Arizona republican., 1899-08-17
EX-CITIZEN ASTOR.
Pestilent Journalist Scores Another
Success.

William Waldorf Astor has become
citizen of Great Britain. He has
lived nine years in that country The
difference between a citizen and a res
ident is that between a voter and non
! voter Mr.. AstOr's income is derived
from New York property, and will
continue to be so. That property is
taxed under New York law and will
continue to be SO. The care OF his
property in New York will conrSinue to
! give employment to several hundred
men.
He was born in New York in 1848.
His education was received from pri-
v&te tutors and at the Columbia law
school. Late in the seventies h. was
elected tc the Assembly of the state,
for a single term of year, and then
to the state senate, for a term of two
years, on the republican ticket. He was
nominated for Congress, by the same
party, against Roswell P. Flower,
democrat, who was elected. Mr. AS
tor because of his great wealth, was
expected to spend a great deal CT
money in the campaign, and refused
TO do SO, while Mr. Flower, who was
not expected to spend very much. did
)
subsequently appointed Mr. Astcr to
be United States minister to Italy.
His term expired in 1885
In the legislature Mr.. AstOr was in
dustrious, modest and silent, did ex-
Cellent committee work. voted steadily
with his party, made no speeches and
was respected by members Of ali part
les. He lived in Albany in a rented
house, for which he paid under $1,000
a session, and maintained himself
there in a condition net half so shCwy
as that exhibited by many men of
coarser fiber and much less wealth
In Rene, Mr.. Astor lived in more
state, but far within his means,
Though up to the standard maintain
ed by the ambassadors of England
and Germany. While there he pub
lished a novel or two which rose
above mediocrity and fell below
genius, and which was a gratifying
proof that one Of the richest men in
the word found pleasure in kntellec-
tual studies and challenged attention
in the field of intellectual effort Hap
PLY married tC a loving wife and The
father of devoted children, Mr.. Astor
seemed to be hopefully embarked on
a career of usefulness and CT mOder-
ate distinction
In 1885 Mr.. Astor resumed his resi-
dence in New York. A blatant yellow
paper not many months afterward
paid characteristic attention 70
some Of the very rich men of the
United States. It calculated their in
come by the second, minute hour,
day, week, month and year. 1t rec
kGned how much each child already
had or would have, when il became
of age L published what purportad
to be pictures CT the children of the
rich" That was followed by specu-
lations on the possibilities of the dan
gers of the abduction CT the children;
how easily it could be accomplished
and the sum that could be probably
secured in the form of ransom money
for them from agonized parents. This
graWsOme work lasted for years.
The health of the wife OF Mr.. Astor.
who was a Miss Paul of Philadelphia,
broke down under it. Steering or
walking, she was filled With the ap-
prehension that her children were
stolen, or certainly would be. Her
physician said she must go to cOun-
try where that sort of thing was i'm
possible, or, at least, did not prevail.
Nj. Astor finally moved to England;
therehis wife did not long survive the
effect of the shocks which she had re-
ceived in this country. Since ne went
to England he has been, as occasion
has offered, the subject Of the same
complimentary illusions in yellow
Journalism hare that were made TO
him before his departure.
A permanent change has net sur
prisingly occurred in the character
and temper OF the man. He seems to
1ava HocOYr7.9 pctraOCad from his ma
tive land, and while he retains many
here, he has lost the dis
position to expose himself to the
form of personal attack which had for
their pretext the mere sum of his
wealth and which numbered among
their victories the unhappiness of his
children and the death CT his wife
In England, whatever be the infer
iority of institutions OF citizenship TO