The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-01

ere not born equal society has value
that it lacks in democracies. Title,
wealth, a place near rOyalty-au these
constitute greatness. In such a status
man may buy greatness if he is suff1-
GENTLY diplomatic. Mr.. Aston had had
a smack of diplomacy as minister to
Italy from the United States; but
political diplomacy and that sort Of
diplomacy that enables one to rise
socially kingwards are two different
things This Mr.. Astor knew and laid
his plans accordingly.
He was now in his sphere. His news
papers and his magazines were strictly
English. Young Englishmen Of good
family and social prestige were his
editors and there was some luxury in
knowing that the government was con-
cerned with what Mr.. Astor had to say
about it. Then he harped on the So
cial string and played many airs pleas
ant to the ear of nobility. All this was
desirable. He bought some old extinct
lords country house, took a magni-
ficent place on the Thames and had
town house as ugly and uninviting
from without as that of the Duke of
Buckingham himself. In every re-
spect he did as the Romans did, and
was not merely waiting for results
1t was currently reported that he
bought up certain duchesses and lady
this and lady that, and the cold Eng
hsh air began to be more genial. About
this time reports came hither saying
that Mr.. Aston was contemplating Civ
ing up his American citizenship and
becoming a subject Of the queen. He
had, in fact, already done so. He re-
tanned only the form of an American
and in substance was an Englishman.
He drifted farther and farther away
in sympathy from his blood relations
in America who already began to dis
like him. The dislike was equally
warm on both sides. His matter-of-
fact brother, young Jack, cared little
for earls and lords, fame and honor
place and glory. He was interested
in interest money and was devoting his
time to great mechanical inventions,
among other things a bicycle of solid
gold. Fancy such a commonplace
brother for the boundless William Wal
drof!
When his wife died at CIeveden
(Mr Astor's superb country house,
he was plunged in grief He shut him
self up and would see no one. He re-
turned to New York to lay away Mrs.
Astor's. remains in Trinity churchyard
The other Astors celebrated the occa-
sion by an outburst of society gayety,
receptions, parties and what not and
| William Waldorf returned to London
vowing never to set foot on Yankee
soil again. Having sold his paper and
magazine in London, Mr.. Astor began
now to devote himself exclusively to
society. He was as amply equipped
as a very prince to do it, He bs2an
to reach out. He succeeded in having
the Prince Of Wales and his brother.
the reigning Duke Of Coburg, pay him
frequent visits to his pretty nest on
the river. Lords, earls and all sorts OF
ancient and modern nobility were found
in his drawingrooms. 1t was said he
would marry Lady Randolph Church
i'll, and it was even gossiped that he
aspired to the hand of no less a lady
than the daughter of the Prince of
! Wales. Some people here who do not
know what society is in England might
be led to fancy that, having achieved
| all this, Mr.. Aston was as high up as
| he could get, barring a seat on the
throne beside the queen herself. But
| this is not so. There were heights
| higher than the Prince of Wales or
| his brother. This was the Duchess OF
/ Buccleuch, who, Notwithstanding her
! funny name, is a social presence that
/ is harder for an American to approach
! than any other in the United King
| dom. And Mr. Astor had her at his
| house.
In winning the Duchess of BuccIeuch
| to be his guest at his town and country
| house Mr.. Astor scaled the highest
| wall. He has now no more to climb
| This peculiar duchess was the moving
| spirit Of the anti-American CLIQUE of
! noble ladies. who vowed that they
would never have an American at their
| houses or enter as a guest the house
| Of an American. How did Mr.. Aston
win this victory? Surely this must be