
their contingent of kindred. The other side
viii be marshaled by Mrs. Cornelius Van
derbilt, Ms. j. Seward Webb. and Miss
Gertrude Vanderbilt, who will be numbered
among the followers of the Belmonts,
Gerrys, Sloanes. Camerous. and more i'm
mediate friends. 1t is therefore the de-
batable question of the ''sackcioth and
ashes season who will unfurl the flag
of victory.
After Lent will it be the reign of the
Astor dynasty or shall the Vanderbilts
hold uEdisputcd sway?
Apropos of this social agitation, the
positive conviction is abroad that Willie h.
Vanderbilt is soon to wed. He has al
ways greatly admired the Duchess of
Manchester. formerly CousuelO YZnaga.
The report has il that she may be mistress
of the Valiant. A bit of gossip concerning
his previous devotion to the duchess has
been chronicled from time to time, and is
being discussed nowadays with great eclat.
On the occasion OF a visit to this coun-
try made by the duchess, Willie KS at
tentions were SO marked as TO call down
the wrath OF his father. 1t is said the old
gentleman entered into q satisfactory ar
rangement with the lady in question which |
prohibited her return to these shores for a |
prolonged stay: hence the duchess has not |
set foot on her native shores in many day.
The BclmOnts, too, arc having their own |
Friction in the upper circles |
seems to De the rule rather than the excep- |
ton. The Belm0nts and vanderbiIts have |
always been exceedingly friendly and man. |
aged to maintain their pleasant relations |!
with the divided household until the mar |
rage OF Mrs. Ava Vanderbilt to Oliver |
q. p. Belmont. Then all intercourse ceased. |
The BclniDntsare estiIldeyoted tot the young |
est member OF the family, but are quite /
content to ignore. Ms. Beiniout's pres 1
ence. When invitations were issued to i
f1be late fteflvSfffs NJ sfse Rofx1rranf man 1